If you have kids & work out at home

[vanillacourage]

When do you do it?

I want to start running again. I know that working out at night won't happen because of how hectic the evening routine is with two kids. Once it calms down I want a drink, not to work out.

To work out in the morning I'd have to do it really early since DH starts getting ready at 5:30 and leaves the house around 6 - so if I ran in the mornings, I'd have to be done and able to be on kid-duty by then (I do morning drop-off, he picks up).

What schedule does everyone else keep?

[dr.girlfriend]

Can you take the kids in a jogging stroller in the morning? What time do they wake up, and when do you have to be out of the house? Does running mean outside to you?

I will admit, I totally let DS watch t.v. in the morning while I'm getting dressed. If they are old enough, I would not be averse to letting my kids watch Sesame Street or something in the morning while I'm on the treadmill.

We have a recumbent bike, and DH gets up at 6 and bikes while I'm with the kiddo. I have big dreams of exercising at 7:30 after DS goes to sleep, but so far haven't managed it. Now that it's summer, we do try to take a walk as a family between getting home and the kid's dinner time, but that's not real exercise of course.

[vanillacourage]

May 18, 2012 8:45:25 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Can you take the kids in a jogging stroller in the morning? What time do they wake up, and when do you have to be out of the house? Does running mean outside to you?

Yes, we do not have a treadmill. DS2 won't be old enough for a jogging stroller for several months.

This is slightly insane, but DS2 gets up at 1ish, 3ish and 5ish to eat. I'm considering (just until I got back to work) going for a run after he goes back down around 3:30, then showering & drying my hair before going back to bed. It's nuts but it may be what I need to jump-start the habit of working out - it just won't happen if I try to fit it in later in the day.

[Deleted]

Can you go of an evening when you get home from work while DH watches the kids? I know it's hard to take time away from evening activities but taking care of yourself is good too. And you would only need to do it 2 times a week. Then you could do it once or twice on the weekend and I think that would be a good start. The only other idea I have is what about your lunch hour? I think running at 330 sounds crazy and I'm not sure I would be able to fall back asleep at that time, but if it works for you that's all that matters!

[dr.girlfriend]

May 18, 2012 8:56:38 GMT -5 vanillacourage said:

This is slightly insane, but DS2 gets up at 1ish, 3ish and 5ish to eat. I'm considering (just until I got back to work) going for a run after he goes back down around 3:30, then showering & drying my hair before going back to bed. It's nuts but it may be what I need to jump-start the habit of working out - it just won't happen if I try to fit it in later in the day.

I'm sorry, but that does sound insane. You're already sleep deprived, if you wake up and exercise you're unlikely to be able to fall back asleep, and if you do you're re-starting your REM cycle from the beginning and missing out on the longest REM cycles of the night.

If DH does the daycare pickup, can you work out right after he gets home before the kids' dinner?

[Wines Not Whines]

How old are your kids? I recommend getting a double jogging stroller and going out with both of them if you can. I know you said your little one isn't old enough for the jogger yet, but she will be soon, and you could walk for now. If you can go somewhere hilly, you can get a really good workout pushing a double jogger up hills.

You want to go run outside by yourself at 3:30 am? Do you live in an extremely safe neighborhood? There is no way I'd feel safe doing that.

[ECB]

I work out in the mornings. If DH isn't home, I try to get up around 5 to start by 5:15. im USUALLY done by the time DS wakes up. But if I'm not, he's old enough that he just comes down and plays/watches. If DH is home, then I'll get up around 5:30.

But this is a workout video at home. Due to our schedules, there is no way I could do a regular exercise routine that involved leaving the house.

[Monarch]

I do it at 9 am after dropping DD1off at school. DD2is 4 and she is fine to play by herself or watch TV.

[vanillacourage]

May 18, 2012 9:11:31 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

Why does this graph go all the way up to 8 hours of sleep?

[jena]

Why not just get up at 5ish and workout then? Surely your DH can get ready and be on baby duty for a little bit in the morning.

I don't work out at home, but DH does some "your body is your gym" thing. He does it while the kids are up and they follow him around and try to do what he does. I need to get a video of them all doing stretches together - with DD telling him to stretch further and do more. Who wants a 4yo personal trainer?! She then reports to me how she can bend further than daddy. Poor DH.

[Deleted]

I get up super early. I was working out at 6am but now that DH goes to work so early I'm just going to be a fat heiffer

[theintended]

Another vote for slipping out during bedtime and letting H handle it a couple times a week. Good for the mind, body and soul.

[AHappierHour]

Do you have a double jogger? Ive been running/walking w/mine since DD2 was a month old. I just put her in the cat seat. If you just starting all over I doubt your going to running that hard with them. It's a lot to get used to.

Right now I run with mine every other day after they have their breakfast.

[partiallysunny]

I run in the evening with a jogging stroller 3xs a week before dinner and yoga after LO goes to bed 2xs a week.

I hate mornings and can not wake up early to save my life.