Moms - How do you find time?

[Traveller99]

Hello to all, I have lurked here for ages but this is my first actual post.

Pre-baby I use to workout 5-6 days a week for an hour a day (did this up until the day I delivered). Post baby, I started working out 3 weeks PP (After Dr's approval - had such an easy pregnancy and delivery that I got cleared fairly early).

Working out was easy up until my daughter was 6 months, but after this point it has been impossible. I have one of those non-sleeping babies. She is now 13 months, down to one nap (roughly 1 hour, sometimes more, sometimes less) and it always happens later on in the day when I am busy doing other things. In addition she is STILL waking up roughly 2 times a night (more if teething) so I am EXHAUSTED to wake up earlier than she to workout (She wakes up at 7) and by the time we get her down at night all I do is want to crash myself.

Luckily I lost baby weight by 3 weeks PP so loosing weight is not a priority, I just love to workout and it always makes me feel so much better.

So out of curiosity - what do fellow Mom's do to fit in workouts?
Will it get better when she gets older??
I have tried working out when she is in the room but that is a joke... she LOVES my step!!

Sorry for the long post, guess I needed to vent a bit more than I thought. Just getting discouraged.

The only thing I have been doing is Pilates and I try to walk with our stroller as much as possible.

 

[EricaH]

Kristyn, can your DH watch your baby while you exercise? That's the only way that I was able to get in any exercise when my kids were little. I was too exhausted to give up sleep and there was no way that I could do it while they were awake.

Our YMCA offers childcare for kids one year and older while the parents exercise - I don't know if that's an option for you or not.

Good luck and it does get easier, I promise!

Erica

 

[Traveller99]

My DH would watch her but by the time he gets home I am already in my exhausted phase. I am sure once (if ever) my daughter figures out how to sleep through the night I will have more energy during the day. I know what I need to do is just suck it up and force myself to workout (Tired and all) and eventually it will be like routine.

Don't have any gyms with daycares around here. We live overseas (DH is military) and they don't have that novelty here. Wish they did!!!

I keep trying to remind myself that this is temporary, eventually I will have a bit more 'me' time to workout.

Thanks!!

 

[dcat]

Hi Kristyn-
I built my workouts right into my daughter's schedule starting around when she 2 months old. Initially, I tried working out after my husband got home from work, but, like you, I was more exhausted at the end of the day and didn't enjoy the workouts as much. I love to workout in the morning so I decided to put her first in her bouncy seat and time my workouts right after a feeding. It worked. Eventually she graduated to the pack-n-play where she played while I exercised until about a month or two ago when my dh and I created a little play area for her to hang out in while I work out. She's 2 now and has no problem with it. I guess by now she's used to seeing me jump around and lift weights. I get about 50-60 minutes in before she gets restless. I let her roam my workout area (it's safe!!) during abs/core and stretch which she really looks forward to. I don't know how long this will last and now I'm pregnant with #2 so it's going to get even more challenging, eventually. Anyway, even now your daughter might be willing to hang out in a designated play area while you get your workouts in. Might be worth a try!
Take care, Diana

 

[amron]

Hi, my two are a bit older now, 4 and 2 3/4, but I have worked out since my 4 year old was born. Walking was a big part of it and I would also put her in her jolly jumper which she loved. Number 2 was different as he hated the jolly jumper and I could really only do walking with him until he was about 12 months. Although I did do yoga with both of them and got a book about doing yoga with your baby so that you were actually doing the yoga with them. They loved it. They are now so used to me working out that they play happily or copy what I do (they use their toys as weights and set pillows up on the floor which they use as a step. It is quite funny really).

They also have always loved my step and it is left set up most of the time as they play cars on it, dance and jump about on it, and use it as a seat.

Anyway, hope you can work something out with your little one.

I have found it does get easier as they get older.

Good luck

Kim

 

[shopaholic]

My history is similar to Diana's. First I put DD#1 in her swing, then her gymnee, then her pac and play. Now DD#1 is 3 and exercises with me. Don't get me wrong, it is frustrating at times, since she steps on my step, but we work it out in the end. We do best with kickboxing. My second DD is 4 months old, so I either put her in her swing or baby gymnee. If I was you, I would try to set up toys in the pac and play as well as a snack for your dd. Good luck.