Working moms- how do you find the time to workout?

So I just had a baby boy 3 months ago. I had been active throughout my pregnancy and prior to that, hitting the gym 3-4 times a week, running and absolutely in shape. I'm back at work now full-time with a pretty demanding 12-14hr/day consulting job and I have absolutely no time for myself let alone working out!

By the time I've played with the baby in the evening, had dinner, logged back onto my laptop to work I'm too sapped to workout. Plus the baby wakes up in the middle of the night so I'm always tired. I'm 5lbs away from my pre pregnancy weight of 120lbs, but my stomach looks horrible and I'm totally depressed by this :(

Any tips. ideas, rants from other working mums?

I am working and had a baby 3 months ago too.  I only work from 7 - 2:30 on M,Th, F and 7 - 7:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday so not nearly as damanding of a schedule as yours.  Even though I have time every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays I am having a hard time getting motivated to run/exercise regularly.  I worked out 4-5 times a week throughout my pregnancy and only gained 22 lbs so I am only 2 - 3 lbs about my pre-pregnancy weight of 120. Even though I am so close I hate my stomach right now!  When I sit down or bend over it feels like it is hanging over my pants :(    I am so tired when I get home from work that I talk myself out of going for a run.  I can't imagine trying to work out with a schedule like yours.  This week I am working on efficiently using my time at home so I can get everything done.  So far I ran on Monday, went for a 3 mile walk during a break at work on Tuesday, I'm giving myself today off and plan to run every day for the rest of the week.  I am hoping by having a good week this will motivate me for future weeks.  Can you find any time during your working hours to squeeze in any exercise?  Hopefully your baby will start sleeping more at night - I am getting up once at 3:30 for a feeding but she is sleeping from 8 - 8 with the one feeding.  Feel free to add me as a friend - we seem to have a lot in common :)

Original Post by fat2fit77:

So I just had a baby boy 3 months ago. I had been active throughout my pregnancy and prior to that, hitting the gym 3-4 times a week, running and absolutely in shape. I'm back at work now full-time with a pretty demanding 12-14hr/day consulting job and I have absolutely no time for myself let alone working out!

By the time I've played with the baby in the evening, had dinner, logged back onto my laptop to work I'm too sapped to workout. Plus the baby wakes up in the middle of the night so I'm always tired. I'm 5lbs away from my pre pregnancy weight of 120lbs, but my stomach looks horrible and I'm totally depressed by this :(

 

this is so me except for the fact that julia is 14 months now.

i work a 12-13 hour day and then log back in after i put her down.  i'm fat and ugly and i have no time to work out; unless; i bring my bb on the eliptical with me and that's just NOT a good idea. 

i could go on the weekends-  but that's my julia time.

i could go at night; but my husband doesn't get home until late.

i wish i could buy an ellpitcal for my house; but that's a lot of $$.

GRR!!!!!!  ugly fat vanessa with beautiful daughter and still slim bank account.

I have an almost 5-year-old daughter and a son that just turned 1 a week ago. I also work 40 hour weeks (8am-4pm M-F). Without incorporating exercise into my morning, I have to get up between 5 and 5:15am to get both kids, the husband () and myself ready and out the door on time. I honestly cannot get up any earlier to work out. Because I already get up so early, I have a hard time staying up past my daughter's 9pm bedtime.

The last thing on my mind when I get home is working out. I want to hang out with my kids, my husband and get dinner going. I feel like I'm away from them so much during the day that I want to get in as much family time as possible. I don't want to spend an hour working out when I could be with them. Since I go to bed so early, it doesn't leave much of a window to work out.

I have set some new goals for myself. I've started running again, right when I get home from work. Right now, I'm only at a mile (which I can't even run non-stop!) so it doesn't take up much time. I'm going to run four days a week and do strength training 3-5 days per week. I'm going to use 30 Day Shred so it's only 20 minutes long. That gives my husband some alone-time with the kids and I don't feel like I'm missing out on too much.

I really just try to physically play with my kids as much as possible on the weekends. Spending 30-45 minutes running around in the yard or wrestling on the bed surely burns decent calories!

Original Post by vanessa1031:

i'm fat and ugly and i have no time to work out

ugly fat vanessa with beautiful daughter and still slim bank account. 

Boo! Not ugly, fat Vanessa. You're gorgeous, darling! And by no means fat. I've seen your photos!

I also meant to add that I'm below my pre-pregnancy weight right now and still have the yucky tummy. Since I've had a kid previously, I know that it WILL go away eventually but it does take time. Although, I've had two c-sections so I don't expect it to look like it did before I had kids. It will get better, though! I don't think I was completely happy with my stomach until 2 years PP (I didn't work out the first time around).

bier i love you <3

I have a ten month old daughter and I am now ten months below my prepregnancy weight and I almost have my six pack back.  Anyhow, with a schedule that demanding it seems like you barely have any time for yourself.  I schedule at least an hour per day for myself.  Even if you can just pencil in a half hour to go on youtube and find a great yoga routine to do every day after the baby goes to sleep...or you can do it with the baby lying on the floor next to you and make faces every time you pass over your baby! My baby loves it (yoga was all I did until about 4 -5 five months after birth) and it gives you muscle tone, relaxation, and time with your baby.

Also, if it's still warm where you live get a nice stroller and take your baby for a walk or get a carrier (like I did) and carry your baby while you walk.  It adds weight to your stride and your baby stays close to you for a little extra bonding.

I hope that helps a little bit! Good luck!!

I have a 3 month old too (and a 2 1/2 year old).  I am not back at work yet, so I have been working out like a fiend - 4 times a week minimum!  Result: still have a yucky tummy! 

After my first I really had to force myself to workout once I went back to work full time.  It was tough!  I was often going to the gym at 8 at night, after he was in bed.  It sucks, but at least you feel better about yourself when you work out.

Push yourself to go at night, even just twice a week to start.  See if you feel better!  Even if you're tired, remind yourself how awesome you'll feel afterwards!  Gotta love endorphins!

My baby is 4 months now and my trick to having time to workout is doing it at home.  I use a combination of weights/cardio (I use kettlebells - not too many people are familiar with them), it takes me exactly one hour to get a full workout in.  I'm lucky that my husband will take the baby for that hour or take him to day care early so I can have this time.  We both also work full-time.  I use weekend days to make sure I get a workout in because my husband is usually off work, but I work Saturdays.

Many, many days I don't feel like exercising but I try to get at least four days a week in because I always feel better after and I know it helps a lot with stress.  On my off days I'll go for a long brisk walk or just make sure to be very active at home with laundry and cleaning. 

It's so hard to be a mom and have that time to make sure you are healthy!!  It's hard not to beat yourself up about it when it doesn't happen, too!

This makes me feel so much better.  I am a cycling instructor and gym rat, I even taught a cycle class the morning before I was induced.  Kennedy is almost 3 months, I still have 3lbs to go and my tummy is also horrible, AND I began working out again when she was 3 weeks and I am back in the gym, an hour a day 5 days a week.  Going from 7 days to 5 days is hard yet when you have a baby it is totally different.

What I am saying is that even if you were working out I think your tummy would still look that way unless you are Heidi Klum or have loads of money and time to work it off.  It is slowly getting better and the weight won't budge, even though it is 2lbs, I still have 2 inches to lose on my waist.  I am sure it will be this way till I am done breastfeeding though, I even upped my calories and nothing is budging but oh well. My doctor told me that even though the number on the scale looks the same, the tummy takes an average of one year to return to normal, even with excercise.

What I do is make a firm commitment to get it done.  I know that an unhealthy Mom can not give Kennedy all she needs.  And I am not talking about physically unhealthy, I am talking mentally.  That hour a day, to myself, is what relieves my stress and allows me to handle getting up every 2 to 3 hours.  YES, she only sleeps for 2 to 3 hours at a time and I have tried everything.  I pack my gym bag and keep it in the car, when I pick her up from day care we go straight to the gym.  I know it is hard, her going from day care to day care but I skip Monday and Thursday and sometimes during the weekend instead of the gym I go walking with her in the stroller and do strength training at home.  AND I am a single Mom, her dad is in the military, 4 states away about to deploy.

You can get it done but it is hard and a commitment.  I know I sometimes feel I am taking time away from her but then I remember that I want her to have a positive role model. 

wow, thanks everyone for sharing your stories! looks like I've become a real lazy lump and after reading all your posts I am absolutely motivated to start gymming again, not only for my muffin top but also for my sanity. vanessa- i think you'e gorgeous and julia is totally adorable! :)  

its amazing how you guys make this time, I am so totally inspired now..i just hope it lasts by the time evening rolls around and the couch beckons :)

In all reality; I am just so tired by the end of the day to get a workout in.  From being up at 6AM and having a 13-14 hour day with the commute; and my DH traveling so much-  it's all me ALL the time.  so for me; after I put Julia down to bed and going back to work for an hour-  becuase-  I have to leave on time every day- so I have to log back in to make sure they know I'm committed even though I now have a baby. 

I'm so tired; on auto-pilot; and I WILL get back to the gym;  it's just very hard for any me time; and the me time I get I'd rather not be running on an elliptical like a hamster on a wheel.

Vanessa, that sounds like my life- on auto pilot LOL! :) There's always that load of laundry, stack of dishes, bills, etc etr to do when i can enjoy "my time" that I think my to-do list never ends.

DH is working on his startup so has crazy hrs (and no paycheck at the mo :( ) I have a hectic job with type A personalities around me, very few women and none with kids..so ofcourse while my team is working till 12-1am, going to bars and having team dinners i have to atleast log in from home after chores are done and work :(. So I always talk  myself out of that middle of the night run at the gym.

ah well..i should count my blessings..healthy  baby and no stretch marks..haha