When I was in your phase of life I just did not exercise beyond the walking I did during the work day which was quite a bit. Now, I pick my daughter up from the bus stop and we go straight to the gym and exercise for an hour and then come home. It is awesome. We go 3 or 4 days during the week and both weekend days.

Anonymous wrote:I am desperately seeking good ideas. I cannot seem to find the time to exercise, and I know I need to. Done having babies, so no more excuses. Here's my deal - baby still isn't sleeping through the night, so I'm a sleep-deprived wreck in the morning. At work all day, then with the kids until they go to bed around 7:30-8:00. I'm wiped out by then; I can barely sit up. During the work day isn't really an option. The morning seems like the most optimal time, but how do I get myself out of bed when I don't spend enough time in bed to begin with? Tips and motivation, please!

Can you quit your job? no really! your life sounds pretty exhausting. if you can swing it with your finances, either go part time or quit. Your life and health is more important.

Remember you don't have to do it every day. Get into the habit now with one weekend day and one day during the week. Literally get up 30 minutes earlier on Wednesday and run or walk or do a workout video at home for 30minutes. Once that's embedded in your routine add one more day. Then make the workouts longer. Step by step. IF you start by thinking "how can I make time every day" it will always be daunting.

I have two kids and my youngest just started sometimes STTN at 9 months. I started weightlifting again at 12 weeks PP. The days I had the most rest, I went to the gym. My workouts were long but they were full body workouts so I made sure to get two workouts in a week, but if the baby had a rough week or someone was sick I didn't push myself too hard. Be kind to yourself and don't pull your body in a million directions.

Look up the nerd fitness beginner body weight workout. I am in pretty good shape and I can make it challenging with some modifications, and I do that when I am short on time.

Go to bed earlier. Seriously.

At this stage with two kids I thought I was going to physically fall apart. I was a total wreck and eventually, due to exhaustion, I started to fall asleep with the kids at 730/800. But then I started to notice I was far better rested in the morning then I had been. I realised most of the 'stuff' I was doing after they went to bed was rather dumb, like a TV show and nibbling on some food. I switched from a night owl to an early riser and it really felt good.

Now a year or so later I have the time and then some every morning. I have a treadmill downstairs and use it for an hour each day with the iPad before the sun gets up. Feel better than ever.

I downloaded the Nike Fit Club app a few years ago and love the 15 minutes workouts. It may take you a full day to fit in abs, arms, and legs, but you can get it done with those 15 minute increments. You'll be surprised how much more energy you have as you workout more.

I vote with the other PPs that sleep is more important than exercise when you have a kid who isn't STTN. Give yourself a break until all kids are sleeping through the night. Do the 7 minute workout app that one PP suggested at night after kids go to bed and that's it.

Now that both of my kids sleep all night, I run 3 mornings a week and it's great (though I sometimes don't want to when I have not gotten enough sleep). I also work from home one day a week and use my commute time to work out on that day.