Finding time to exercise

Hey Roger, when you find out the answer to this, could you let me know? I'd apprecitate it. My kids are grown and gone and I still haven't figured it out!!!!

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Try finding activities like running, etc and taking the kids with you whenever possible so you get 'some' exercise at least. Many exercise centers like YMCA offers daycares or programs for children so same time, parents can excercise like crazy. I take my daughter jogging in the mornings while my son is in preschool. It works out perfectly. You may have to make some sacrifices or priorities in life and try to fit in exercise. Make it a family thing. Hiking, etc

good luck!

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Make it a family priority! You want to be around and active long enough to enjoy them for many years, right??

How - depends on the age of the kids! Younger ones - jogstrollers and bike carriers/trailers are great. YMCA child watch is great. Walking around the local track or on the trails with older kids is great.

Start a workout log. Set a personal goal and work toward it. (New Year's 5K run, for example).

Putting a limit on your own TV and computer time is a step in the right direction too!

Get a support group - online or offline. They'll help keep you committed and motivated.

Don't wait until New Year's. START NOW. Otherwise every tomorrow you're going to be wishing you started yesterday....

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Not to sound like an ad, but you could try the Wii. There's a guy who kicked a few pounds just playing Wii sports (starting from a fairly healthy weight anyway I thought) but there's also WiiFit which comes out first quarter next year (I can't wait). Until then, I've been playing DDR, which, dorky as it is, is pretty fun, and definitely works up a sweat. If you played for a half hour a day you'd probably see an improvement, it's much better than nothing, and far more fun than a treadmill. Anyway, I realize video games can't replace "real" exercise, but if you don't have time for anything else, it's worth a try. Good luck,

Here's the wii sports guy: http://www.wiinintendo.net/2007/01/15/wii-sports-experiment-results/

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We have a recumbent bike. It sits in front of the TV. In the morning the TV is off. At 9am I turn it on and my daughter watches Dora while I ride for 20 minutes. It took some time and patience(she's 2) but she learned not to touch the pedals, etc. Then at 9:30 the TV goes off and we have some time to play together.

Also, when I follow Eat to Live I lose weight really quickly and don't feel like I have to stress quite as much about the exercise (hence the 20 minutes instead of the 1 hour plus I used to do). But ETL isn't for everyone, so YMMV.

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In a couple of weeks, we'll be signing up at the YMCA. There's no way I'd be able to find time taking care of two little ones on my own. They have drop-in care starting at six weeks old, so I'm looking forward to getting some exercise (and showering in relative peace).

Cheryl at http://redpens-diapers.blogspot.com

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Exercise is very important to me. I was fit before having two kids in 17 months, and now I have 30 lbs to lose! I hate it!

When I worked, I used to exercise over my lunch hour. Five minutes to change, 45 to exercise, 5 to shower/dress (yes, ladies, it can be done!) and 5 to return to work. When did I eat? At my desk while working. I'd throw on some makeup during my next potty break (I justified that I didn't smoke, therefore was entitled to a 10-minute bathroom break to pee and put on some makeup).

I was lucky to have a work place that valued exercise and didn't mind if I ate while working or had wet hair to accomplish it.

Now, as a SAHM, I joined the local YMCA. They have a child watch, and we go 4-5 days a week. My older son LOVES going to the child watch. My infant, well, he screams non-stop until they come and make me leave, which means I only get 15-20 minutes in a day. But I keep plugging away at it.

I look at it like this: Exercising will keep me alive longer, and that, ultimately, is best for my kids. So if they have to lose a little of my time now, they'll recoup it in the additional years of my life, when I'm alive to see my grandchildren and great grandchildren. Plus, I'm setting a good example of healthy, moderate living for them. What better gift can I give them?

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Is it possible to bike commute? My husband easily dropped 50lbs when he started riding 22 miles a day. He started off with one day a week and then worked up to every day. Even if you only got to do that a couple of days a week, it adds up.

You could also do a bike train with the kids on weekends. Towing a bike trailer is pretty good exercise and Jared should be old enough for a trailabike. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a trail you can do 10-20 miles on and has a playground in the middle.

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The YMCA has childcare. Once a week I drop my son off with his lunchbox and once a week I let my husband put the two kids to bed so I can work out again. I was tired of always putting myself and my health last, so I've started making it the part of the week that everything else must schedule around.

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Just another thought - it helps to frame it in terms of MAKING time to incorporate fitness as an integral part of your everyday life. You're not going to FIND time lying around somewhere waiting to be used. :-)

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There has to be something vigorous you can do with your kids. Dancing, yoga, tumbling, and just flinging the kids around can give one quite a workout. And since you have probably streamlined some of your movements to increase efficiency in doing your duties, there are probably ways to decrease physical efficiency and thus work off some extra calories / stretch / build muscle.

I know my kids give me a heck of a workout even when I really don't want one!

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My problem with prioritizing fitness is that it often conflicts with prioritizing time with my son and sleep. I hate to drop him off at the YMCA daycare, when he's already been in daycare all day and I haven't seen him. I want to spend time with him. Working out after he goes to sleep means I can't fall asleep for hours, which makes me grumpy. Getting up early poses the same problem.

Let us know if you figure out a solution for working parents!

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3500 calories=1 pound of fat

Cut out just 500 calories a day and you can loose at least a pound a week. Most people who can't find time to exercise don't have time to count calories, I'm included. :-) But if you can't find the time to exercise try to cut back on calories and you should at least loose a pound a week.

Bright side: Within a year you will be at least 50pds less. :-)

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The easiest thing is to cut out all fast food and keep packaged foods to a minimum in the house. You would be amazed at how much weight you can lose with such a simple change. Next, exercise. You have to make it a priority. Unfortunately, in real life this means something else needs to go by the wayside. My twin boys are still small (13 pounds), so I use them basically as barbells. We do situps, leg lifts, bench presses, etc. I also toss them in the jogger every day and walk for at least 1/2 hour. It leaves less time to keep a clean house (my obsession), so I got a Roomba, my husband has picked up the dusting duties, we cook from scratch and freeze on weekends when the boys are in bed, and I only do my filing (bills, etc.) twice a month. It's worth it to me to be in shape.

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Earlier this year, my dad found a treadmill in the neighbor's garbage. Being the Champion "Alley Junker" that he is, he brought the 'mill home, checked it out, and found that it was perfectly fine. So I now have an old, but working treadmill in my basement. On days when my son doesn't have preschool, I'm on the treadmill while he's watching PBS for an hour or so. If you aren't lucky enough to just find a treadmill laying around, like we did, check with the sports stores in your area. We have "2nd Wind Sports" and a few others that sell used exercise equipment that is in really good condition at very reasonable prices.

Like someone above mentioned, it takes a little bit of training to teach him that little fingers do *not* go anywhere near the machine, but now he completely ignores me while I'm on it.

I agree with the others, though... you have to make it a priority, not just "find" time to do it. I actively search out 5K's in the area, and once I sign up, I'm such a cheapskate that NOTHING, short of chopping off my leg, will keep me from running in that race, b/c that means I've wasted that $20 entrance fee!

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Lots of YMCA fans here! I swim. That is my primary source of exercise. I manage to attend lap swim at the Y three or four times a week. I work full time, as does my husband. I know you've heard it before, but you do have to make time. You have to pin that lap swim schedule to the fridge and get yourself in there, exhausted or not.

I go Wednesday during lunch (I skip my lunch break the rest of the week so that I have the extra time). Thursday I swim while my son is in his own swim lesson. Sunday we attend family swim together -- the boys play in the little pool while I do my laps. If everybody is up for it, we sometimes attend the Friday evening family swim, same routine. I have never used the Y child care, but still get my swims in every week.

It has to be a priority. It would be easy to let it slip, to get lazy, to decide that I'm just too tired or we don't have the time. You give everything to your kids and family. Its ok to do a little something for yourself. Which, in the end, will provide you with more energy, fitness, confidence, and good health to give back to them!

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Hi Friends,

I have a 10 months old baby and just put him in the daycare centre,but still crying a lot. My mind is really tired and fed up leaving there. I am crying everyday once I leave him there. I understand that for every woman career and family is like our 2 eyes. I dont know how to prioritise? I dont still believe that noone can take care of my baby other than me? Of course, the caring and love - only Parents can provide? Folks, please let me know how you are managing both simultaneously? Need motherly and convincing suggestion.

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