Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I'm having a hard time finding a good time to workout. Pre-kids I was a late night gym rat. Now, I can barely move off the couch past 9pm.

I could get up early & do it, but ny oldest still does not sleep through the night & I usually wind up in his room from 4 or 5am on...

I guess I'm just wondering what other moms do... What is the norm for working out when you have kids? Thanks!!!

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I joined a gym with babysitting.
My schedule right now is:

Tues- 6:30 class (i feed the kids and give them baths DH puts them to bed)

Friday am-(i am off fridays) bring them with me to the gym

Sat am: gym (i either take them with me or leave them home with DH if he is home)



2 other days I run with them in the jogger stroller.

Can you designate 2 evenings that your DH can put them to bed so you can work out?

Not sure how old your DCs are but my sister will workout with my nephew around. She lets him play on the IPAD or he will "workout" with her and do jumping jacks etc..he is 3

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I went to Lucille Roberts where they had babysitting. I would go Thurs nights, and Sat and Sun mornings. I would bring the girls Thurs and Sat and my DH would watch them on Sun.

When I was doing C25K I would go running as soon as I put the kids to bed.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

This is my issue, I have two early riders, up by 5am. I joined a zumba class on Monday evenings where Dh puts the boys to bed. I also plan on doing a Sunday am class. It's still not enough but I can't find time.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I don't like the gym but love Bikram yoga.

I generally go to the 8PM class 2-3 nights a week and hit up the 3PM or 5:30PM class on the weekends.

DH is always around to be with DS.

The hardest thing during the week is coming home from work, and then finding the energy to head back out after being home for a couple of hours.

I find that I am always fine once I actually get there though. That's the hard part!

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

2 days during the week, I get up at 4:45 so I can get on the treadmill before work. Or, if DH isn't working late, he will give her dinner while I run after work. On Saturday and Sunday I either take DD in the jogging stroller, or leave her home with DH if he is home.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I have 3 kids (4 years, and 20 month old twins).
I also work p/t... 2 long days per week.

I don't have a set schedule I follow, it varies week to week depending on what we have going on. But some of the ways I squeeze workouts in:

Wake up 1+ hours before the kids and go for a run outside (DH is sleeping). The earlier I wake up, the longer I can run. Right now sunrise is 6:25 but will be earlier as summer comes. Then this will be my #1 choice. Over the winter this is rarely my choice.

Wake up less than 1 hour before kids, use treadmill/elliptical in basement.

Twins still nap, but only for 1-1.5 hours. While they nap, use treadmill/elliptical while 4 yr old pays in playroom, watch video monitor while working out. But then I can't shower for hours bc there's no time.

Go for a short run the second DH gets home from work.

On work days, go for a walk/jog during lunch break.

On work days, depending on workload, leave work a little early before kids need to be picked up from daycare and run quickly. If DH can pick them up that day, then can run longer. (Like last night, left work, went straight to sunken meadow at 5pm, ran 6 miles (52 mins), got home by 6:20. Dh picked twins up at 6pm. We all got home approx the same time.)

Treadmill/ellipitcal in basement at night after kids go to sleep.

Then there's always the jogging strollers but I don't use them as often anymore for running workouts. More for waling/jogging.

Weekends - wake up early for long runs (DH is sleeping) or go for a long run outside during naptime while DH watches 4 yr old.

Races - DH watches them or I hire a babysitter.

Message edited 4/10/2012 9:10:42 AM.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

The golds gym i go to has a great daycare. I put the boys in 5 days a week for 1-2 hours depending on what i'm doing. It's the most therapeutic thing in the world for me. I feel awesome when i'm done and they love playing there!

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

6-7 every night, baby in jogger and 5 year old on his bike...jog/walk

at night, will do hanndweights whle tv watchng

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

Luckily I have an easy time scheduling it in.

Monday - sometimes my MIL comes and I go while she's here, otherwise I take the kids and drop them off in the babysitting room.

Tuesday - my DD is in school, and I have a sitter that comes in the afternoon for a few hours so I can do errands and pick my DD up since DS is usually napping. I work out with a trainer on Tuesday afternoons.

Wednesday - gym day off, but I go running when my DH gets home from work.

Thursday - same as Tuesday

Friday - Same as Wednesday. Or if my DH wants to go to the gym after work, I will go to the gym in the morning and bring the kids to the babysitting room.

Saturday - I go to the gym in the morning with DS while DH takes DD to ballet, and then joins me after. Or vice vers?

Sunday - day of rest....

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I found the best thing is for me to keep work out clothes and a pair of sneakers in my car, with another pair of sneakers at home this way I am always ready.

I work full time and my schedule is always different, no two days are a like. I run Tuesday and Thursday (short like 3-4 miles). Sometimes in the am, sometimes at lunch, sometimes after work before I get home but i have to be home between 5:30 and 5:45 so caregiver can get home. Sometimes if a meeting ends early I will sneak a run in.

Saturday and Sundays, I run first thing in the morning. Usually not less than 6 miles. When I was training for my half Saturdays I would run 8-10 miles; Sundays 5-6 miles.

I used to have an elliptical at home to use for days when I simply ran out of time for a run. However, I gave the elliptical to my mom and I recently purchased a treadmill, so that "should" help relieve the pressure of getting a run in during the week. I am also a member of planet fitness. They are always open so sometimes I would go at night like at 10pm, but i can't get my eating schedule right, as I am usually starving by 7 and was feeling sick running after eating dinner.

Good luck!!!

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

Thanks so much everyone.

It seems like there is a mix between DH's helping out, gyms with daycare and getting up early/doing it late.

I guess I need to realize that I need to be more flexible. My workouts may not happen at 7pm every single night. They just need to happen.

I think I am going to start wearing a sports bra every day and packing gym clothes/sneakers in my car and sneaking a run in after work before I get the kids. Thank you for that idea!

My biggest problem is my DH and I work opposite schedules to watch the kids. But that means we are always ALONE with them.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

Just a +1 to julz' comment.

My weekday workouts are usually while my husband is at work so I can understand the craziness of adding something else to an already crazy schedule. I picked up free weights from Target (2, 5 and 8lbs), a weighted ball, a balance board made by Target and those big exercise balls as well as a few videos from Jillian Michaels.I also have a yoga mat. With the exception of the exercise ball, the rest doesn't take too much space but are pretty effective. Sometimes I will just pop one of the DVDs in if even for 20 minutes to get my heart rate up.

My little one cracks up when I work out and because its only 20 minutes I can usually get most of it done (I mean we know how kids can be) and at least its something if I can't do anything else. My DD is actually used to me doing weights/videos at home and now tries to copy me (when she isn't laughing at me!).

Good luck!!!

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I get on the treadmill after everyone goes to sleep at 8:00 pm to run.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

before DH and the kids get up like 5am

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I usually go weeknights (the days vary) around 7-8ish each night and stay for around 45 minutes. DH puts him to bed those nights. I go one weekend day at 10 am and DH watches him.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

1. weekends always when DH is home and very EARLY
2. My double jogging stroller (best purchase ever) i pack snacks, little toys, find a park and run there. or a loop and try to get 3 miles in.
3. gym with good sitting although i hate the gym but it is a good alternative when i'm really desperate.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

Single mom here, who works full time.

I can realistically aim for only 3x a week of an actual 30-40 min workout which would be a jog or a circuit training video. If it's a jog, it's outdoors and it's right after I leave work and right before I pick up my kids from after school, or on a weekend when they are with Ex DH.

If it's a video it's usually when they are home playing in their room, or watching me do my workout/doing it with me, or on their Ipads in the same room. This could be on a weekend or in the evening after homework/dinner around 8 pm.

I wish I could do more but otherwise I may go for a walk during the day at lunchtime, or I just stay active like park my car far away, take the stairs, stretch at night, etc.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I work out at home, Wii or Mag Rack on Demand. I have exercise ball, 5 & 8lb dumb bells, exercise band & mat. No excuses when you have all the tools at home. My daughter usually joins in or plays in her room.

Re: Moms... When do you workout / where are your kids when you are working out?

I've been doing insanity in the basement/kid's play room. They usually join me and play with their toys or they stay upstairs and watch a show.