Also adding that there are ways to fit in exercise no matter your kids' age. We hiked with our babies/toddlers in a frame backpack carrier and Ergo. We got a great deal on a bike trailer that had a stroller conversion kit, which equaled lots of time on the towpath and local bike trails, and we resold it for nearly the purchase price. These days we've gone climbing, skating, kayaking, snowshoeing and more with our older kids. It's a paradigm shift to start living this way when your family of origin did not (as mine didn't) and you're used to spending family time on other things. Now I would choose something active over something sedentary like seeing a movie and our kids mostly would, too.

I'm pretty fit - I have two kids, 5 and 2. I work full time and i have a LONG commute. I workout at home 5-6 days a week - I have a Peloton and a treadmill; I do a combination of Peloton spinning workouts, Peloton bootcamps and Peloton strength training workouts. I do my workouts at 5:45 am during the week and I usually do one workout on the weekend when my husband watches the kids.

I meal prep my breakfasts and lunches for the work week every Sunday, and I make dinner for my family every evening. We rarely go out to eat ever. Its MUCH cheaper and healthier to eat at home. I find that its really tough to go out to eat with a family of four and spend less than $75, which is typically half the cost of our weekly grocery store bill!

The har

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

Interestingly enough, when I am regularly working out, I’m good with 6 hours of sleep. When I didn’t work out, I needed 8. Before working out I needed naps a few days a week. Now I almost never nap.

Again, if you have internet, there’s a plethora of bodyweight-only workouts you can stream. Literally thousands.

Agreed. I need ~7 hours of sleep. There are SO many cheap options at home. Heck, go running and then do push-ups. That will get you in great shape. I used to do Tae Bo (the horror!) in my living room when I was in grad school.

As for the commute thing, I won't take a job with a long commute because it's not worth it to me, not for the lost hours spent sitting or for everything else I miss out on.

You have got to prioritize exercise or it won't happen. Sometimes that does mean making very big decisions to afford yourself the opportunity. For those of us who get it, it's worth it.

So you think everyone has the luxury of choosing a job based on their work out times? Wow. You don't get much if you think that most people have this kind of leeway. Seriously.

Of course I don't. But this is DCUM, not the real world. The people on here making boatloads of excuses for why they can't workout aren't the ones who truly suffer from lack of choice in their work lives.

Also: it's not workout times, it's commute times. I've had a hellish commute, and it did a number on my health, even though I was still relatively fit and young. Plenty of privileged people prioritize their careers at the expense of all else, and then wonder why their health is so lousy.

Anonymous wrote:Very fit working mom. I workout whenever my schdule allows that day. I workout when I am on sports taxi duty for my older child. I drop her off at practice and go work out. I also work out in the mornings on weekends, and once or twice a week in the evenings. If I can't leave the house, I have a home gym with weights, a bench, and an elliptical. I work out most days. When I am on work travel I go on very long runs so that I can make the most of time away. For some people, a rigid schedule works but for me, being flexible and finding the time each day is what works.

I mostly eat at home and bring my lunch to work.

I'm kind of like you. And, despite the comment that followed, I don't see how anyone could find this depressing. You know what depresses me? Feeling like I have no energy. Feeling like I can't keep up with my kids. Feeling old, heavy, slow.

Flexibility is key. A typical week for me is long run Saturday, beginning before anyone else gets up. Now that my kids are preteens, they sleep later and I can often get home before anyone gets up. Sunday, something less formal, like a bike ride or a hike with the family. Then I really only have to worry about scheduling two workouts during the week. That's NOT HARD. Maybe one lunch time run, one morning run, or I'll stop at the gym after dropping a kid at soccer practice. I don't have any equipment at home. I'd lift more if I did, but my favorite form of exercise is running, and that can be done anywhere and is very time-efficient.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

And imagine how awful you’ll feel when you’re 55. Go outside and run, it’s free. Buy dumbbells to do a 25 minute workout at home each day. Yes it can be hard to make the time if you don’t want to but this is your health. Why on earth would you not make the freaking effort.

Can't run. Ran for years and now cannot due to certain injuries. I think I need to buy a bike.

Actually, following up on this, I can't run anymore and really have to avoid high-impact stuff.

Any fit people out there who can give ideas on non-high-impact stuff you can do at home?

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

I get 7 hrs of sleep, closer to 8 on the days I don't work out. You don't need to get up early to exercise 7 days a week.
I am not naturally an early riser, I don't think getting up at 4:40am to exercise is natural for anyone, but after a while your body gets use to it. You go to bed earlier and getting up early is easier.

and I have posted above, but I work outside of the home and spend on average 1.5 hrs commuting a day.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

Interestingly enough, when I am regularly working out, I’m good with 6 hours of sleep. When I didn’t work out, I needed 8. Before working out I needed naps a few days a week. Now I almost never nap.

Again, if you have internet, there’s a plethora of bodyweight-only workouts you can stream. Literally thousands.

Agreed. I need ~7 hours of sleep. There are SO many cheap options at home. Heck, go running and then do push-ups. That will get you in great shape. I used to do Tae Bo (the horror!) in my living room when I was in grad school.

As for the commute thing, I won't take a job with a long commute because it's not worth it to me, not for the lost hours spent sitting or for everything else I miss out on.

You have got to prioritize exercise or it won't happen. Sometimes that does mean making very big decisions to afford yourself the opportunity. For those of us who get it, it's worth it.

So you think everyone has the luxury of choosing a job based on their work out times? Wow. You don't get much if you think that most people have this kind of leeway. Seriously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

And imagine how awful you’ll feel when you’re 55. Go outside and run, it’s free. Buy dumbbells to do a 25 minute workout at home each day. Yes it can be hard to make the time if you don’t want to but this is your health. Why on earth would you not make the freaking effort.

Can't run. Ran for years and now cannot due to certain injuries. I think I need to buy a bike.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

Interestingly enough, when I am regularly working out, I’m good with 6 hours of sleep. When I didn’t work out, I needed 8. Before working out I needed naps a few days a week. Now I almost never nap.

Again, if you have internet, there’s a plethora of bodyweight-only workouts you can stream. Literally thousands.

Agreed. I need ~7 hours of sleep. There are SO many cheap options at home. Heck, go running and then do push-ups. That will get you in great shape. I used to do Tae Bo (the horror!) in my living room when I was in grad school.

As for the commute thing, I won't take a job with a long commute because it's not worth it to me, not for the lost hours spent sitting or for everything else I miss out on.

You have got to prioritize exercise or it won't happen. Sometimes that does mean making very big decisions to afford yourself the opportunity. For those of us who get it, it's worth it.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

I'm one of the early riser PPs. I also WOH and have a commute. I also used to have the perspective that only people with more time, more athletic backgrounds, more money, more space, more resources, etc. etc. etc. could be fit. I gave up one hour of sleep - 7 hours vs. 8 - and my early morning workouts energize me for my day. I don't flop into bed exhausted every night either. I started by telling myself I would try it for a week and if I was miserable I'd figure out something else. That was two years ago! The key for me is planning and organization - my schedule, home, and possessions are now streamlined and organized, and I take small chunks of time in the evenings and weekends to prepare for the week ahead and the next day. My DH and one of our kids have ADHD (inattentive with executive functioning challenges) so this benefits them as well. Early on in our parenting experience I really hit a wall where I felt like everything was a mess. I was always stewing and resentful and definitely felt screwed, so I understand where you're coming from. It's so cliche to say but no one is going to change it for you.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

You're not screwed. You HAVE to take away the excuses. Working doesn't require a LOT of time. If you feel like you cannot skimp on 8 hours of sleep, you're going to need your lunch hour. If you feel like you cannot work out on a lunch hour, you can push back dinner. If you can't push back dinner, then you're basically down to early morning. Something has to flex. But it doesn't have to be every day, and it doesn't have to be a lot of time. Walk out your door and go.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

And imagine how awful you’ll feel when you’re 55. Go outside and run, it’s free. Buy dumbbells to do a 25 minute workout at home each day. Yes it can be hard to make the time if you don’t want to but this is your health. Why on earth would you not make the freaking effort.

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.

Interestingly enough, when I am regularly working out, I’m good with 6 hours of sleep. When I didn’t work out, I needed 8. Before working out I needed naps a few days a week. Now I almost never nap.

Again, if you have internet, there’s a plethora of bodyweight-only workouts you can stream. Literally thousands.

Anonymous wrote:I do Orangetheory every morning at 5am. I’m back home by 6:15. House starts moving around 6:30.

I cook dinner most nights. Heavy on protein and low carb vegetables. I’ll make a starch as a side dish. I make lunches for everyone as well

I work outside the home.

Same - OTF 3-4 days a week, lift heavy weights at home 2-3 days, always at 5 a.m. Kids are 7 and almost 4. I used to try to work out at lunch, finish early and do it before daycare/school pickup, or save it for the weekends. Something would inevitably get in the way, or DH and I would be vying for the same time slot saturday/sunday. Now weekends are for family time, events, and house stuff. I never have to question when I'm going to squeeze something in. I go to bed a little earlier than I used to but no big deal.

I menu plan and meal prep on the weekends during my little one's naptime (this will shift soon as the nap is fading). Dinners are simple and lunches are salad + protein or leftovers (sandwiches for kids), we rotate about a dozen recipes during the workweek and maybe try more elaborate recipes or new things on the weekend. I do no added sugar, lower carb. Evenings one parent does bath and bed prep while the other cleans up dinner, packs lunches and preps for the next day.

It's all a habit now so it doesn't feel overwhelming, but it took a lot to get here! We still have off weeks due to sickness, work travel, school closings, etc. but we snap back to the regular routine as soon as we can.

It sounds like a lot of these people are early risers and/or don't need 8 hours of sleep or have equipment at home. For those of us who don't have the money or room for a home gym and have to get sleep (or we feel really awful), and work outside the home with a commute, we are screwed.