What time of day do you exercise when you are a SAHM of two young children?
Do you drop kids off at a sitter? Do you have to wait for your DH to be home? Or, do you get up at the crack of dawn?

I'm about to have baby #2 in March. I REALLY, REALLY want to get into shape after this baby!!!!!!!! I just don't know how to find the energy and time for the exercise part of it all.

I belong to my local YMCA and they have a children's corner that is free for members. So for 90 minutes each day I bring my dd there -- she plays, colors, crafts, etc. She has made so many friends.

Honestly, I let my kids watch part of a movie or a video (Veggie Tales, etc.) while I exercise. I try to work out 5 days per week anywhere from 30-45 minutes per day - usually in the morning but sometimes in the afternoon/evening depending on what's going on that day. There are some days when, for one reason or another, I end up working out before they get up or after they go to bed, but that's not often. Not only does exercise make me feel better, but it helps keep me healthy and both those things work to make me a better mom - that's worth a little bit of TV time in my opinion. When my boys were babies, they sat in the bouncer, then the pack'n'play, etc. while I worked out until they were old enough to be trusted around my exercise equipment.

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

If I don't work out in the morning, it typically doesn't get done. I have much more energy in the morning than I do mid to late afternoon. Plus it gives me a nice jump start to the day.

The time of day has always varied, depending on the ages of my children

When they were younger, I would nap during their morning naps. I have a treadmill set up in the garage and would run on that, or I would do an exercise DVD (typically the firm) at home.

When they gave up their morning nap, it became harder, but I still tried to do as much as I could in the morning. Sometimes I had to get up earlier and get it in before the rooster crowed, and sometimes I would do it while they were playing outside.

Now that they are 2 and 4, I can take them with me to the Y, where they stay in the child watch room for two hours and I can do my thing! It's been a long time coming but this definitely works better for me!

I get up well before the crack of dawn. Typically between 4-5am. It energizes me for the day. The hardest part is rolling out of bed and putting my sneakers on.