when to work out - FTWM

For all those FTWMs out there -WHEN or i should say HOW do you find time to work out??

I get up at 5:15 to get myself and two kids ready for the day, i'm out the door by 7:45am and dont get home until 5:15. We eat dinner by 6 and i'm putting my 3 month in bed at 7, and that takes about 45 minutes, between wash up, bottle (and then I hold her upright for a good 25 minutes after she eats because of her horrible reflux). and then I get stuff ready for the next day. When all is said and done, i'm not "done" with my day until about 8:30. At that point i'm EXHAUSTED.

i'm really trying to lose weight, but I have to exercise too...just dont know how to fit in time...

any suggestions???

Re: when to work out - FTWM

Weekends?

Re: when to work out - FTWM

I am up at 6-7 (depending on DS) out the door by 8. Home 530-6 on a good day when I don't have to work late. Dinner, playtime, bath, reading, Ds is in bed 830-9ish. Then i do part time work at home atleast 2 nights a week. I was doing really good withT25 for 7 weeks, 25 minutes at night, EVERY NIGHT, which was a big commitment. It was hard and I was exhausted but I put my mind to it and it really made a difference. then I fell off the wago for 2 months and well....

I started back up last night! I will try to follow it, but I will be happy if i can get 3-4 workouts in a week at this point! But it really is a great workout (and I am not a Beachbody coach or anything).

Re: when to work out - FTWM

I do the 21 day fix. It is only 30 minutes a day start to finish, and I do it after the kids go to bed. Or else I do it right after work while dinner is cooking and DH keeps the kids occupied until I'm done. Over the summer I would go out for a 30-35 minute run using the C25K program, but it gets dark too early now for me to do that.

I'm exhausted by the end of the day and the last thing I want to do is get drenched in sweat, but i think it's worth it when you force yourself to carve that time out for yourself.

when to work out - FTWM

If you are alone with the kids all those hours besides work I'd get a babysitter for an hour a few times a week if you can afford it or join a gym with babysitting.

when to work out - FTWM

I would carve out time on the weekends and then get it in one night during the week and have your DH help out.

when to work out - FTWM

I was waking up a little earlier than usual (before DS woke up) and doing a quick half hour workout at home (either a walk outside, or a workout dvd, or even a youtube workout). The first week or two was hell but after that, my body got used to waking up at that time.

Re: when to work out - FTWM

Do you have an elliptical or treadmill? Even 5, 8 or 10 pound weights.

I would go on at night and watch a half hour show on the treadmill when I WFT. I also did some crunches and used the weights for my arms to tone. Even at night I'd tone my arms with the weights and then walk on the weekends or job with LO's.

I've been so bad lately. When I am good about it I'm real good, but with the weather, school and I work PT it's been tough. Plus now we all have colds and miserable.

when to work out - FTWM

it's so hard. I recently joined Planet Fitness because it's local and has great hours. I'm going twice a week during the work week once DS is in bed, I hand the baby monitor to DH and enjoy the hour away. I don't get back until 10.15pm but then I shower and tuck in and feel great.

I also am doing my best to get a work out in during the weekend.

It's hard but you CAN do it, make it about time for YOU and prioritize it. good luck!

Re: when to work out - FTWM

It is really, really hard.. I would start very slow. Start by working out 2 or 3 days for 15 mins as soon as you wake up. This way, it won't be like it to be a hassel, and you can't also fit your morning routine. I would lay out my sports bra, and sometimes even set the laptop to the workout I will be doing so, all I do is roll outta bed, throw on my sports bra and hit play. I would build up on it before extending the time, if you have ankle weights, or 3 lb dumbells, add that to the routine, and of course eat better.

when to work out - FTWM

I workout during lunch 2-3 x per week. And on Sunday mornings, I wake up and leave the house at 7:15, run for 30 minutes and then hop right in the car and go get my food shopping done. I'm home before 9am. I have to force myself out of bed but it's so worth it and I feel so accomplished. What helps is leaving out everything that I need the night before (clothes, sneakers, wallet, shopping list) so I don't have to think and just get up and go.

It's really hard but worth it.

when to work out - FTWM

I only have 1 dd who is 6 months. She has had horrible reflux that is finally getting better. I am just starting to work out and I work from home. It's not easy and my husbands isn't a big help because his hours are insane. I actually broke the bank and got myself a treadmill.

Re: when to work out - FTWM

is your husband around at night?

I usually go running at night. About 30 minutes before sunsight if i can go outside. Otherwise, my kids go to bed at 7:30 and usually my husband will put them to bed while i go running in our basement.

when to work out - FTWM

Sounds like my day. I'm up at 5:15 and out the door at 6:55 and I get home around 4. My DS is 5 months and I just started sticking him in the running stroller and going for a 30-40 minute run right when we get home. It is literally the only way I will be able to work out. (Weekends are obviously easier to find time).

If something like that is not feasible, how about going for a 30 min walk during lunch. All my down time during the week is spent pumping or cleaning bottles so I understand your situation! I go to bed by 8:30 most days...

when to work out - FTWM

M&W I go to the gym or to yoga before work, and DH gets DS up and ready for Daycare. T&Th he works out in the AM

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays I run - On the weekends I'll go early while DS & DH are asleep, and during the week I either take the jogging stroller or go while DH does bathtime.

Can you have your DH handle some of the evening or morning routines so you can get out a couple times a week?

Re: when to work out - FTWM

I"m terrible - My BIL is a personal trainer, and he always says it best, it has to be in the forefront of your mind. It has to be a priority - and it's difficult to get it there ......

HE would work out before anything else - I would clean the bathroom, do laundry, empty/load the dishwasher, prep lunch etc etc before working out ..........KWIM?

I am out of be at 5:30/5:45 - out the door by 6:45 w/ the kids and on a train at 7:15
I'm home at 6 ..........
For as much as I KNOW what I need to do, and I KNOW he makes perfect sense, I have an extremely difficult time executing ......it's just not high enough on my priority list -

when to work out - FTWM

I struggle with this myself. I'm up at 6:20 and out the door at 7:15. I don't get home until about 6:45. DD is in bed between 8-8:30. I cannot wake up to workout at home, I'm just not designed to do that. It's been 2 years, but I'm actually forcing myself to start going to my spin classes 2x a week after work. They start at 7:30, so I'll at least have a half hour with DD before I leave. It sucks, but I need to do it. The other classes I take are on Friday evening and then Saturday morning.

Re: when to work out - FTWM

I use my lunch break to exercise. I either walk campus (which is 3 miles) or I find an empty room and do a video. For the days I can't, after I put DS down, i force myself to do it. It's only 30-40 minutes and I never regret it.

Hang in there -- it's really, really tough.

when to work out - FTWM

I realized the only time I could stick to working out would be during my lunch break. I had the craziest routine (I'm laughing just thinking about what I would do)...I would go into the bathroom stall and change into workout clothes then put my regular clothes on over the workout clothes so no one would see that I had changed. Then I would drive around the corner to the King Kullen parking lot, take off the work clothes, go for about a 3 mile run. Get back in the car, put my pants back on over the leggings. Sneak back into the bathroom stall where I would give myself a "shower" with a handful of those body wipes. Use a lot of body spray, change and redo the make up. I am kind of shy and never wanted anyone to know what I was doing. Plus running outside I didn't sweat as much. The routine was more exhausting than the workout!! Luckily a gym opened up right across the street from the office so now I can go there and workout and shower like a normal person.
But I felt the same way, just could not figure out a time to do it that would be realistic enough to stick with. I knew during my lunch would be the only way I could stick to it. And it made for a nice break from the office.

when to work out - FTWM

I get it in when he naps when I get home from work or I will have hubby play with him...I am doing the 21DF so its only 30 min...I really make a commitment to do it everyday and so far I am...I also put on my workout gear when I get home so I wont make an excuse

Re: when to work out - FTWM

I workout Saturday & Sunday before kids wake up.
I have a similar schedule to you (except I leave earlier).

Re: when to work out - FTWM

thanks everyone - its so nice to see i'm not alone. And...this is totally motivating me to make it a priority!! so, thanks for this!!

DH does the cooking for dinner, and while i'm putting DD#2 to sleep, he's with DD#1 and putting her to bed. We're pretty much "done" at the same time.

I definitely cant exercise during lunch. Not only do i get only 30 minutes for lunch, but i'm a "sweater" (gross, i know), so i wouldnt be able to come back to work after working out without showering...i would offend left and right! lol And once i go back to work FT, i'll be getting up at 5, and there is no way i'll be able to handle getting up earlier!! So it'll have to be at the end of the night and weekends.

thanks again for the motivation!!

Re: when to work out - FTWM

My schedule varies each day, but typically I'm up with DD at 7am, out the door around 10, home from work around 6:30-7pm, feed DD 7:30, put her to bed at 8, then cook and have dinner by 9ish. I've been doing P90X3 at night after DD goes to bed and after dinner. DH typically does the dishes after dinner, so I'll usually do it around then. It's 30 minutes every day, and even though I'm exhausted by then it's important to me to have those few minutes each day for myself. I've been unhappy lately with how my clothes fit, so if I want to be happy with myself, I need to do it.

ETA: on the weekends I typically throw DD in her jogging stroller and go out for a run with her. She loves being outside and going for walks/runs, and I get in some exercise. Double score!

Message edited 9/23/2014 3:10:16 PM.

when to work out - FTWM

Home gym. Doesn't have to be fancy. Adjustable free weights, small tv, and space to do videos (T25, 30 day fix, etc) and/or treadmill if you can swing it although not necessary if you stick to the videos. We put a small gym in and it's been life changing.

Re: when to work out - FTWM