so how did you all work out with babies?
- Thread starter Boybert
- Start date
I was able to do more as my children grew (now they are 6 and 3.) In the initial stages it was hard to do more than 20 or 30 minutes. Now I workout for 60 minutes a day and lately a bit more. I still have interruptions if I workout when they are awake, but it is for things that they can't get for themselves. My workout room is a combination of exercise equipment and play equipment, so they have no problem playing on their own while mommy does a workout.
dananmis22
Cathlete
I also have a one year old. I workout when he is down for his nap. Also, since the weather has been getting nicer, I just started strapping him in a running stroller and run or rollerblade with him. He LOVES to be outside. When I know that I will have a busy day visiting the kids school or whatever, I get up about 45 min. before everyone else to do cardio. Hope this helps!
Elaine Keller
Cathlete
I have a three year old who plays while I work out with Cathe DVDs. She actually has some 1 lb weights and joins in here and there. She's been doing that for the past year.
Before she didn't need my almost constant interaction I put her little butt in the jogging stroller and we ran. We ran alot. She loved that. She still does but she's so heavy only my husband pushes her now.
If you don't like to run you can walk.
Before she didn't need my almost constant interaction I put her little butt in the jogging stroller and we ran. We ran alot. She loved that. She still does but she's so heavy only my husband pushes her now.
If you don't like to run you can walk.
Texas mom to trips plus 1
Member
I have 2-year-old triplet girls and a 5-year-old girl as well. As soon as the triplets go down for an afternoon nap, I start my workout. Sometimes my 5-year-old works out along side of me or she'll watch a show. I always give her a reward if she lets mommy workout and doesn't interrupt! I have chosen to make working out a priority over housework (I do manage to get dishes and laundry done somehow) and thank goodness my husband understands! I don't have much free time during the day, and the little time I do have, I have chosen to devote to working out because that is my "me time." I cherish that time. It is something I do just for me...well sort of...a healthy mom/wife is a happy mom/wife right?!?! I am starting to plan ahead however, because I know that the triplets will soon phase out of afternoon naptime and I will be forced to workout in the a.m. before everyone wakes up. Yuck! But working out is so very important to me...you gotta do what ya gotta do!
Renee
Renee
WannaBeStrong
Cathlete
When my fifth child was a baby, (my kids were 11, 8, 6, 3, & newborn) I would exercise after my DH came home from work. Now that I have six children and my baby just turned four, I can exercise almost anytime I fit it in because my older children will keep an eye on the younger children. If my children were really young, I don't think I'd be able to fit it in the daytime.
Shirley
Shirley
It's still a challenge now that my son is almost 5. Sometimes it's even harder now that he's older because he is very verbal and extremely stubborn. When he was younger he was okay with sitting on my bed with his Leap Pads and toys while I worked out, but now he finds ways to stall me, and if he can't he gives me attitude. He doesn't want me to work out because it takes time and attention away from him, and if I outline the limits of where he can stay or do while I'm working out, rest assured he will push those limits. So I simply do it. I tell my son I need time alone and that after my workout, we can do something together again. I have this rule: chill out before time out. If he gives me attitude because I need some "me time", he will have to calm himself and find something to do on his own while I "unwind". Otherwise, he's off to the rocking chair on a long time out. Once he tried to see what he could get away with, and he ended up on the rocking chair the whole time I did Step Blast. He is starting to understand that my workouts are non-negotiable, but my boy being as high-maintenance as he is, still can't help himself sometimes. I'm still waiting for the time when it, indeed, "gets easier".
Pinky
Pinky
MSJ
Cathlete
I have five children--10,8,6,3 and 18 months and right now I work out under one of 2 scenarios.
1. Hubby likes to take all the kids at night to do stuff. Tonight he took them all to Cub Scouts--the Pine Wood Derby thing and I stayed home to work out. He takes them all to Little League or to the grocery store at times. He is a good and sweet husband:*
2. If I workout during the day because I want the evening free, I have one or two of the older children watch the little ones in the next room while they watch a show. This is possible because I homeschool.
Exercise and educating the children and time with the Lord everyday are my priorities. If the housework doesn't get done or if we have to fend for dinner, oh well }( :7 .
I hope you figure something out.
When my oldest was very small, I just put him in a playpen and let him scream if he wanted to. Sounds mean, but my workouts helped (and help) me be a better, saner mom overall. I am sure of it.
take care
Maggie
1. Hubby likes to take all the kids at night to do stuff. Tonight he took them all to Cub Scouts--the Pine Wood Derby thing and I stayed home to work out. He takes them all to Little League or to the grocery store at times. He is a good and sweet husband:*
2. If I workout during the day because I want the evening free, I have one or two of the older children watch the little ones in the next room while they watch a show. This is possible because I homeschool.
Exercise and educating the children and time with the Lord everyday are my priorities. If the housework doesn't get done or if we have to fend for dinner, oh well
}( :7 .I hope you figure something out.
When my oldest was very small, I just put him in a playpen and let him scream if he wanted to. Sounds mean, but my workouts helped (and help) me be a better, saner mom overall. I am sure of it.
take care
Maggie
wendymin72
Cathlete
I thought having kids/babies was a work out all on it's own!;-)
~Wendy~
I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!
http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
~Wendy~
I smoked my last cigarette on March 17, 2004 at 10:00 pm!
http://lilypie.com/days/050519/1/0/1/-5/.png[/img]
EDD: 05/19/05
I have 3 children: 12, 10 and 4. I had a hard time working out when they were babies. I was either too sleep-deprived or had too many other things to do during their naps. It was too hard for me to work out when my babies were awake. I also never worked out while pregnant, because, even though I've been an avid exerciser most of my adult life, my body just didn't want to work out when I was pregnant so I listened to it.
When my oldest was a baby, I didn't work out other than to walk everywhere with him in the stroller or backpack. I didn't start working out again until my second son was about 1. At that time, I joined a rec center that had baby-sitting and when he was 2 1/2, I paid a 4th grader to watch him for the hour I worked out to videos. With my daughter, I started working out again when she was about 1 1/2. It took a while with a lot of interruptions, but I set her up with toys, books, etc and gently reminded her again and again and again and again that Mommy was exercising. Over time, the interruptions became less frequent and she very rarely interrupts my workouts now. Also during that time, a friend and I would sometimes swap children so we could work out.
When my oldest was a baby, I didn't work out other than to walk everywhere with him in the stroller or backpack. I didn't start working out again until my second son was about 1. At that time, I joined a rec center that had baby-sitting and when he was 2 1/2, I paid a 4th grader to watch him for the hour I worked out to videos. With my daughter, I started working out again when she was about 1 1/2. It took a while with a lot of interruptions, but I set her up with toys, books, etc and gently reminded her again and again and again and again that Mommy was exercising. Over time, the interruptions became less frequent and she very rarely interrupts my workouts now. Also during that time, a friend and I would sometimes swap children so we could work out.
allwildgirl
Cathlete
Well, they're pretty good for doing bicep curls, as long as they're long enough. You can use them like a barbell. Also, overhead presses work really well. You can hold them and do squats and lunges for lower body. Step cardio is difficult - there's just too much risk of dropping them. But definitely for strength work, they're more interesting and versatile than a barbell!
Oh come on! I'm just playing.
I didn't start working out until my daughter was about 1. And either her Dad kept her occupied while I worked out in the evening, or I would wait until she was down for the night and work out then. She's 7 now and that's still what I do. On the weekends, I will sometimes get her occupied doing something else and do a DVD, or she'll stay at home with my SO and I'll go for a run.
Oh come on! I'm just playing.
I didn't start working out until my daughter was about 1. And either her Dad kept her occupied while I worked out in the evening, or I would wait until she was down for the night and work out then. She's 7 now and that's still what I do. On the weekends, I will sometimes get her occupied doing something else and do a DVD, or she'll stay at home with my SO and I'll go for a run.
Bobbi
Cathlete
When my girls were small-they were 18 months apart, I ran early in the morning and squeezed in the rest wherever it could be squeezed. I was very motivated and energetic then and it was wonderful. I just bopped all the time! I had Sam when I was 35; my daughters were 7 and 8. Boy, was it a mistake to gain THOSE 40 pounds. He was a horrible baby and I can say that with a smile NOW! :7 I had a baby jogger. I called it taking the baby for a cry. He screamed and I stopped and fussed every few steps. When he was quite a bit older he loved being strapped to my back and I could tool around the neighborhood while he snoozed and drooled all over my shoulders. Those baby backpacks are great. I figure I walked a few millions miles walking the floor with that guy and I got to bounce up and down alot too. He found that soothing! My right arm, the baby carrier arm, was perpetually curled and the bicep was a rock. It took about 15 months to get a real program going and to lose that baby fat.
When Sam was a toddler he used to come in and plunk down HARD on my stomach when ever I was in a prone position on my step. I'd make the "HUH" sound that meant it was time to move from core training to chest work; he would add resistance to my barbell by pushing down when I pushed up. I'd shoo him away, gently at first, trying to stay focused but he'd never go until I finally did the Mean Mommie voice, "GET OFF!" And he never left without licking me because Sam thinks my sweat is delicious and he'd make a this is yummy slurping sound that made me wonnder if his electrolytes were out of balance.
He also darted across the step and he was pretty good at syncronizing his leap with my step up so we'd meet on the step and I'd have to pitch myself off lest I send him flying onto a pile of dumbbells and I'm tough, a barbell up the wazoo never killed me. Those little guys can exit quickly to save their own hide with no regard to the fact that the woman they've just injured is needed in fairly good working order for the next 16 years. I think I must make working out look pretty fun!
If I had a nickle for every time I said, "Put my weights down they are not toys. You'll hurt yourself!" while he flattered me by imitating me, except I hope I don't look like I've been plugged into an electrical jack, flailing limbs going triple time, with a range of motion possessed only by small children and evil demons. And if I had a dime for every time I had to sit down and kiss a dented head and apologize even though I had warned him a dozen times it hurts to get whacked in the head with a free weight, well, I'd only have a couple of bucks, but the memories, the memorie are priceless!
You could not pay me to go back! Milestones like starting school are celebrated by comtemplating how wonderful it is going to be to workout with no interference! Booty Dance! Booty Dance! And best of all, I have built in babysitters now! Booty Dance! Booty Dance!
The worst thing about being an Advanced Mother, this post has exhausted me and it's too early for a nap! :7
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
When Sam was a toddler he used to come in and plunk down HARD on my stomach when ever I was in a prone position on my step. I'd make the "HUH" sound that meant it was time to move from core training to chest work; he would add resistance to my barbell by pushing down when I pushed up. I'd shoo him away, gently at first, trying to stay focused but he'd never go until I finally did the Mean Mommie voice, "GET OFF!" And he never left without licking me because Sam thinks my sweat is delicious and he'd make a this is yummy slurping sound that made me wonnder if his electrolytes were out of balance.
He also darted across the step and he was pretty good at syncronizing his leap with my step up so we'd meet on the step and I'd have to pitch myself off lest I send him flying onto a pile of dumbbells and I'm tough, a barbell up the wazoo never killed me. Those little guys can exit quickly to save their own hide with no regard to the fact that the woman they've just injured is needed in fairly good working order for the next 16 years. I think I must make working out look pretty fun!
If I had a nickle for every time I said, "Put my weights down they are not toys. You'll hurt yourself!" while he flattered me by imitating me, except I hope I don't look like I've been plugged into an electrical jack, flailing limbs going triple time, with a range of motion possessed only by small children and evil demons. And if I had a dime for every time I had to sit down and kiss a dented head and apologize even though I had warned him a dozen times it hurts to get whacked in the head with a free weight, well, I'd only have a couple of bucks, but the memories, the memorie are priceless!
You could not pay me to go back! Milestones like starting school are celebrated by comtemplating how wonderful it is going to be to workout with no interference! Booty Dance! Booty Dance! And best of all, I have built in babysitters now! Booty Dance! Booty Dance!
The worst thing about being an Advanced Mother, this post has exhausted me and it's too early for a nap! :7
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
Tell me, what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Mary Oliver
My kids are now 5 and 3 1/2 years old. There's 20 months between them. After I recovered from the c-section with my first (6 weeks of inactivity). I started walking with the stroller daily. I started with my easier workout tapes (not Cathe) usually during her nap time. After she could sit up in her exersaucer, I'd place her in that while I did my workout. She was a good napper so I could also do my workout during her nap. By the time she was 6 months old I was doing my Cathe tapes 5 days a week. Often I would hold her instead of a barbell during leg strength workouts for all of the squats. During my abdominal work she would crawl around on the floor and quite often lay on my stomach (an extra element of training for the abs). When my son was born it was a bit trickier as he didn't nap as much. I took both of them for walks in the double stroller daily. I also had them playing in the basement as I worked out. He liked playing in the exersaucer while his sister did crafts as I did my high intensity step aerobics. The only tricky part is when you have to change a diaper and your heart beat is elevated. Make sure you do it on an elevated change table so you don't get dizzy.
Now both kids are used to me working out. Often they join me. My son likes to do the punching and kicking and my daughter jumps on my mini-trampoline during my workouts. When they're really cranky I'll put them in front of a disney cartoon while I workout.
Although it's more challenging to workout when they're little...the exercise melts off the pregnancy pounds and gives you tons of energy to play with them.
Have lots of fun!
Now both kids are used to me working out. Often they join me. My son likes to do the punching and kicking and my daughter jumps on my mini-trampoline during my workouts. When they're really cranky I'll put them in front of a disney cartoon while I workout.
Although it's more challenging to workout when they're little...the exercise melts off the pregnancy pounds and gives you tons of energy to play with them.
Have lots of fun!
