Fit parents with kids - when do you find time to work out?

[Anonymous]

Do you get a lunch break? Do a workout then. Even if it's a 30 min fast walk. Then eat at your desk.

[Anonymous]

3 mornings a week.

You can do 5-6 but truthfully there are 2 of you so do 6:30-7:30, T,Th,Sat. The other parent dies M,W, Sat.

I do yoga W,F evening.

I walk the dog 3 evenings a week for 30 minute and 2 hours one day on the weekend.

[Anonymous]

Walk or work out at lunchtime. I work from home and work on a flex schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you get a lunch break? Do a workout then. Even if it's a 30 min fast walk. Then eat at your desk.

This and a 10 min arm workout (like peloton).

[Anonymous]

DP here. For years, I said I never have time, which in a sense is true, with so many competing priorities. But one day, an opportunity showed up where I could work out with a group of people 3x a week near my neighborhood for $80 a month; and I just went for it. It's same day and time each week, with the same group, 3x a week. And yes, there are days when I'm so swamped that I don't make it, but that's rare. I just learned that I had to make the time and make it a priority over everything else- whether it's a useless work call, making dinner, cleaning, etc. It's one freaking hour a few days a week. Really, the people who rely on me will survive. However, for me the biggest takeaway was to make it a consistent thing every week where there are others who could hold me accountable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a toddler and we both work full-time. I’m finding it very hard to carve out time to workout.

Toddler is up by 630am, we are starting work at 8am.
Done with work at 5, dinner at 615, bedtime routine, kid down by 730pm.

I can’t workout after eating a meal. So basically my night is shot because we eat dinner at 615-630pm. Are you skipping dinner and eating later after you work out?

Please let me know how you fit it into the day! Are you getting up at 5am? If so, what time do you go to bed?

Orange Theory in the mornings 2x a week, 5:30-6:30 am class + a weekend class. Husband takes care of toddler those 3x a week. He gets to work out the other days.
Or workout at lunch, 2x a week; once on the weekend.
Or don't eat dinner with kid at 6:15. After you put the kid to bed at 7:30, go to gym and eat afterwards.
Or after work 2x a week, do a workout at 5:30-6:30 pm, be home by bedtime routine. Eat after kid goes to sleep. Switch with husband the other days. Workout on the weekend.
You see how there are ways to make it work? Stop making excuses, you can do it. I promise.

[Anonymous]

Not at all fit but do workout every day and M-F that is before the kids wake up. And my kids are upper ES. It is still the best time by far.

[Anonymous]

I walk with my 2 year old in the stroller after work for 1.5 hours. This used to include a grocery trip but I try to stay outdoors now.

[Anonymous]

30 minutes fast walk at lunch time inside the building or outside; 30 minutes of stairs after work in my building. I work in a 6-story building and I got in great shape in about a month walking those 6 flights multiple times in that after-work 30-minute period.

THEN i leave work and face the world and family responsibility.

outdoors all weekend with the kids. Yard work, hiking. biking. NOT driving everywhere, as a PP said. CVS, etc are a mile away. Put a backpack on your back and go do your errands. My kids love it.

I stopped bothering with gyms years ago. By the time you get ready and get there I could have done a good power walk around the neighborhood.

Light dumbbells nearly every night for 10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are teens, but when the oldest (a rising HS senior) was an infant we bought a jogging stroller at REI that came with an infant headrest and a cover that folded down to block out sun and wind.

Looking back, that jogger was THE BEST PURCHASE we made, IMO. It bought me freedom to get out of the house with a baby and exercise like I always had. I was able to get back into shape a lot more quickly. Just being able to get out of the house was so uplifting! My kids looked forward to their "jogger ride" while I ran.

We used it for years, with multiple children. Best money we spent. Joggers are even better designed (lighter) now. I highly recommend a jogger if you are a runner or a walker.

My baby jogger was the best purchase I ever made. First had a solo, then I bought a double baby jogger. I also got up 5am when I didn't take the kids on a run. On the weekends, I would put them in the jogger and go rollerblading. They loved it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:3 mornings a week.

You can do 5-6 but truthfully there are 2 of you so do 6:30-7:30, T,Th,Sat. The other parent dies M,W, Sat.

I do yoga W,F evening.

I walk the dog 3 evenings a week for 30 minute and 2 hours one day on the weekend.

This is very similar to us

[Anonymous]

I am another work from home and do it during the workday person. And I have a job where like, its comms, so if something happens you need to be there.

I have a work phone, and I have a peloton so I am never far from my computer and I can respond to messages while I'm on if its urgent. I will do a 30-60 minute class depending on the day then go back to the computer for a bit. Then I do a 5-10 minute core workout a bit later. Then back to the computer. Then slip away for a shower.

And yes I don't shower until afterwards but don't usually have morning meetings so this isn't that big an issue.

I have a very flexible schedule and like another poster said, as long as my work gets done and I'm there when they need me it isn't a problem. So I am very focused on making sure it is never a problem, but there is almost always time to fit it in at some point. Even if I have to take it down to a 20 minute class for some reason I get it in.

[Anonymous]

You guys are fortunate that have a good support system. My DH is so stubborn and will not to go bed early. So we have one parent that likes to go to bed by 9:30-10 and one that likes to game every night if possible until 1 or 1:30. He is a cranky mfer but refuses to accept. Gaming is so good damn important. His day starts later than mine (both WFH) so that’s his excuse for not going to bed early. It’s a shame. He would make a great workout buddy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a toddler and we both work full-time. I’m finding it very hard to carve out time to workout.

Toddler is up by 630am, we are starting work at 8am.
Done with work at 5, dinner at 615, bedtime routine, kid down by 730pm.

I can’t workout after eating a meal. So basically my night is shot because we eat dinner at 615-630pm. Are you skipping dinner and eating later after you work out?

Please let me know how you fit it into the day! Are you getting up at 5am? If so, what time do you go to bed?

That's a defeatist attitude and you're already making excuses. You can. Just a matter of how bad you want it. People make time for the things they want to make time for. Either you want it or you don't.

[Anonymous]

I work out during lunch. If that isn't going to work for some reason, I work out in the morning or the evening.