Trouble finding time for workouts?

Im a divorced mother of 2 young girls and I work full time. The girls are with their dad every other weekend. My problem is finding time to excersice. I try to use my lunch hour to walk but if its rainy or really hot, its not ideal. I joined a gym but I'm having trouble finding time to go. I cant go in the morning (cant leave the kids alone) and have to pick the kids up after work. Its too far from work to go at lunch..Any one have any suggestions, aside from building a gym in my house? ;)... Weekends are not so much a problem- just weekdays. Anyone in a similar situation?

I am starting the slim in 6 program so i can do it at home when my children are in bed (probably early in the morning).  I know If I dont' wait until bedtime they will be under my feet and I won't get anything done.  Have you ever thougth of a home workout tape?

Sheila

if you can, try to workout at home. There are lots of resources for workout dvds (www.collagevideo.com) and you could also pick up some free weights and a small weight bench (my b/f got a cheapo one from KMart, but it does its job!!) for some strength training.

Is that a possibility? Best of luck to you! It is very hard to find time, it's sometimes just a matter of making time :)

Invest in some workout videos, and some weights or resistance bands to do at home, then get up around 30 minutes earlier than the kids and do your workout. It doesnt cost a lot, I spent $30 for a resistance band set by ProGym, and $15 for a fitness ball, and every so often I pick up a new fitness DVD for around $10-$15 each. Right now I have six, including 2 cardio DVD's, two pilates, a butt/thigh/ab dvd, and the dvd that came with the resistance bands. You don't need a lot of space for any of these, and the cost is low.

I hadnt thought of workout tapes...thanks for the suggestion! Is slim at 6 a tape series?

Is there a gym closer to your work? Maybe a curves or something. That way you could work out quick before you have to pick up the kids.

I  used to be in that same boat! It is difficult, but not necessarily impossible. First and foremost, does your gym have a babysitting service? That is the ideal. My old gym (before I moved) had a service and it was great - the kids loved it and I got in my workout.

If it doesn't, then you have to get more creative. I am assuming you can't afford a baby sitter on a regular basis (I couldn't). You might be able to afford a "mother's helper" for an hour each day - do you know of anyone who could do that for you? I.e., you workout at the house or just walk around the neighborhood - staying close to home - while the mother's helper - usually a child about 10 or 11 - plays with the kids.

Another idea is to find another mom in a similar circumstance, and trade off watching each other's kids for free while the other one gets in a workout. Try tacking up a notice at your gym.

Walking over your lunch break is great. Depending on your office, in the past I've been known to bring in resistance bands and free weights and store them in the woman's bathroom - for anyone to use, not just me.

Otherwise, can you get up early and workout at home to a video? Or after the kids are in bed? I never had any luck exercising while they were awake, because I'd fear I'd step on them or drop a weight on them. I could do yoga though -they liked to do that with me. I will say this: I have always found if I devote the first 30 minutes to an hour of each evening to quality one-on-one time, the kids are much more apt to be content to play on their own while I go do my own thing later (whether working out, cooking dinner, or cleaning). It also sets the whole tenor for the rest of the evening to go more smoothly with less whining for my attention. Try making a routine of cuddling and reading a book when you first get home from work, while having a snack. It makes a huge difference!!

Other ideas I've tried include taking the kids to an outdoor track. I would put the kids in the middle - in the grassy area - to play and run around (maybe blow bubbles?) while I ran the track. Since I used to take my kids to see me compete in 5K's, they were supportive and seemed to understand. It's also good role modeling!

I have also been known on a few occasions to go out for a midnight run when they were fast asleep. Yeah, that's quite risky. But I was really desparate!!!  And we shared a duplex with another family, so if anything happened, there were other adults in the house. My kids were well-trained already to go down the back stairs and find our neighbors in the event of any emergency (I once fell down the stairs while carrying down laundry, and knocked myself unconscious for 10 minutes... scary scary... it was then that I taught my kids how to dial 911 and go to the neighbor's). And on these runs I would always take ID with a note explaining my kids were home alone, just in case I got hit by a car.

Finally, find a park that has one of those outdoors fitness circuits. Then take the kids walking with you, and hit each circuit together. You do pull-ups and sit-ups and all that... my kids particularly liked the balance beam. My youngest DD discovered early on that she is one muscular kid - you'd be amazed at what she can do one of these courses!

Hope that gives you some ideas!

I don't know about "slim in 6" but I have 3 dvd's from Prevention magazine series..."dance it off", "lose it in 30", and "belly, butt and thighs". It gives me some variety.

There is a gym closer and I am going to see how much they charge. I may switch to the closer gym when my current membership expires.

My gym only has babysitting 9-12 weekdays, which is when Im already at work. I like the track idea- thats something we could manage. Im also gonig to see about workout tapes. Its so true if you spend some quality time with the kids, they are okay with it, if you then want to do something on your own for a little while! 

Great suggestions everyone, thanks!!

I dont know much about children, but Ill try and make some(at least from my point of view) sensible suggestions.
-Maybe have a friend pick them up for you instead three times a week, or have them watch them the same routine and workout then?
-Home equipment I suppose Invest in a treadmill and/or home weight set I suppose, I think the cardio is more important, but thats just me.
Hope that gives any ideas. Good luck

Why can't you work out WITH your kids ?  Start teaching them good habits.

They can ride a bike or run with you as you walk in the morning.  Have each on of them hold you feet while you do sit ups. You can have a jump rope or hoola hoop contest - talk about a cardio.  Make it fun.  How about tennis?  Heck - dancing ! Crank up the radio and go.  Or a good old fashioned pillow fight. Make it a family event.  Don't exclude them, include them.

Might look for family workout tapes -- Gaiam has a good collection.  If you do pilates which uses muscle isolation and bands- it is hard to hurt yourself so might be kid friendly.  I have one of those big blow up balls for working out at the house - my son plays Hercules picking it up over his head - not realizing he is working shoulders and upperback.  One of the exercises I do at my gym uses a weighted ball and bouncing it back and forth, throwing it about.  Buy one and play 4 square with your girls.  You can get inexpensive equipment at Playitagain sports or look for videos on Half.com .

I long neglected my body using the "I am too busy" excuse and the child's  X Y Z  activity/need is more important than my own.  One of the most important roles we have as a parent is to model healthy behaviours for our kids - healthy eating and body maintenance ( exercise).

 Have you ever watched "Lazy Town" with them? And there is an Elmo and Zoe exercise tape I think also.

       &nb sp;               &nb sp;       You find what you look for.