Exercise with kids?

[cranberry]

I'm new to this board and have a question re: exercising with kids. I am a full time mom and find it extremely difficult to figure out when and how I can exercise (I barely have time to shower some days). I have a two month old baby and a three year old. Any ideas out there? What time to exercise, type of activity, with/without the kids? Thanks for your help.

[lindrusso]

Welcome Cranberry! Finding time to exercise can be quite challenging with the little ones. Do you have a double stroller? At their ages, you could still do some walking. Mine are past that stage (3 1/2 and almost 7), but it worked for me while they were little.

Do you have a gym in the area with child care? I go to the YMCA where they have a wonderful daycare center. You may have problems finding a place to accept a 2-month-old, but our Y accepts them starting at 6 months.

You could also try doing tapes at home during nap time. This never really worked for me - I need to be out of the house and away from any and all distractions. But, it does work for some!

I will be interested to hear other ideas. I am starting a health and fitness group within my MOMS Club and we will need to address this issue because we do all of our activities during the day, with our kids.

Also, maybe you'd be able to get your husband or another mom to watch the kids for you sometimes, if that is an option for you. Some moms in our group trade babysitting duties to get things done like haircuts and/or exercising.

Good luck! I know it's a challenge!

[clairea]

cranberry,

I am also a full time mom -- my kids are 31/2 and 1, so I have many of the same issues that you do. Lindrusso mentioned most of the ideas that I had, but I thought I would at least tell you what works for me. Our YMCA takes kids as young as 3 months, so I have been taking my 1-year old to their daycare since she was that old. I know there is a gym near my house that takes kids as young as 6 weeks, but you have to pay for the childcare (which is not in my budget). I also do a lot of walking with the kids in a double stroller, or even with the baby in a stroller and the 3 year hold "helping" me push. This certainly doesn't get me as much exercise as some other activities, but at least it keeps me moving. Sometimes I trade with a neighbor who watches my kids when I exercise and then I do the same for her. Other times I go exercise after my husband gets home at night (especially now that the time has changed and I can run outside and have it still be light -- he doesn't like me to run in the dark). I try to fit in things like crunches, pushups, etc. whenever I can during the day -- it may only be 5 or 10 at a time, but I get them done. Finally, I try to keep my expectations realistic -- I only try to work out 2 days during the week and then both weekend days. This is really all that is workable for me right now, but hopefully when school starts next fall I will be able to add another day or two.

Good luck!

[claire]

During the winter, I walked the mall in the morning with the "seniors" while pushing my double stroller with two kids along for the ride. My three year old seemed to enjoy it and periodically asked, "Are we going to walk at the mall today?". I typically walk for about 40 minutes with both kids in the stroller and then my three year old walks with me on my final "cool-down" lap. In the spring and summer, we walk in the neighborhood.

[Mbart]

Hi Cranberry. I'm also a full-time mom to three kids (8, 6 and 3)and was a total couch potato until about two years ago...not a good plan! So good for you that your thinking about it now.

I've tried working out when my husband got home from work. I found my motivation low at that time of day, however, and didn't want to ditch out as soon as hubby came home, so that lasted just about three months. Then, I got a baby jogger and started running while the two older ones were in school and I could just take the baby. They have double joggers if you're a runner; I think it's so worth the investment. My kids really enjoyed going in the jogger (they all wanted to take a turn). And getting outside and breathing the fresh air is good for my mood, even if it's not sunny. However, I'm in Wisconsin and in the coldest months, the jogger is not an option. So I found a neighborhood kid that could babysit after school three days/week while I ran. I did the jogger/sitter combo for about a year and a half. Lately, though, I switched to running from 6-7am, and I find this works best. This could be tough if you're still sleep-deprived with a 2 month old, tho.

Hope you can find something that works for you!

[foodiedelite]

What's worked well for my 2 1/2 yr. old daughter and me for the past year has been walking. I load her up in the stroller around 7 A.M. and we walk for 30 minutes/5 days a week. Each day I will have her look for another object to count to keep her attention. One day she looks for how many flags she can find in the neighborhood, another day, how many cats, etc.

Another possibility may be walking in the wee hours of the morning when your children are still sleeping and your partner is able to watch them.

Whatever you decide take time for you!

[memartha]

My husband and I recently bought a treadmill and it was the best investment, fitness wise, we have ever made. (actually the only investment, except for our YMCA membership).

I know it's pricey, but we skipped Christmas gifts this year and decided the treadmill would be both our birthday gifts. I have wanted one for about 6 years. My children are now 3 and 6, and around the house a lot, and with the treadmill, I can exercise while they are playing, napping or anything. For me, it has been the least-hassle solution to finding time to exercise w/kids around. Hope you can swing it.