Mom with 2 small kids & home all day...excercise suggestions?

So...within the last few months I've gotten tired of being tired and decided that it was time to get healthy and lose weight. I have two kids, ages 2 and 4, and they are busy little people to keep up with!

At my heaviest, following the birth of my youngest, I weighed 222. Since last September-ish, I've gotten my weight down to 182, with a good 50 pounds to my "goal weight".

I do okay with eating. I love vegetables, (although dinnertime is usually a killer for me...working on it, though!) so keeping within my calories range isn't too much of a problem.

I guess my problem is finding ways to be active. I'm a stay-at-home-mom, so there is the typical housework and things, but other than that, it is extremely(!!!) hard to find the time to exercise. I love to walk, but I can't really make my little kids walk 4 miles with me.

Does anyone have any tips on how to sneak some activity in, without having to commit to a gym or anything? I usually do some calisthenics at night after my kids are in bed while I watch TV...but, any other ideas would be appreciated. I feel stuck and discouraged.

Good job on the weight loss so far!

As far as the exercise - have you tried some workout DVDs? I use Denise Austin (though I know some people dislike her) and have found that to be a great workout. Her "Shrink Those Female Fat Zones" has two 20 minute workouts that are quite fun to do and relatively easy, or if you have the time you could do the entire 40 minutes. It uses weights and you could up the weights if you need more of a workout. I know you don't have the extra time during the day for workouts, and it's not something you can do easily while the kiddos are still awake (I know, I've tried! haha!) but maybe you could do those instead of watching TV at night?

Another exercise idea I do that the kids will enjoy doing *with* you is some crazy dancing. Put on some vibey music and dance with them for 30 minutes or so. They'll LOVE it and you'll get a great workout.

HTH :)

Do you have a "jogger" buggie? You can use those double ones for the back of a bike or just to run. They are pricey, but you can find them second hand for much less. 
I used to nanny, and I found it a *great* break for me because I'd take the kids out on a long walk in the afternoon when we were all getting a bit tired of each other - much better than TV, and they would usually fall asleep and I got some fresh air! If we went earlier, we'd go to the park, but I'd usually just make them walk with me there and get in the buggie on the way home. 
Also, the joggers allow you to go on runs if you're up to it... And the kids would probably like it. However, walking can do wonders as well.
They're also all-terrain. I pushed that buggie through a snowy winter and bundled the kids up with a blanket inside and sippy cups full of warm chocolate milk. They loved it. 

I involve Cyrus in my workout. Although it would be harder for you because they are older and you have more than 1. Someone on here suggested getting the wiggles workout video because it is great cardio and your kids will want to do it as well. My mom used to say "lets play follow the leader" then we would all march around the living room, do jumping jacks, whatever. Even if you have your kids be the leader, chances are you will get in some good cardio.

That's a good idea, actually. I've thought about the video/DVD thing before, but didn't have any suggestions as to who or what to go with...there just seems to be soooooooo many options, and I just want a basic, roundabout thing. The Denise Austin thing sounds like just that.

I don't really watch TV to watch TV...it's more of a way of distracting my brain while I exercise. Otherwise I get bored and want to stop. So, it's kind of like a reward; I can watch Mythbusters or Ace of Cakes while I do crunches and push-ups, etc.

It's kind of nice to trick your own brain.

When my boys were little, I did exercise tapes at home (like you, I was a SAHM). As they got a bit older, they would "join" me, it was pretty cute because they really couldn't do sit-ups but they sure tried.

I also had my husband stay at the house at night while I would go on a power walk.

You can do it!

I know what you mean about the TV. I would love to get either a treadmill or an exercise bike and use it while watching TV... would sure make the time fly past quickly! Someday, I hope...

The Denise DVD I suggested uses weights for the first part of the workout, and one of those giant exercise balls (about $10) for the second part. I also have her Ultimate Fat Burner which uses a step (but in only one exercise is the step *really* necessary) and although I've been using it for a couple of years it still gives me a really great workout each time I use it!

I tried a couple of exercise DVDs from the library until I found something I liked.. some of them are so complicated I spent most of the time going... "Huh?!" LOL.

Ooh.. and I second the Wiggles! :)

When I tried the video thing I always tripped over my kids so I use them as resistance training I do bench presses with them and pick them up and toss them in the air you can also hold them and do squats it just adds extra weight to make you work harder.  to them your just playing and horsing around with them.  Im always tired afterward .... the wiggles sounds fun too

I'm also a stay at home mom of a 2 and a half year old boy.

I really suggest exercise videos. Or also FitTV has workouts all throughout the day. If you have satellite it's channel 368, I believe. I can do those sorts or things while he's awake or taking a nap. Only I can't do things that have my laying or sitting on the floor while he's awake or he's always jumping on me! :)

Also I have a manual treadmill.... (which I actually don't like, but I do use it and it WORKS you out!) I want to get a "real" treadmill someday. But anyway, I can actually do that while he's awake also. If I stick on one of his favorite cartoons than he'll just watch that or color or something.   

When I was a SAHM (Oh boy I miss those days) I did Walk Away The Pounds by Leslie Sansone.  I did it every single day.  I never skipped a day.  Even if I was sick, I still did it.  My discipline made me lose without struggle.  Now that I work and don't have the time to exercise (and I quit smoking) I am struggling big time with weight loss.  Can't seem to put a dent in my poundage.  Kind of making me upset, but I still swear my walk away the pounds.  My 4 year old daughter loves doing it with me!

My son is two and I have a gazelle, but can only do it when he is napping or playing quietly in his crib.  I tried doing some crunches and "planks" and stretching today while he was awake - okay, but not the easiest.  I cannot do the gazelle at night after he is in bed, or I cannot sleep - learned that the hard way!
I have a friend who is becoming a physical trainer, and she suggested pilates for strength training.  I have heard a lot of people love it, but don't much about it.  I reserved some movies from the library to try...then maybe I will buy one.  I figure I can do that at night when he is in bed and hopefully still be able to sleep.

That Walk Away the Pounds sounds great! For some reason I always thought you had to have a treadmill to use those workouts... but I see you need.. nothing. Just walking shoes and small area! I think I'm going to try that, I see my library has a copy.

I don't know who has digital cable but exercise on demand has the walking with leslie thing on there, and its free. I put Cyrus in his kangaroo carrier and walk (not only will he fall asleep, it also adds more weight which burns more calories) I also do what pp said with using your kids as weights in a way. I lay down and lift Cyrus from my chest into "airplane" and he loves it. I have, admittedly been drooled and spit up on, but thats ok...lol

When both of my children were little, I used them as weights...put 1 on your back for squats...put them on your legs while you are on your back and lift them up and down...they loved it...I agree with the dance club playtime with the kids too...my oldest is 14 now and he will still get down with me and his little brother...all I have to do is crank up the music!

I do have digital cable with the On Demand...I guess I never thought of looking into exercise programs on there, though. And I never thought of the library, either. Thanks!

My kids like to "help me" exercise, too, and I always seem to spend most of my time laughing at their silliness. The fun part is trying to do push-ups or leg lifts and having my two-year-old park herself underneath me, like I am a draw bridge or something. I like to use her for some arm curls...she thinks I'm playing, and I'm actually getting a good arm workout! (It's getting tougher, though. She's tall her her age, which makes it harder to lift her and such. My 4-year-old is way tall for his age, too...now there's some hardcore lifting!)

I don't have a jogger stroller. I don't even think I have a stroller at all. I've wanted a double stroller since my second was born, but there was always other things, and now they're getting to where the outgrowing the need (or want) to ride in the stroller (but still don't want to walk).

I think I just have to be realistic about my goals and take it day by day. I've started implementing little things into my everyday routine to help burn more calories, like standing while folding laundry (even if it's six loads!) or running up the stairs as fast as I possibly can...

One day at a time!

I ALWAYS use to ONdemand from my cable co. They have tons of different exercise videos for free. And what I like best is that you can switch it up so you don't get used to the same workout everyday.

i stay at home with my 2 year old and 2 month old.  i do squats while i put laundry away, squatting to pick up each piece of clothes from the hamper.  i keep all the workouts from magazines in a binder so they're easy to find and when ever i get a free minute i try to do atleast part of a work out, even if its only a few reps of one move.  i also use resistance bands through out the day to work out my arms. a little here and there adds up.  dont get frustrated if u cant put in a full workout.  best wishes!

I echo the recommendation for Walk Away the Pounds by Leslie Sansone.  Those are great low-impact videos.  Also, if you live in a fairly metropolitan area, look to see if there's a Jazzercise class near you.  Many Jazzercise sites have class times that offer babysitting.  You can find a class at www.jazzercise.com. ;

when my mom was trying to lose her pregnancy weight i remember she bought these "mommy n me" type exercise videos (: i was really little at the time but i remember waking up early just so i could do it with her, it was fun and good bonding time.

Thanks! I'm so excited about all my new suggestions! Makes me want to get up and get moving (which is exactly the point)!