When you work out? I have such a hard time because my husband (though supportive of whatever I do) has an insane schedule. My mother helps now and then but I really have a hard time coming up with a schedule. I have a four year old and a almost 8 month old. I do have a jogger but that only seats one. Any suggestions?

During daylight savings time I get up and walk 4 miles every morning before my dh goes to work. I don't know what time yours leaves but mine doesn't leave the house until 8:15 and he loves to lounge in bed until the last possible second. He doesn't mind grabbing the little one some milk and turning on Noggin for him in our room until I get home. Right now when it is very cold and dark in the morning that doesn't work, so I have to get my workouts in a few evenings a week when he gets home and during the 2 mornings that the little one is in preschool. This is less than ideal because the longer the day goes by, the more likely I am to bail on my workouts!

I love DVDs because I can do them right in the playroom whenever I can grab a little time. I have some that are a half hour and some that are 45 minutes or an hour. I just pick the one I have time for and figure at least I have done something. I bet your 4 year old would entertain herself for 30 to 45 minutes while the baby is sleeping. Once you get in the habit, she will just know that is mommy's time to do something for herself. Good luck. I know how hard it is.

Sometimes I go early when the gym first opens before the girls are awake. If I go later in the day the gym has a daycare room that I think is reasonably priced.
If those aren't an option for you, mall walking might work.
Is it an option to buy a double stroller that you can push to take walks.
Do you bike at all (I have one of those carriers I pull behind and we have great bike trails)?

Not most people are not up for my schedule. I get up at 5am to exercise before they start getting up between 6-7.

Being a single mom with and ex that doesn't even see his kid; it's hard to get in the exercise. I already get up at 4:30 to go to work so our routine is as soon as we get home, mommy gets an hour of time to exercise. Sometimes my ds comes down in the basement with me and sometimes he just does the things he wants to do. The one problem I have right now are my long runs, I have had to do them all on the treadmill since the weather is bad. 7, 8, 9 or 10 miles on the treadmill is not a fun thing to do!!! But when it is nice out I push my ds in the stroller.

My gym has a nursery, but the last few weeks I have been getting up at 5:30 and going. I love it, but know it will stop once dh has to start traveling again.

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~Vicki~
Mama to Hailey, 4 and Ella, 2

I would look on craigslist for a double stroller over a gym because the stroller is a one time investment. The gym takes out money every month. I mean I guess it's okay to join a gym if you like that environment but I prefer to walk outdoors.

I let my boys watch tv while I exercise (typically 5 days a week) - which is fine since most days that's all the tv time they get. When they were infants/young toddlers, I used a variety of methods to keep them contained and safe, starting with the bouncer. The pack'n'play came next (with some toys of course) and then the superyard, and finally a stroller in front of the tv until they were old enough know that they needed to stay away from the exercise equipment.

I try not to work out for longer than 45 minutes a day (sometimes I am down there longer though, especially if I'm doing laundry at the same time) so they're not in front of the tv for too long.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

Not sure how Big your 8 month old is , But I Remember that was a Great Workout when I Had a Baby in a Front or Back Carrier and I Pushed the Stroller. I would only walk , But It was intense.

This is how I managed in Florida when I had a two year old and a 6 month old.
When they were both awake this is how I would manage:

I put the baby in the exersaucer in the shaded portion of the driveway, while my two year old rode his bike around and I got on the treadmill (in the garage). That gave me at LEAST twenty minutes. When the baby would fuss, I would get off the treadmill and use him as my resistance and do squats, walking lunges, and bicep curls using him as my weight! (he was at least 15-20 lbs)

My two year old then became my sit up holder. He sat on my feet as I came up... I would high five him and then go back down. My six month old was then in the pack n play with toys!

It's crazy..>I will admit, but doable.


When one was asleep, I would do my cardio on the treadmill while the two year old played outside...or I work out while he had his breakfast

OR
On days I had a ton to do, I would get up early and do it before the kids woke up. AS they had their breakfast or when the baby napped, I would shower!


If you prioritize for it to be the "thing" you had to do that day, you can be creative in ways as to how you can get it all done and still manage your time with the kids!

Good luck! (it's hard....but doable! Just be creative)