How to exercise while taking care of kids and go to school!?!

    I'm a stay at home mother of 2, I am taking a full class load of college credits, I have an 8 yr. old and a 1 yr. old. I home school my 8 year old. How do you find time to exercise?

bathtubmonster

I get up at 5:00 and work out from 530 to 630.   If that doesn't work for you, make it a priority to sneak it in wherever you can.   I usually blow it off if I don't go first thing in the morning. 

Hi! I am also in a similar situation... I have a 9yr old daughter and am studying full time at university. As for routine exercise... well there isn't enough hours or energy left in the day lol When the weathers nice I try an get her to come and play badminton for half hour or so or we drive to the coast, which isn't far from us, and play on the beach, or go for a walk in the hills. I also try to combine housework with added exercise... putting music on and getting her involved with say dusting or mopping whilst having a boogie round, or even extra squats as I put my laundry in the machine...

What I hadn't realised was how much energy studying and driving uses until I joined here a few days ago, so anything else is a bonus lol

sweetigem

Hi. I understand how you feel. I was putting off exercise because of my schedule. I have a 6 and 3 year old. I watch 4 other kids from 6:30am - 5:30pm at my home. I also have a full time school schedule that I do online and is very extensive. I used to feel somewhat guilty trying to find time to exercise. I always had other stuff that I should have been doing, such as spending time with my kids, school work, or cleaning. However, a month ago, I just decided that I was going to exercise. I started out doing an hour long video twice a week. Now I do it three times a week and will usually fit in 30 min. on the exercise bike one or two days. I started doing more during the day. I would cook dinner, so that when my daycare kids left at 5:30pm, dinner was ready to go. I did more cleaning during the day. I would do more schoolwork during nap time. It's weird, but I feel like I don't have as much to do and I'm doing more. You just have to decide to do it.

hey!  I've got 3 kids at home (ages 5, 2 and 1month), and I also homeschool.  I usually fit in 15 - 30 minutes 6 days a week of something, either cardio, weight training, or a mixture.  I love the biggest loser workouts, because they are short and programable - so I can do a short, or long workout, cardio, weights, stretching or combo based on how much time I have, how the kids are acting etc. 

 

 Kendtangel, I just recieved my biggest loser work out videos in the mail! I'm glad you like them, I didn't realize I could program them for a long or short routine, that makes me more excited to get started.

  I guess I should really concentrate on a better sleeping schedule for myself since my children have a consistent schedule, if I go to sleep earlier, I can wake up earlier and exercise. It just means I can't put anything off (like my school work) until after they go to bed. This is the toughest part of trying to get into shape well and having energy!

 Thank you for the posts! They are helpful.

bathtubmonster

I work 2 jobs (usually 60-70 hours a week) and go to grad school full time.  I've found the only time I will actually get a workout in is in the morning.  I hate mornings, but if I wait until later in the day I'm too concerned with other things that I have to get done.

I would love to give you some advice, but i need it myself. I have a 5years old and a 8months old, both boys. I wake up at 5.45 to get them and my husband out the door my 6-6.15 mon-fri. then off to work by 7.00 am. home by 6pm get dinner and the boys ready for bed by 8.00 when can i execerise.

I suppose I'm very lucky as far as my schedule is concerned .

I have a 3 year old whose in preschool, still takes naps and is in bed by no later than 7:30. This was basically set up by him and his previous caretaker(I'm a a foster parent) so whenever he's napping,in school or with bio mom I'm able to work out.

However though when we have other children in care it gets sticky as it depends on if the child is in good health or if I'm sleep deprived. We just had a little girl in care her for 3 months (15 months old ) who was severely neglected along with her 3 month old brother.

So we were in and out of hospitals for a good month trying to find a good way to keep her healthy however since learning about this site I can calculate child care activities into my day. 

I am up at 6:00, getting my 5 year old kindergartener ready for school, out the door by 7:30 to drop her off and get to work by 8:00. I work till 5:30 and am home after picking her up by 6:00. I have just enough time for a healthy dinner for us, bath, homework and reading. What I have found works, and I don't know if everyone can do this but it's just a suggestion; I found going at my lunch time helps. It is not taking any time away from my daughter, and I have an hour at lunch anyways. I have enough time to get to the gym, work out for 40 mins take a shower and get back to work. I eat at my desk while I work. It has been working out really well..

I know some of you are stay at home moms, so that might not work.