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How do you find time to exercise with kids?? |
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SWEETGRL4EVAH
SparkPoints: (288)
Fitness Minutes: (285)
Posts:
6
10/27/12 12:13 P
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well i work from 8:30 to 5 mon thru friday, two days a week i attend college from 5:45 to 9 and one day from 5:45 to 7:45, and on sat my daughter has ballet at 9am and sunday church at 11:30.
the baby is 4 so she attend school during the day, her father gets her and drop's her at her grandmothers until i come out from school. days i do not have school i go straight home to get her. and so my schedule is pretty full with hw and exams and baby and life!!!
well this is what i do to exercise (dont judge please =] ) : the day that i come out of class at 7:45 i told them i get out at 9 simply because if i hadn't said that i would never have found a sitter to care for her, and so that day i hit my school gym (which btw if your in college its part of tuition fee so use it!!), until 9pm i usually do the elliptical climber for 30 min or an hour. and then try to squeeze in some reps for my strength (thighs hips, stomach and hands). whenever class finishes early even for 30 min i go and i do the elliptical (so usually i get to go to the gym 2 days a week). since i know that i would like to reach my goal faster what i also do is i do exercise at home. I do not have time and energy to do crazy intensive workout but what i do is vigorous jumping jacks, 30 reps jumping strength, and 20 reps jumping in all the directions, (since technically your a re jumping three times per rep your are actually doing 60 reps but this way you are moving your whole body off the ground consistency). and i make sure to this every night, (it only takes about5 to ten minutes before i go to bed. on days when i have some more time i add 3 minutes of crunches, 5 minutes of sittups, 15-20 pushups (i have arthritis so i try not to push myself to what i can't handle), and then i'll do my jumping jacks one more time, (same reps). when all is said and done its not a crazy workout nor is it gonna be a huge time consumer, but it works, in two weeks , (with eating healthy and counting calories) ive lost 8 pounds, and when i did this after giving birth when my daughter was small and i really could not go to gym it helped me big time, i went from 115 before being pregnant to 187 after giving birth (the baby was 1 day old when i measured this ) to 135 6months after having the baby, and then after 1.5 years i measured back to 125 but also did the strength a little more then, but i always maintained my cardio i started 4 weeks after giving birth, and after 6 months i did the exercise about 2-3 nights a week simply to maintain my figure.
anyways point is whether its at home or at the gym every little counts so as long as your are moving your body more then you were doing before you'll see some type of change eventually. and with kids you have to go around their time, whether its while they are at school at a friends house, or simply sleeping use that time wisely and move a little.

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I work from 7-4. I wake up at 5am and go to the gym then go to work. Maybe you can exercise on your lunch break?
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It can be hard, but I try to exercise during nap time and other times during the day when they are quiet. They can actually help get cardio in. When we go to the park or play kickball it all counts. And I am teaching them to be active. I put my oldest on the bus while the two youngest are still sleeping and go for a run in my neighborhood. Hubby is usually still in bed too.
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1. when they are asleep or eating. The trick is to give them something that takes time to eat. seeds, nuts, yogurt, raw veggies, or something like that. If they can cut their food, even better. Give them something they need to cut up themselves. 2. with the wii. Any kind of exercise that can be done with the kids is the best. I love to swim with them, or if you have it, a bike and a bike trailer. Rollerblading. Also, I take my kids to the park and let them play while I run around them. I also use the playground equipment to exercise.
I am changing my life one day at a time. I am creating a physically and mentally stronger version of myself. I am a work in progress, and I am determined and committed more than ever to accomplish my goals. Highest weight: 242 Starting weight: 218 Current Weight: 210 195 by Feb. 23 185 by March 31 : 179 by April 29: 169 by June 10: 159 by Aug 7: 149 by Sept. 20: 139 by Nov. 5: *GOAL WEIGHT* 135 by Dec. 23: Maintain!
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I usually work out after i put the kids down for the night. I also walk my son to school every morning and walk down to pick him up most afternoons so that's a good 60 minute brisk walk *that's not counting the days my 4yr old insists on being carried each way :)*
I've also taught both of my boys how to use the elliptical machine so they take turns with me working out on it during the afternoons and on weekends. It's good exercise for me and teaches them that working out can be fun *also helps keep them from bouncing off the walls on bad weather days*
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i have 4 daughters and a step son, and our home is ALWAYS busy! the way i do it is: during my strength training days, i use the spark people generated program via my husbands ps3, so it's on our flat screen and i can see it clearly. the baby is always with me, and she sometimes mimics the moves as best she can! when i have cardio days, i use my cable stations exercise dance programs. they are usually 10 minutes each. so i'll play an easy going one 2x and a difficult one 1x. i do this earlier in the day...and its always fun. then when my husband comes home, i take out 45 minutes and head on over to the gym, and i do my elliptical trainer for 30 minutes. it's important that you take time out for yourself to get your exercise in. you can get your strength training and dance on (if you like to dance--it burns LOTS of calories per hour. i do belly dance at 80 calories burned for 10 minutes danced) with the baby. and when your husband comes home...take your gym time on alternating days!
living la vida low carb (not to be mistaken with no carb) and loving it! 30 minutes on the elliptical 5x per week is roughly equal to 3000 cal burned & 18 miles pedaled! i weigh in every day to see how my eating habits the previous day are affecting my weight. my saturday weigh in is my "official" weight. are you trying to lose weight with hypothyroidism? www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutriti on_articles.asp?id=635
| current weight: 232.6 |
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I have 3 /12 year old twins and it is almost impossible for me. I try to have them do some quiet time in their rooms while exercise and that works a good portion of the time. Even though they are in preschool now, the teacher has them in different sessions, so I just do what I can. Even a little exercise is better than none.
starting: 159 8/20/2012 weight: 155 8/26/2012 weight: 150 weight: 145 weight: 140 weight: 135 weight: 130 goal: 125
| current weight: 155.0 |
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It's a challenge. I have a 4 year old son. He has just started preschool. I have this week been able to work out and jog with out issue. I have to take it day by day and grab it when I can. I do run with him while he rides his bike now. Good for both of us. When he was younger, the bike he rode with me and a jogging stroller. I didn't do anything with out him.
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Walking with my kids- chasing the three year old- lifting the 6 month old like weights (he loves this :)- early morning DVD exercise or late night classes when my husband can keep an eye on things and after everyone is asleep.
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” ― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
| Pounds lost: 56.0 |
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Yoga DVDs in the morning. Talking walks or going swimming or playing ball with the kids in the afternoon. My complex has a gym and I go work out there when I can, but if I can't I just stand in the livingroom and use a big cinder block I have-- I step up and down on it (like a step class) for 30 minutes. I mean, you can even do it while you watch family shows or your kid sits down next to you coloring on the coffee table. I'm not a fan of aerobics videos but I've done it.
Going down...
| current weight: 328.0 |
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Myself, my husband, and my two boys go out to a local pond that has sidewalks all the around it. My husband and I walk, our 4 year old rides a bike, and our 1.5 year old rides along in the jogging stroller. We try to get out and walk 4 times a week, although, I do take the boys there some mornings as well. We know how far it is around, so it makes it easy to track how much exercise I am getting. I also do a minimum of 30 minutes on the WiiFit at naptime everyday if possible.
Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't, I give myself reasons why I can. Unknown Author
| Pounds lost: 34.5 |
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Riding my bike with kid in his bike trailer and being active on the playground.
| Total SparkPoints: 17,075 |
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| SparkPoints Level 12 |
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We stroller walk after dinner for thirty minutes, playing frisbee or tag or baseball with kids, and during nap time is awesome for random videos :-) my older daughter likes the dancing ones :-)
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It's hard for me to get exercise in. Mostly I'm so worn out from work (McDonalds manager) that I just want to prop my feet up, but most of the evening or morning before/after work is cleaning the house.
I have a 2 year old and hubby to raise :) Hubby helps some but maybe I'm a control freak but it's easier if I just do it myself. He doesn't have a job, but free babby sitter!
Its hard to keep a house clean with a 2 year old and it's been so hot outside. Usually for exercise I jpaly zumba on the xbox kinect. So if anyone else has it, pelase join me! Gamertag: Loopykat
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My kids are 8 and 10 and we swim most nights, weather permitting ! When kids were 4-5 years old we started going to park, they would play and I would walk around the perimeter of park where I could watch them play. When they were toddlers we took lots of walks and did nature hunts. We would gather leaves and then come come and sit at picnic table and do leaf rubbings. Chasing little ones and playing hide-n-seek is great with little kids. Just go outside and enjoy the great outdoors doing anything.
| Pounds lost: 32.0 |
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There never seems to be enough time in the day! I tried to make my goal small and realistic to start. Something I could stick with. Maybe start with 20 minutes one weekday and one weekend day. Since you aren't with your daughter during the day, maybe start with an exercise video while she plays. At the end, you can put on some music for your daughter to dance and be silly. Then you can increase the days you workout. I have realized that I can't do everything-have the house clean, workout, laundry folded, gormet dinners. Something has to give-and I try not have that thing be my workout. Maybe on your workout day, plan a quick dinner or plan to have leftovers when you make dinner the previous night. Good luck!
| current weight: -1.6 under |
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I work out after my daughter has gone to bed. I work out for at least an hour and more if I'm up for it. And I walk with her in the mornings after breakfast. It's a nice way to start the morning. And it's less hot. And sometimes we walk in the evening too.
WE CAN DO THIS!
| Pounds lost: 64.0 |
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Nap times are great! I also walk a lot so I put him in his jogger and away we go! It gets us both out of the house and he loves look at everything. We walk anywhere from 3 to 4 miles when the weather is nice.
I have changed my life for the good and long term is for the better!
| current weight: 183.0 |
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i am a single mother of three a 1yr old a 2yr old and a 5yr old and i never have time for myself but i try to make time when they take a nap or its bed time but by the time that comes im all worked out an i'm so tired but i still try to exercise but sometimes i don't i just don't know how to schedule my time around them but you know everything works out for the best i'm going to stay positive because i know it will work out
every one can do it if they put their mind to it
| current weight: 255.2 |
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I am just beginning to work on getting back into shape with a 3yo and a 3mo. Yesterday, I got on the treadmill while my partner watched the children, which was a good workout, but induced a tantrum in the 3yo, who wanted me to pay attention to HER! Today, I took a different approach- we put "Just Dance" on the Wii and exercised as a family! So much fun, and I am at least as sweaty as I was after the treadmill. And no tantrum! I will still want to use the treadmill at times, but this is a great one to do with kids.
"Deine Zauber binden wieder was die Mode streng geteilt" -Schiller
| Pounds lost: 6.6 |
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It is so hard to be a working mom! But it is important to make the time! I also work full time, leave home at 8, back around 6, and we make it a point to cook fresh food every day. During the weekdays, i do very little: I do a 10 minute workout in the morning before the kids wake up and another 10 minutes after they go to bed. I use either the spark workouts or some free apps that I have downloaded. I make it a point to go to the gym both days on the weekends and spend one hour each day. So I do not get to do a lot, but my short workouts are always intense.
| current weight: 172.0 |
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First, let me just say that I'm SO impressed by the moms here! Oh my goodness!!! I'm another one who gets up early to hit the gym before work. If the weather is nice, I'll often take DD out for a run in the stroller after work (to my way of thinking, that counts as twice the workout!), which is a great way to de-stress at the end of the day and also lets me reconnect with DD. Also consider doing a video (so many are available on demand, or stream instantly from Netflix) while your daughter naps or plays. My DD loves to dance along with me (and her downward dog is amazing!). My DH and I take turns putting DD to bed, so on my "off" nights I'll sometimes do a yoga or pilates video (nothing too strenuous at the end of the day!).
| current weight: 134.0 |
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I just try to fit in 15 minutes here and there. I try for at least a 30 minute workout but it rarely ever happens uninterrupted. I'm a stay at home mom but it feels like I'm always needed or there is something to do. My husband is currently deployed, again. So, I'm on my own. No sitter. No daycare. I'm a Mom 24/7. Literally. No breaks here. With that said, I have a 7 year old and a recently turned 1 year old. I'm super thankful for the larger than usual age gap between them. It's helpful. My 1 year old has only been napping once a day. And usually during that hour, I'm doing something other than exercising. lol Hey! The lawn has to get mowed somehow. And how else do I have time to take a shower? After school is usually spent at my son's sports practices/games, homework, etc. I breastfeed (no bottles), so we don't do daycare which means no gym. None around have in-gym daycares. Ugh. There is a new fitness studio in town that I've been DYING to go to and take a class. They do have free daycare - with purchase of a class. It's just an hour and it's there at the studio so it's perfect but the catch....children have to be 1 year old and walking. My little munchkin isn't up and going yet. So, I've been waiting and waiting. It's not the easiest but, I'll get the hang of it. For now I'm just doing DVD's and my recumbent bike. When you get interrupted over and over again after only 10 minutes, it can really kill the motivation though. That's something I've got to just learn to deal with.
Edited by: BRANDY0411 at: 2/4/2012 (06:52)
| Pounds lost: 0.0 |
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KAIKAI77, be easy on yourself! I have to admit I wasn't even THINKING about exercise 3 months after having my daughter, I can't imagine it with twins! Maybe focus on the healthy eating right now if that is easier, or maybe going for a short walk by yourself during nap time when others (your older son?) can listen for the babies as they sleep. As they say, 9 months on, 9 months off... although in my case it was 9 months on, 24+ months off.
| current weight: 149.8 |
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"For me it's not so much about finding time as it is I have to make time." So true CAPPYKIM! Time is not sitting around, waiting for you 'find' it. You have to make time for the things that are important to you.
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.” ~ Randy Pausch "There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results." ~ Art Turock "We have a saying in Tibet: If a problem can be solved, there is no use worrying about it. If it can't be solved, worrying will do no good." ~ 7 Years in Tibet
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My children are a bit older and my mom lives with us so when I go to the gym its either when she's home or when they kids are at school. I also have an eliptical machine at home for when I don't "feel" like going or can't get out for whatever reason. I know many gyms offer childcare. You have to make time. :(
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I have struggled with this dilemma myself, as I have a 2 year old attached to my hip! On top of that, I am a working mom who holds a full-time job, so I always feel guilty if I think about trying to get a workout in during times when I'm home - when I'm home, I want to spend time with my daughter. So I thought about it and figured out a plan - I used to skip lunch at work so I could leave a tad bit earlier. However, with my newfound determination to get some fitness in (and some much-needed "me" time), I now take a 30 minute lunch during my workday, and I spend that time on the treadmill or elliptical in the Fitness Center in our building. It's not much, but it something - and every little bit counts! In addition to that, I also try to make my playtime with her a sort of "workout" by doing active things together (i.e., going sledding, rollerskating, bike rides, playing in the backyard with her, chasing her around the playground, etc.). That seems to work well for me, too!
| current weight: 219.0 |
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I totally understand. I get up at 4:15am for work and dont return home until 5:15pm, so I feel super guilty if I dont spend enough time with my husband and daughter (15months). And since getting up at 3am isnt an option lol, I play hard with my daughter until bed time which is around 7/7:30ish, we dance and run around, sometimes go for walks outside or play on the swing set. When she goes to bed, I pop in my workout dvd or jump on the ellipitcal or rowing machine that we have at home. I try to plan it out where my husband is doing something he likes to do in another room, like those History channel shows lol, so its like our "me time". On weekends or days off, I normally get up before everyone else, so I take advantage of that time and get my workout in. Making time for yourself is really important!! As much as we want to be around our family, if we dont take care of ourselves we arent going to be healthy and are going to miss out on a lot of special moments. You can do it!!! Good luck!!!
| Pounds lost: 14.0 |
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I work from home and take care of two kids. I have found that the easiest way to incorporate exercise is doing dvds at home. Going to the gym is way too much work - I always feel I have to shower before and after, the drive and the childcare problem makes it impossible for my tight schedule. And I have found that I work out way harder at home than I would at the gym. If you get some workout dvd's, then you could potentially do them while you take care of your daughter in the evening. I often do a video while my kids (3 and 1) are around. I usually set up my daughter with some crayons and my son with some blocks. A lot of times they join me and try to do the moves with me. There are some truly great DVDs now! I purchase them on half.com for a fraction of the price and I have a small collection. I love Jillian Michaels Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism and No More Trouble Zones. I also like a lot of the 10 minute workouts, and I do them all in a row. You can also get some free online (I love this one by Kendell Hogan - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtYgmDEddug) Another idea is runs or walks with your kids. Get your kids incorporated! Good luck!
| Pounds lost: 0.6 |
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What do you do from 2:30 (or whenever you get home) until bedtime? Surely there's some point you could work out. I work fulltime and have 2 kids. I get up at 4:45-5:00 and work out at home. My husband goes to the gym. I workout, grab a shower and get dressed, then I get both kids up and around. (My 10 year old is pretty self sufficient, but I have to get the 2 year old dressed.) Sometimes the little one gets up before I'm done working out, but you do what you gotta do. We leave the house at 7, we're home at 5:15. Sometimes I go to a class after dinner. I've been known to drive to work seperate from my husband (we usually carpool) and will stay at work a bit late, then hit a class right after before going home. Don't be afraid to leave your daughter with your husband for an hour a few nights a week. Why can't he watch her while you go to the gym or do a video? Again, you could do it any time after you're home as well. How old is your daughter? Will she watch a movie? Can you get a Wii and play the dance games together? Can you join a gym with a childcare? Can you workout before you pick her up? There are many options. You HAVE to make time for yourself. Don't feel bad if that means leaving your daughter at home or daycare while you work out.
Edited by: JENMC14 at: 1/26/2012 (14:27)
I am 5'4". Starting Weight (4.6.11) 164.6 First Goal 130 - Reached September 2011 Currently maintaining under 120 and working on changing my mental image of myself!
| current weight: 127.2 |
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I only have one child....I work from 6am to 2:30, when I am off at 2:30 and I take care of my daughter...I then put her to bed...sometimes my husband does and that is when I can sneak off to exercise...but Im really curious to know , how do people do it? Do you do it at home? Did you join a gym? If so how did you get away? Do you do it early in the am or late in the pm? Do I just wait till she is in school to do it - do you do it when your kids go to school? Do you do tapes or do you have a machine at home? Any information would help! I cant imagine getting up at 4:45 ... if I have to I guess I have to but I its hard to drag myself out of bed....and by the time my daughter goes to bed...to be honest, Im exhausted! Thanks for any feedback! Dawn
| current weight: 168.0 |
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