How do working parents exercise?

[Karrie TriolaMember]

I am struggling to find ways to fit exercise into my busy daily routine. Between work, commuting, caring for my son and dealing with the other daily duties of running a home, I don’t know how to fit exercise in! Help…how do you make working out work with your lifestyle?

[Nala Member]

It is so hard when you have a little one around who needs constant attention. I feel like as kids get older, it might be easier to do fitness things as a family. But, when they’re young, having dance parties is a way to burn some calories together!

 

Aside from that, is there a way you and your spouse can trade off with taking care of the kids/exercising? Maybe an hour here or there througout the week or on the weekends?

[Nala Member]

It is so hard when you have a little one around who needs constant attention. I feel like as kids get older, it might be easier to do fitness things as a family. But, when they’re young, having dance parties is a way to burn some calories together!

 

Aside from that, is there a way you and your spouse can trade off with taking care of the kids/exercising? Maybe an hour here or there througout the week or on the weekends?

[Caty TrioParticipant]

Hi KarrieT! There was a recent e-family news article about this very topic. It’s certainly something that a lot of working parents struggle with. This article includes some tips and strategies you might find helpful…

 

Exercise & The Working Parent – Yes You Can!

http://www.brighthorizons.com/efamily-news/articles/february-13-2013-exercise-and-the-working-parent

[Macy Member]

Sometimes there really isn’t much time for actual exercise. When this is the case, incorporate it into your normal everyday life…take the stairs whenever possible, park super far away from a store and get in the extra walking, take the long route wherever you’re walking to. It might not seem like a lot, but these things can add up over the course of a day.

[Karrie TriolaMember]

Here’s a fun article I found recently: http://homemadebyjaci.com/8-ways-to-make-exercising-with-kids-easy/

 

I like the idea of having my son do a workout video alonside me!

[yoly RubioMember]

It is a struggle !!! i like most moms work full time. I have a 3 1/2 year old and 10 month old. So you can only imagine the crazyness. 3 days a week i wake up at 4:30 Am and go to the gym while my hubby and kids are sleeping. It was hard at first but i soon relized it was my only ‘Alone" time. Now i look forward to it.  then i rotate 1 night a week with my hubby where I can go right after work  to work out and he gets kids or i go right after dinner and hubby take care of baths and bed time. On the weekends i try to make it more family friendly we go hiking or run at the park or anything to stay active. It helps having another mommy to hold you accountable. I started a " run mommy run group" on my block. Basically 3-4 mommies that lived close by me would come to my house early moring 5 am and we would run 4 miles. Hope that helps !!!!

[Karrie TriolaMember]

Yollybella, that is so impressive! 🙂

 

 I think setting a routine and sticking to it when it comes to exercise is imporant. I also totally get what you mean about cherishing your alone time, even if you’re working up a sweat while doing it. You’re inspiring me!

[Timmy MacDonaldParticipant]

We go for a lot of family walks. Almost daily in the nice weather, if possible. It’s a way to get everyone involved in exercising. My older son rides his bike, we push the little one in the carriage, and we all get some fitness in.

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