Working moms who workout regularly...

Does this actually exist? lol (sorry this post got so long)

I feel like I've posted this before but I cannot for the life of me get into a workout routine groove again and with a good 20 lbs of weight to lose, I need to make a change and fast!! I'm up at 6am to start getting myself ready for work and we get home by 6:30pm, kids are in bed by 8:30pm and then I'm exhausted! I tried getting up at 5am but I have to go to bed by like 9:30 if I want to even remote try to wake up an hour early.

The kids are 2.5yo and 10 months and I have a double running stroller that I try to use to take them out in, but if we're getting home at 6:30, eating dinner ASAP then my little guy goes down by 7-7:30. It truly feels like there is no time (especially if I want to finish the never-ending laundry, pile of dishes or g-d forbid sit down and chat with my husband like adults).

Sorry for the rant. I'm just tired and tired of feeling fat and like im never going to be my old self again. If any working moms are successful at this, please share! I manage like 1-2 days every 2 weeks. I'm aiming for 3 days a week... nothing crazy, just enough to see some change.

Working moms who workout regularly...

I workout 6 days a week for 30-90 minutes. I either wake up at 4:45 am and workout for 30-45 minutes or I workout right after work from 3:30-4:30 (I teach). Over the weekends, I go right when the gym opens at 7 and workout 1-1.5 hours. Now that the weather is nice - on the weekends, I will go for a bike ride or run and then lift at the gym for 30 minutes.

If you're looking for quick workouts, I like the bikini beach body guide by Kayla Itsines. They're 28 minute circuits and canbe done at home.

ETA: I go to bed at 9 every night so when it's 4:30/5 am, I am actually well rested.

Also - to deal with things like laundry, I started putting mine on a timer so it turns on an hour before I get home from work. Then all I need to do is move it over to the dryer when I get home. It's been life changing!

Message edited 6/29/2016 7:23:08 AM.

Working moms who workout regularly...

I am training for a half marathon so I run at least 3 days a week. Weekends I am up at 6 to run before its hot and everyone is up. Then during the week I run when I get home and DH gets dinner for DS.

If you are looking to lose weight focus on what you eat as 90% of weight loss is diet and you can lose all the weight with zero exercise

Working moms who workout regularly...

Focus on diet and try to sign up for an activity you enjoy. Maybe a weekend tennis lesson, Barre class, join a sports team, running club, find a gym date etc. I had a PT that I went to twice a week after my baby was born. I paid for it and had an appointment so as exhausted as I was I HAD to go. I know that can be costly, although she is quite reasonable but my point was having something scheduled helped a lot. My LO hated the running stroller, go figure.

21 day fix is pretty good too. Quick workouts and you'll definitely lose if you follow the meal plan.

I lost a lot on the Medifast diet alone. It got me down to the thinnest, lowest I have ever been but I don't know if it's really a sustainable lifestyle. The "food" is kind of gross and not cheap hahaha.

Weight watchers too! I did that after my DS but then got pg again.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

Can you go to the gym at lunch? I see a PT twice a week at lunch and run on the weekends. I started running at 8:30 when the kids were in bed because I found it easy to just walk out the door and go. Now I mainly just do it on the weekends.

As PP have said, WW helped me lose the weight with both of my kids.

Message edited 6/29/2016 8:27:52 AM.

Working moms who workout regularly...

I tried for awhile to do it at night but, things were hectic now that DS 1 is in school. I started getting up at 5 and meeting some friends at the gym and the accountability seemed to help - I've been doing it for 2 months now at least 3x a week (depending on DH's schedule).

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I go for a 30 minute run at lunch time because it's the only time I have.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

Thank you so much to everyone for their responses!! I will definitely look into all of the advice about focusing on diet. I really am looking to lose weight an in the past I've always managed it best when working out but I really need to buckle down since finding time to exercise is so tough.

Of course working out helps with mood too and tightening up so I think i miss that aspect of it too. I ran a half marathon while 10 weeks preggo with my first. now I can't run one mile straight. I just feel so out of shape and I have so far to go. But I appreciate the support and tips. Even just knowing others are in the same boat and can find a way to make it work helps.

Message edited 6/29/2016 11:02:44 AM.

Working moms who workout regularly...

Definitely focus on diet more than anything.

You can easily work out in spurts - 5mins of legs, 5 mins of abs, 5 mins of arms, throughout the day.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I know it sounds cliché but just doing a lot of little things can add up... about two years ago when my second (and last) kid turned 1 I lost about 20lbs and have kept it off. I eat less and eat healthy during the week, indulge on weekends, walk to the furthest bathroom at work, take walks during lunch, do some steps instead of the elevator.

I do workout 5x a week but I've always done that so I cant attribute it to my weightloss.

Oh and I still have about 20 more to lose, just haven't figured out what else to cut out in my life (certainly not wine!) but I'm working on it!

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I'm not working out now because I'm pregnant and high risk but I used to either get up super early, or when DH got home at 6pm I'd go for a run or do a quick (30 min) dvd workout. My DH was really helpful and supportive of me working out so that DEFINITELY helped because he'd pick up some evening routine slack so I could get a workout in :)

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I wake up early - its not easy at first but your body adjusts.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

My work day is 10-6 and I dont have to get the kids out of the house so i go for a run 2-3 days per week in the morning and then sunday mornings i get out early while DH and the kids are still sleeping to either take a spin class or go for a swim. My sunday work out i add in food shopping so its all one trip out of the house.

Its not easy but try and figure out one day a week you can do it and then build from there.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I get up a 4:45 am. Try to be sleeping by 9pm. I hate it but its the only way to get a workout in.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I go running with my almost 2 year old in the jogging stroller while my husband cooks dinner OR I go at 7:30pm when the 3 kids are in bed.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

It sucks but I wake up at 5am. It is literally the only time to go running. I'm also doing weight watchers. That has helped me on the food side.

Message edited 6/30/2016 11:35:38 AM.

Working moms who workout regularly...

I workout at 9 or 9:30 PM. I only do about 30 minutes. Then I shower, clean up whatever, get things ready and go to bed. I probably get into bed by 11 and get up at 6. Its annoying but the only way that works for me. When its nice out I take DS out with me in the stroller for a walk/run and that counts as my exercise. I also found that cutting off my eating at like 7pm helps me not gain weight.

Working moms who workout regularly...

I am at the gym by 5:15am its early but you adjust and now I could never picture working out at night. I love getting it over with first thing in the am.

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I am in the same boat as you! It's definitely been harder to lose weight after the 2nd baby for lots of reasons.

I got a Fitbit...I now walk from Penn to my office instead of the subway (and get to see things like the crazy naked guy in Times Sq...) and I get a fast-paced 25 min walk in, sometimes go out for a walk to get lunch, and then try to do a walk with the dog/kids after work. Every little bit helps. I hear you on the toning...need to add some weights or resistance here and there.

Good luck!

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

Posted by klsnyc805

I am in the same boat as you! It's definitely been harder to lose weight after the 2nd baby for lots of reasons.

I got a Fitbit...I now walk from Penn to my office instead of the subway (and get to see things like the crazy naked guy in Times Sq...) and I get a fast-paced 25 min walk in, sometimes go out for a walk to get lunch, and then try to do a walk with the dog/kids after work. Every little bit helps. I hear you on the toning...need to add some weights or resistance here and there.

Good luck!

Re: Working moms who workout regularly...

I have worked out at 4:30 am for the last year. I do it 4-6 days a week. I get up around 4:15/4:30 to get to the gym by 4:45/5. I have to be out of my house by 6:45. I don't have any other time to work out because my husband works nights and I won't put my kids in the day care after being in one all day. I do go to bed at 8:30. It is exhausting, but it is what it is. I have A LOT of weight to lose and I have lost almost 70 pounds in the last year. I will say that most of losing weight is DIET and not exercise. I can exercise my brains out for 5 days a week and if i eat like crap I will either stay the same or gain weight for the week. It is really 80/20.

Working moms who workout regularly...

When we lived in NY and had a similar schedule to you, I worked out in my lunch hour, either 3 mile run in Central Park or I joined a gym about a mile from my office, so I'd run there and back and strength train for 20-30 min. I always felt tired, but I also felt better about myself when I was able to get workouts in.