Parents, when do you find time to exercise?
I recently read a quote that said, "Parenting is easy. It's finding a way to get anything ELSE done that is difficult." This definitely applies to exercise, in my experience. Between work, caring for kids, and shuttling them to all their activities, it can be hard for parents to find time to stay fit. What works for you?
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The goal is always during first nap of the day- but finding the motivation is still really difficult for me! I'm still working on consistency!
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I've found that yoga right before bed works best for me. It helps me unwind and relax at the end of the day, and it's nice and quiet in the house!
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When I worked full time, I went to classes first thing in the morning, but now that I'm home, I have a babysitter for the baby so that I can run to the gym while the older kids are in the school. Many moms use the childcare at our gym, but it's naptime for my baby, so I'm lucky I can leave her at home.
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I've experimented with a variety of approaches, and the thing that works most reliably for me is to just wake up early and fit it in before the kids are up. My husband does this too, and it helps so much to be able to motivate each other!
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I get up early to run for 30 minutes in the good weather then in the winter, colder or lazier mornings, I'll go out for a fun on my lunch break from work.
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I used to live in Boston and never experienced cold Winter days like we had there. I used to work out at Golds and after I showered, if my hair wasn't completely dry, it would have ice in it by the time I walked the 15 seconds to the car. But running Boston, and training for it was an amazing experience, even though much of training was in the Winter!
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I try to go to the gym in the morning after the kids are at school. We got a puppy in February who requires a lot of attention so I’ve been struggling getting back into a routine. My exercise these days consist of taking long walks with the dog but I miss my workout classes and runs.
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I workout while they are in school. I like the no distractions. In summer, I will get a sitter or wait until my husband gets home and do it at night.
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I bought a spin bike when Dylan was about 6 months old because I couldn't make it to the gym spin classes around his schedule. I had been spinning for 8 years prior, as well as running, and this seemed to be the best option. Most mornings I work out before my kids are up without leaving the house and zero commute. I use Studio Sweat on Demand on YouTube for free awesome workouts. It is truly ideal all around. If it is a day we're home later in the morning and I sleep in, they are at the age where I can also spin while they are occupied reading, playing or on Wii. Sometimes we also swim together at the YMCA, but my main workout is on my spin bike.
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With both of us working, finding time to exercise has been a challenge for my husband and I ever since we had our first child. It is more or less difficult depending on their ages, but during nice weather we’ve discovered the joy of a “family jog.” On weekends or early evenings after work, we put the littlest ones in a jogging stroller and the big kids either run with us or ride their bikes. It’s been a fun way to spend time together and finally get our workout in!
