Anonymous wrote:I wish I could run, it's such a low maintenance activity. Just step out the door... But, terrible knees (from a life of competitive swimming!).

I am the immediate PP and completely recognize how easy running is in terms of prep work. When I have been injured, I found it much harder to work in alternative workouts. A 30 minute swim, for example, can be an hour door-to-door depending on how close you are to a pool.

I wish I could run, it's such a low maintenance activity. Just step out the door... But, terrible knees (from a life of competitive swimming!).

I think I am pretty fit. I am 5’2” and 123 with a 26 inch waist and 34D chest (which is annoying and I am only writing it out because my stupid boobs clearly impact my weight). My kids are in their older teens and I have generally maintained this weight since 22. I also have hashimotos.

I run about 25-40 miles a week. I usually run in the early morning or late evening now that my kids are older. When they were really young, I ran in the evenings and when they were school aged I drove them to practices and ran there.

We eat home cooked food 6 nights a week and eat or order out 1 night a week. We only drink on weekends. We are pretty social, so weekend drinking usually equals several drinks.

I do not track what I eat but I do wear a Fitbit and can generally judge intake v outtake.

I also work about 45 hours a week minimum and have my whole adult life. I have to run and just build it into my day.

Anonymous wrote:PP- So what do you think of working out only 30 minutes 4 times a week. 2 times barre video or some strength straining, 2 times HIIT. Do i need to add more in? Hard for me to go longer than about 40 minutes. SHould i add another workout in?

Honestly, if you’re doing nothing or minimum now, I’d shoot for 30 minutes 3X a week and let your body and mind adjust to that first. Then, if that works for you and you enjoy it/ feel a difference, then start adding on a day or 2.

I went from never working out to working out just about every day and, with the exception of during my high risk pregnancies, I do it consistently. Got Started in my 30s. What got me started was the couch to 5k program and that’s only 30 minutes 3 days a week. Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so exhausted reading through this!

Same here! It also makes me happy I only have one toddler and he sleeps pretty well.

Except that when you prioritize daily exercise, it typically gives you energy. I have three kids seven and under, a FT job, and WAY more energy than most of peers.

PP and I have the same # of kids and a FT job, and have found this to be true. I'm more awake and alert and feel much better when I'm in a good exercise routine.

PP- So what do you think of working out only 30 minutes 4 times a week. 2 times barre video or some strength straining, 2 times HIIT. Do i need to add more in? Hard for me to go longer than about 40 minutes. SHould i add another workout in?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am so exhausted reading through this!

Same here! It also makes me happy I only have one toddler and he sleeps pretty well.

Except that when you prioritize daily exercise, it typically gives you energy. I have three kids seven and under, a FT job, and WAY more energy than most of peers.

Anonymous wrote:I am so exhausted reading through this!

Same here! It also makes me happy I only have one toddler and he sleeps pretty well.

I am so exhausted reading through this!

PP here. I forgot to add that weekend workouts are nonnegotiable. I also do 2 workouts on one of those days (cardio and then weights later).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m a single mom. I make about 80K, don’t receive child support. I workout 3-5 times a week and I love my sleep. I leave work just in time to work out before pickup. Sometimes, this has meant having a night so clean house. Right now, I’ve finally organized and decluttered my condo. I started meal prepping a few months ago.

When you’re ready for change, you’ll change and not a moment sooner. I had the convenient single mom excuse. I was always tired and behind on sleep and chores. Then I met my single mom friend of a similar income with two kids who works out 5-6 days a week and she inspired me to do better.

What are those exact hours? Before is 7 am, pickup is 6pm, so 7am drop off, 730 get to work, leave 4, get to gym at 430, leave gym 530, home by 6?

Sorry aftercare by 6, then home 630?

Leave home at 645, 710 drop off, work 745-445, workout 530-625, pickup at 630 across the street. Home at 7/710. Meal prep on weekends with another cook day on Wednesday nights. Kid does HW in aftercare most days or as soon as we arrive home. Sometimes I pack dinner along for the car ride home. We have long days, live nowhere near school, but it works. Live in DC, work in VA, school is in MD. My kid prefers getting up at 530am while I’m up at 6. This is after years of power struggles in the morning. Older elementary kid FYI. I have no backup if I’m running late. I have one day per week to work til 530 if needed and another to add in an errand (groceries, nail appointment, take a nap in the car even). Breakfast is in the car unless DC eats at home. Bedtime at 9/930 and I’m in bed by 10.

Summertime is 8-6pm camp and I work 9-5 with out a lunch break and hope for a decent commute. Workout at 645pm twice during the week. Kid is up at 645, I’m at 7.

I can commiserate because my youngest is a terrible sleeper (meaning I haven’t slept through the night in years), I stagger work schedules for daycare pickup/drop off so I handle mornings on my own, and my job is super stressful. The only way is for me to get the kids in bed, and workout immediately without starting chores, opening my laptop, or sitting down. Then when I finish (typically 10:30 or 11) I cool down while throwing dishes in the dishwasher, folding a load of laundry, prepping backpacks for the next day, general cleanup. Then shower and bed. Honestly I’m so tired that working out before bed does not stop me from falling asleep

I just decided I was unhappy with how my clothes fit, and the pregnancy weight I never lost, and I remind myself of that every time I want to skip a workout. Having a peloton really really helps for me personally. No excuse anymore!

I posted back on page 5 or so about how I fit it in with 3 kids, but let's all be a little more charitable to life circumstances here. One of my kids (the oldest, ironically) gave us overnight trouble for years and, combined with the baby years for the other two, meant I wasn't sleeping through the night most nights until only about a year ago. During that time, I absolutely put working out way down on my list of priorities.

So, for those of you who are asking how to fit workouts in given whatever obstacles, my advice is just to take a hard look at what you actually might be able to change lifestyle-wise to give yourself a little more time, and start there. For me, I finally got all our family's sleep issues in check. But for those unable to find time in the evening, seems like maybe you could try to move evening chores off your plate.
Depending on the ages of your kids, can they help? Or just leave kitchen cleanup until after the workout. I work out in the morning and often will wash dishes from the night before as my cool-down time before getting in the shower. Or, what about quicker dinners or takeout one night per week, and then put on an iPad show for your kids while you do a workout DVD. Or, potentially incorporate a workout into your commute (biking or jogging to the Metro, or home?). It's definitely not easy, but I agree with the PP who said I find myself feeling better on less sleep now that I've gotten into better exercise habits.

^ Monday or Tuesday

Anonymous wrote:NP. My DH leaves for work at 5 am; I drop off kids and get to work at 9 am. Work to 530, then get home at 6pm, make dinner (DH picks up and usually has activities and homework until I get home), then kids aren’t asleep until 9. I could maybe work out at 930, but usually have to clean up and do other chores.

How would you fit in an hour of exercise here? No lunch break, sorry.

Workout Saturday and Sunday.

On Sunday evening, assemble a casserole that you can pop in the oven and bake for Tuesday's dinner. While DH has the kids doing activities and homework on Monday, you go for a half hour run while it's baking.

On Thursday, you wake at 5 and workout before the kids get up (at home video/app like Beachbody, free weights, yoga, pushups, crunches, plank).

That gets you to four workouts a week.