Back when I only had one kid to get from place to place, I was definitely finding the time to get a couple solid work outs in during the week, keeping me feeling strong and accomplished. But now, being a stay-at-home daddy for three little ones, I just can’t seem to find any sort of free time to get my exercise in. I love running around and playing with the kids, but with a toddler and an infant, that’s still not always easy and its certainly not enough. I’m beginning to notice some more weight gain than I’d like, and I’m trying to think of ways to get back in shape.
Have any of you guys faced similar issues when your kids were born? Any ideas or suggestions that you’ve heard about or had experience with? I guess, for me, its mostly a timing issue (finding those precious free minutes) and also a motivation issue (after a long day, I’m just not up for it).
The park by my place is always dead in the morning (I walk my dogs at 5am before work). What about taking the kids to the park super early while it’s quiet? They can play (read; get exercise too) and you can use all the equipment to do you own work out. You can do pull ups on monkey bars, dips on a step, push ups are easy, various types of squats and lunges, sit ups hanging on the bars as well. If you want to use more weight, hold one of the kids! Cardio? Run around the playground close enough that the kids are still in sight.
A lot of gyms offer babysitting services as well, so that’s another option.
I know that when my mom was staying home with us when we were young, she went to a gym that offered babysitting services. She also took advantage of mother’s day out programs and babysitting programs at our church, where you babysit other people’s kids for an hour or two and in return, someone babysits your kids for the same amount of time on a different day (all the babysitting took place at the church or activity center or whatever). You should check around and see if your area has anyting similar. Also, I have a friend that’s part of a stay-at-home dad association and I think they help each other out when it comes to such things.
I exercise before the kids get up in the morning. Alot of the time that is my only opportunity! Sometimes, we all do yoga or something like that together in the afternoon. Is there a way you could incorporate the kids into an exercise DVD? Or maybe during nap time? I know your oldest is probably out of nap time, but we have something in my house called “quiet time” every afternoon. This is my sanity time. I could easily do my morning yoga during this time, but I actually like getting up early and doing it first thing – usually I use “quiet time” for reading, catch-up housework, or starting dinner. For olders, “quiet time” means they have to do something quiet… (duh! lol) like read a book, color/crafts that don’t require me involved or make a mess, quiet game in the living room if the two older girls want to do that - or once or twice a week, they watch a video.
Another idea- you could swap babysitting hours with another stay at home parent. You head to the gym or go for a run (and they watch your kids for free), then you pay them back by watching their kids while they go out grocery shopping (or working out or for date night with their spouse, etc.) It’s a way to not have to pay a babysitter.
Yes! I have a one month-old daughter and a two year-old, so it’s hard to find dedicated time to exercise. I have baby weight that I want to lose, and my husband and I just don’t have time to go exercise (or even talk to each other). So, to solve both of those issues, we’ve started taking walks at night. I wear our daughter in a carrier and our son rides in the stroller. We walk a couple miles around our neighborhood, and it gives us a chance to talk about what has happened that day. I had trouble getting started after 9 months of bedrest, but I started off walking around the block, then a few blocks, and now I look forward to those nightly walks. Good luck!!
I don’t have children of my own but I am a nanny and am also studying Nutritional Medicine. I try and incorporate as much walking into my day with the kids as possible and that keeps me in great shape, I don’t do any additional exercise. If your oldest child is in a school nearby you could all walk to school together (with the little two in a double stroller) to drop him off and then head to a playground to run around with the toddler. If you are gaining weight it is probably a good idea to take a look at your diet as that is just as important, if not more important than exercise. It can be useful to make a food diary to write down what you eat/drink over the course of one week and that way you will be able to see if you are getting 5 serves veg, 2 serves fruit, wholegrains, lean protein, legumes, nuts and seeds, etc etc per day. These foods are high in fibre (as well as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants!) which keep you full for longer meaning that you are less likely to overeat.
I hope that helps! Good luck!
I plop both my boys in our stroller and go for a run. They like it because we go out to the forest paths and they are moving a lot faster than on our normal walks. BUT I’m not sure how that would work with 3. Maybe the oldest could ride his bike? I know that was what my mom had us do when she went for runs when we were little. Good luck!
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I love my treadmill. No kids, but one on the way. Finding a few minutes a day to run or walk on the treadmill is a lot easier than trying to find the time to exercise outside. You have to take weather into account and day light, plus dress kids appropriately and get them sit in a stroller. [name]Don[/name]'t get me wrong, I love the outdoors but my treadmill is a real time saver. I imagine I will be using it a lot after the baby is born. Best time crunch exercise is to run intervals. [name]Burns[/name] fat, builds endurance in as little as 20 mins a day.
Thanks for all the advice!! I’ve been trying out some of these ideas – reassessing my diet, using the park as my gym, and stroller runs for the two little ones! Really great suggestions everyone.