Exercising with kids

[nodito]

I would like your kind advice, prayers, and fresh perspective.

I’m a SAHM of three kids, ages 5, 2.5, 7 months. The oldest is starting Kindergarten in the fall. The other two are with me full time. First off, I know how incredibly blessed I am to be able to stay home with the kids, and so I feel a little guilty for feeling like I have no time to exercise and even for feeling a little bored with my life right now. I just can’t figure out how to make exercise (and particularly cardio) a part of my routine.

We own a small, old bungalow with no basement and when I’ve tried to follow along using cardio youtube videos, I can hear the whole house shaking. I also find that most of my free time comes when the kids are sleeping and bouncing around makes so much noise.

Our local YMCA has a child watch program, but the baby isn’t eligible for it for several more months. I do own a double stroller but the kids will only sit in it for a while before getting bored and wanting to stop and get out. I’d also need to carry the baby somehow. My beloved husband is a hard worker; he’s often gone before I wake up and gets home after dinner. We don’t have any family nearby to pop in and watch the kids.

Mostly, I feel boxed in by the baby’s nap schedule. The older kids are up at 8 am, and the baby naps from 9:30 - 11:30. Then we have lunch and play and the baby and 2 year old fall asleep at 2pm. So I feel like we don’t even get out of the house most days until after 3:30 or 4, and even then it’s only to run to the library or go to a friends’ house briefly before coming home to start dinner.

The “easiest” time to exercise would be in the evening, after the kids are asleep, if I were to drive to the YMCA myself. But it’s also the only time I get with my husband and I am often so exhausted at the end of the day that it’s really really hard to pull myself off the couch.

People keep telling me I need to exercise with the kids, but I can’t figure out how to. Do they mean using a jogging stroller with three kids? Or do they mean dancing to music or playing tag until someone needs water or to use the potty or gets knocked into and starts screaming? I play roughhouse/chase with the kids but it feels like more interruptions than exercise.

Moms, spill the beans. What am I overlooking here?

 

[pensmama87]

You probably won’t like this answer, but it’s the best solution I’ve found:

Get up before the kids.

I have friends who do the stroller classes or have a gym membership with childcare, and I’m sure that’s great, but there’s no room in our budget for it. So I go for runs in the morning - I do use a fitness tracker now and wear reflective clothing, but really, all you absolutely have to have is well fitting shoes. Walking would also be good.

I don’t know how you manage to stay in all morning. I have three kids too and starting with kid #2 he had most of his morning naps on the go (in the carseat when he was small enough, or in a baby carrier). We do the same with #3.

The other thing could be stroller naps for the littles. I have a double jogger and we do family walks sometimes (actually, that could be an evening activity for everybody if your husband is up for it). I’ll also be walking my oldest home from kindergarten this year.

ETA: I think “exercising with your kids” is more advice meant for older children, or at least, not babies. In the mornings when the weather is good we go to playgrounds a lot, and I’ll push the kids on the swings or even climb on some of the equipment if it is large enough (baby in carrier or stroller). Or I can play catch with them or kick a ball around. But that’s harder to do when you have to attend to a baby as well. Not impossible, but harder.

 

[UbiCaritas]

I walk a good amount–3-4 miles each day with baby in a carrier and DD (2) in the stroller. I’ve gone for walks ever since DD was little, so she’s fairly used to it, and now that I’m going longer distances, I keep her busy with finding things (dogs), looking at branches/rocks/etc that I’ll pick up, and listening to music–I’ll play music on my phone and she’ll bounce to the beat.

I just got cleared by my OB to do more intensive exercises, so I’ll be getting up earlier than the kids 4 days a week to get in abs and arms. I hate getting up early, but I feel much better after I’ve worked out, and doing abs and arms with either kid awake is just about impossible when they’re awake due to interruptions/kiddos underfoot. I plan on turning on a show for the half hour it takes to do those workouts, one that I wouldn’t watch with kids around, in order to motivate myself to get up. I’ve found that getting up early to get one or two chores knocked out and get dressed before dealing with the kids means having a much smoother day overall anyway, so it’s worth it for me. I make sure to prep my coffeemaker the night before so that all I have to do is flick the switch to “on” as soon as I’m up in order to have hot, caffeinated mommy fuel ready ASAP.

 

[Bonnie]

I do own a double stroller but the kids will only sit in it for a while before getting bored and wanting to stop and get out. I’d also need to carry the baby somehow.

I only had 2, but I’d put 1 in the stroller & put the baby in a backpack. If you go at a good enough clip, the 2 in the stroller might find it fun enough to stay put.

 

[jane_doe]

Exercise with the kids, particularly dance routines to music.

 

[misspriss]

I feel exactly like you OP, nap times keep me boxed in, almost the same schedule. Morning nap from 9:30 or 10 until 11-11:30, then it’s lunch right after, then we have a brief break - but it’s the hottest, sunniest part of the day, we can’t be out in it. Then it’s afternoon nap from about 2:30-4, then it’s time to start prepping for dinner. By the time you throw in some laundry and a load of dishes (let alone any OTHER cleaning besides the bare necessities) and there is no time, or energy for that matter to do any exercising.

Unfortunately my youngest is really fighting sleep lately and has had us up 1-2 hours later than usual for the past week, which is really wearing on me already (and she is showing no signs of getting better, I’m hoping it’s a phase) but getting up earlier is out of the question. And we co-sleep, so if I get up they usually do too.

That said, I am completely exhausted at the end of the day anyway. I take medication that makes me slightly fatigued on the regular, I just don’t see how people have energy to exercise.

 

[Mamanurse]

We bought a cheap treadmill from Craigslist and put it in the living room. I see it everyday, so I use it. I put up a gate, so my kids are all in the room with me. I am actually sitting here cooling down after a run

If that doesn’t work, turn on come fun, upbeat music and create your own aerobic dance routine. The kids can join in, or just have them occupied with some toys for 20 mins.

I used to take my kids in the wagon and go for walks with a baby strapped on me. You may have to get creative and start small. I find I’m a better mom when I get some exercise in.