Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Single mom of three kids. I work from home so go to hot yoga (corepower) 5 days a week - they have flexible classes between 10:30 and 1:30 so I I am always find something I can fit around my work.

On weekends I go before my kids wake up(6:30 am classes), and if I’m traveling for work I go for a run.

How old are your kids and who is watching them when you go to the gym?

They’re at school it’s my workday. In summer when middle and Es buses aren’t an issue I go at 5:45 and I’m home before anyone wakes up.

Ummm we are wondering about your weekends. You mean, you leave all 3 of your kids at home sleeping while you go to your class?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hang in there when DS2 have a more set schedule. Where is your partner in the scheme of things? With two kids (2, 4) I usually get up at 430 during the weekdays (twice) to go to gym and 530 during weekends.

I think that may have to be the plan for now. My husband works out first thing in the morning because he goes to work really early so he can be home to help out in the evening. I think evenings workouts are my only choice, but I am so so tired by the time 8/830 rolls around.

Yea you just really need to fight the urge to collapse on the couch when that time rolls around. Once you get into the gym, you may feel a bit more energized--that's how it is for me during the 430 workouts after only 5 hours of sleep on some nights.

At that point, getting another 1-2 hours of sleep is better for your health than exercise.

We go in the mornings, drop off DD at the childcare for about an hour, sometimes 1.5 hrs. I started taking her since she was 12 weeks old.

I walk around my building at lunch. Outside if it's nice, inside if cold. I get two miles in then. When I telework I use the treadmill or text a neighbor and go for a walk around the neighborhood. I've started using the treadmill when my kids go to bed and watching bravo on it.

Another idea - can you carve out any time during the work day? My office building has a gym and I block out time on my calendar a few times a week. I pull my hair in a high pony and wear a headband and I find I don't have to wash my hair after and some dry shampoo and a quick blast with a hair dryer and I am presentable the rest of the day. Yeah, it is a little gross, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I wasn't finding any other good time to work out! Could you even do a walk around the block a few times? Granted, it isn't the same as a full on, sweaty workout, but it at least gets me moving and is better than nothing.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I would hold off on starting any kind of formal exercise program until your 5 month old is STTN. You need sleep, and already aren't getting enough. Just take some walks for now and be really active with the kids. When you are getting at least 5 hours of consecutive sleep, revisit the situation. A Peloton can be great, but I've also had great luck with streaming home workout videos online (I use Daily Burn but there are a bunch of services).

Seriously the worst advice ever. Start a routine immediately - just manage personal expectations! You may have a day or 5 go by where you don't work out, but a little each day builds up.

Anonymous wrote:5:50-6:50am bootcamp, M-Fr. Everyone asleep when I leave, DH up with kids and leaves shortly after I get home. Only time possible for me, because am a tired mess at the end of the day, and after the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, the house minimally put back together, all I want to do is collapse on the couch and watch TV or go to bed myself!

Similar to me but I wake at 430 and out the house at 440 and back home by 5:55, while everybody is still asleep. I only do this twice during the work week and I do it at 530 during the weekends. I'm really trying to do it every day during the work week so I can sleep in during the weekend, but 430 is so hard, especially if I had a rough night the night before with work and/or dealing with kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Single mom of three kids. I work from home so go to hot yoga (corepower) 5 days a week - they have flexible classes between 10:30 and 1:30 so I I am always find something I can fit around my work.

On weekends I go before my kids wake up(6:30 am classes), and if I’m traveling for work I go for a run.

How old are your kids and who is watching them when you go to the gym?

They’re at school it’s my workday. In summer when middle and Es buses aren’t an issue I go at 5:45 and I’m home before anyone wakes up.

Anonymous wrote:Single mom of three kids. I work from home so go to hot yoga (corepower) 5 days a week - they have flexible classes between 10:30 and 1:30 so I I am always find something I can fit around my work.

On weekends I go before my kids wake up(6:30 am classes), and if I’m traveling for work I go for a run.

How old are your kids and who is watching them when you go to the gym?

5:50-6:50am bootcamp, M-Fr. Everyone asleep when I leave, DH up with kids and leaves shortly after I get home. Only time possible for me, because am a tired mess at the end of the day, and after the kids are in bed, the dishes are done, the house minimally put back together, all I want to do is collapse on the couch and watch TV or go to bed myself!

I have 3 kids, so the only time to workout on weekdays is early. I usually get up around 515 am to head to an early class at a studio 3-4x during the week.

It's really important to figure out how to work out at home. I've been doing this since maternity leave (before kids, I was a gym rat). I have three now (8, 6, and 3) and work out every day. Youtube and fitness apps are your friends! Here's my suggestion: get Popsugar Fitness and flip through the various options. Start with a 10 minute cardio workout that you can do in your living room (or kids play room - I use my Ipad). Start getting your kids used to the idea of Mommy's workout time, and let them join in. You have to accept that things will get interrupted, or kids will get on top of you while you're doing planks, but keep going! Keep adding on workouts - there are 5 minute arm workouts (you just need to buy a few weights - I use 3 and 5 lbs), 5 minute abs, etc. You can do this!

Strong agreement on getting kids used to it. I'm working on getting my 3 yo used to one of two strategies: 1. she sits on the basement couch and watches a show while i go on the treadmill; this can be dangerous if she decides to approach, so we have strict rules that she has to STAY on the couch unless she has to pee, and i set up a barrier (i move the coffee table) so there is a visual reminder that she can't approach. 2. she sits on the couch in the basement with a tablet while i do a workout video right in front of her. this one is sort of annoying bc she doesn't like to wear headphones so the tablet noise + workout video noise drives me a little nutty, but i can handle it if it's my only option!

OP here. Thanks so much for all of the replies and encouragement. It made me feel a lot better about my situation and it has motivated me to figure out a plan. Thanks again!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buy a peloton or some other home fitness equipment. Then your workout time becomes after they fall asleep, naptime, or before they wake up in the morning.

We have a local studio that has classes that begin after the kids fall asleep, but I am usually exhausted by then. Any tips to make an evening workout more manageable? Do you have a hard time falling asleep afterwards?

This is the dilemma I have, too. I do Orange Theory workouts at 8:00 when my dd is already down for the night.

Pros: It's a GREAT workout that I genuinely enjoy, there's a substantial cancellation fee to cancel within 12 hours so I sign up for all of my classes for the week and can't back out (so I HAVE to go), and I get to spend all of my after work --> dd's bedtime with her.

Cons: Exhaustion is obviously a huge one. That Thursday night workout is a toughie for sure. Falling asleep afterwards is ALSO an issue (as is when to eat dinner??? I usually just don't).

I spent the first year of my daughter's life NOT working out, and, honestly--even with the exhaustion of late nights + early mornings (I'm a high school teacher), I ultimately feel better with adding the workout in. I've also made a deal with my DH to swap weekend mornings with dd so I know that, guaranteed (at least for the most part), I have a sleep in day. And I use the HECK out of that sleep in day!

Good luck figuring out what works for you, OP. It's hard to find a perfect balance, so I hope you don't beat yourself up about it!

Can you break it up in small chunks? Do 10 mins of jump roping in the morning. Walk the stairs at work for 10 mins at lunch. Do a couple sets of push ups throughout the day. Also, get a treadmill or bike for your house and some free weights. You don’t have to change clothes or shower when you exercise, either.