When Do You Find Time to Go to the Gym?

There are lots of morning people, I'm a night person. I go to the gym after all my kids go to bed. I belong to a 24 hr gym, I usually get there around 9, watch a show I like and leave at 10. Once I come home I finish packing lunches, go to bed by the 1:00 news. For me, it does not interfere with my sleep, and cuts down on my snacking.

My gym has childcare, which is wonderful. A friend of mine went to the gym on weekdays right when her husband got home so he could have some time with their daughter and she got in a workout. You can always go before/after work which may cut down on travel time.

The only time I have found to work out is in the mornings before work. I HATE getting up in the morning but once you are up and moving and done it feels great! I am lucky enough that my husband can get my two boys up in the morning so that I can go. I am a high school teacher so I have been taking the 5:15 class at the RAC...if you can do mornings then you can be done and go home to your little on in the afternoon! Good luck!

I have the same problem. I work out around 6:15-7 am. It gets me going for the morning before I go to work, and it's early enough where my husband is still at home before he has to go to work. I also like it because it isn't insainly busy like it is in the evening!!!

thats a tough one. I wound up setting up my own mini gym in my basement, got a good treadmill and a gym quality stairmaster and away I go with the tv on or a good book! I only work part time so i workout while my son naps but you could do it either early in the am or at night when he goes to sleep. With all the workout moms I know, Its really tough to maintain a gym membership, work FT and keep up house etc...good luck!

There is nothing wrong with taking time out for yourself to go to the gym once or twice a week. Also take up brisk walk around the block over the weekends, take the baby and your husband with you.
Eat smaller portions and don't buy junk foods...throw the Halloween candy out.....

I get up at 6am and do a half hour in the gym Monday - Friday. I know that I am lucky that my gym is in my apartment building so there is no travel issue. I find that the early morning is the only time I'll actually go. It is very hard to drag myself out of bed at that time but I think there is even less chance if I wait until I get home from work when all I want to do is eat dinner and spend time with the kid.

Ugh, I feel your pain! Is there any way that you can go in the evening, after the baby's bedtime? I know that's your only husband time, and that you're absolutely exhausted to boot. But if you do that a couple of evenings during the week, and also go once or twice on the weekend during your son's nap...at least it's a start!

It's the best I can come up with, and it's hard to follow through on. I only get there 1-2x per week these days, but I'm hoping to move that up to 3-4x.

Good luck! You are not alone. :)

P.,
Can you go to work early?
Can you go to the gym after your baby has gone to bed?
Only a couple of ideas I can think of.
Good luck!
M.

Hey P., trust me it is so hard to find some time for yourself. I used to go to the gym 5-6 times a week before I had my daughter, now I aim for 2-3. Set a small goal, of making it to the gym 2-3 times a week. Maybe 1 day go after work, and try to go early in the morning or late at night. I know going on the weekends is hard, but try to go early, get it over with, and have your husband watch your daughter for a bit. I too feel guilty taking my daughter at times, but they have a nursery, and now she is starting to enjoy interacting with the other kids. Good luck

My son is 11 months old and I struggled with the same "when do I work out" dilemna. Only in the last 2 months have I started to work out a routine. One night a week is now "Daddy Tuck In" time. I have quick dinner with the baby and then go work out. And Saturday mornings I go to the gym for a class. It's nice for my husband and son to get time together without me, too.

But if your baby is only 5 months, give yourself a bit of time. I went back to work when my baby was 3 months old, and I still don't feel like I've got a good schedule worked out. You'll figure it out.

morning P.,
Well lets see, I have been married to a wonderful man for 15 years, have 2 children and a full time job. I am gaining weight like you would not believe....I need to loose 30 pounds at least. So when you figure it out, how to take time for yourself and not feel guilty about it, let me know would you! Its very hard juggleing a job, and house and family, and finding time for yourself....I keep asking for exercise equipment for gifts....maybe set up my own little corner in the basement for when I can steal time for myself, but I would still be here if needed..... If not I am afraid of what I am going to end up looking like! NOt to mention, I have a problem with going to a gym all by myself, I would rather have a friend with me...more inclined to go and actually work out.

Hi, P.:

I had a similar issue when my son was a baby. I *occasionally* was able to hit the gym during lunch, but it was difficult. Maybe that's possible for you? I finally found that my exercise came from walking to and from the subway/bus every day--and from pushing a stroller through the park on weekends.

In other words, I came home to my son every night--which was more important to me--and resigned myself to not getting as much regular exercise as I was used to :-)

You'll get back to it. T.

Hi P.,

it depends when your little boy goes to bed, but maybe you can try to go to the gym a couple of times a week after he goes to bed. My gym is open until 10 PM. I know that is very hard, cause once you are home you probably don't wont to go back out and you are hungry....:-) But if you tell yourself, just two times a week...

Good luck!

Is there any way you could go early in the morning before you go to work and get your son up. Early in the morning is the time I find that works the best. Good luck.

Hi P.-

Check this dvd out it is all short workouts and you can do it at home. It works!

www.fitpackdvd.com

This information will be useless if you don't have the Wii. But if you do, buy the Wii Fit. You'll be home, and you can get a total body workout, just like at the gym. You can set the baby up to watch you work out while hubby's cooking dinner:-).

Good luck.

Hey there P.! I have found that the best time to go is at about 8-8:30 just after the kids are in bed. Then you won't miss any time with them, and even though at that time I'm exhausted I end up feeling a whole lot better than if I'd just gone to bed...gives me some me time.
Hope that helps!
Good luck!
D.

Hi P.. When my daughter was younger, the only time I could find to work out was early in the morning. So I started getting up around 5 am a few days a week to run, and then by the time I was back home I usually had time to shower before the baby woke up. It was hard in the beginning, but after a few weeks I got into a groove, and then felt out of sorts if I missed my morning workout. Good luck. It's important for you to get regular exercise, so I'm sure you'll figure out what works best for you.

To be honest, I have a hard time getting there (the gym) and I'm not working FT. Is your work near the gym? Any way to get there during lunch??? Or, like many others have said, maybe early morning is your best option.

Good luck!