I Need Some Encouragement for Exercising

To make sure your children and husband are happy, you have to make sure that you're happy, and that you feel good about yourself. Plus if your children see you take care of yourself and exercise, they will want to exercise. You will be setting an example. Don't feel guilty, believe me, I know about guilt. Guilt will not make things better and guilt does not take the lbs. off. I do not judge my parents for the time they took for themselves. There are exercise programs everywhere, where you can take your kids to exercise with you. I love to run, so I take my kids running with me in the park. Hope this helps! (smile).

I have a similar situation. I don't like to give up the evening family time either. Unlike you, I have never been one to work out, so it's all new to me. I found a workout buddy who has a child the same age as my son. The kids play together while we work out and I push the 20 month old in the stroller. It keeps me motivated knowing that someone is "waiting" for me. The kids think of it as a play date...we go run, then have a picnic for the kids and then to the playground for them...sometimes while they are playing we do chin ups and such on the equipment. We do this twice a week at least. On my "off" days I work out at home during nap times. I also wake up early some days. My hubby leaves by 6:30, so some days I get up at 5 to work out. I HATE the early mornings, but I always feel better when I work out. Weekends I will sometimes leave the kids with the hubby for a little bit and work out. I think he needs "alone" time with the kids as well, so I never feel guilty about this one. So...basically I just squeeze it in where ever I can. I feel better physically when I work out. I am sleeping better. I am looking a little better. Emotionally, I feel better too, taking a little time out for me. My OB once reminded me that if I don't take care of myself, I can't REALLY take care of everyone else. GL!

I just started walking in the morrning when I take my others to school. I make sure I have every thing with me, so I just park at one of the schools and go for a walk it takes me about 20min for a mile. I just started this last week and it has gone really well. I have to do it when I am already out, because when we get home my 2yr is all about staying home and she will not go with me. I just told me self I dont want to look like this any more and I am the only one that can change it. Good luck you will find time if you really want to change.

How you begin to feel good about yourself again is by making time for yourself. You aren't being neglectful and really shouldn't be having guilty feelings. You need to prioritize those things that are important for you. Schedule time for yourself and make time for you and hubby to have time together.

Lavender may help with the 18 month old and the sleeping. Could you get a sitting into the home for two hours while you go and work out? Once you get started then you will have more energy to do the things you love like spending time with hubby. I hope this is the encouragement you were looking for.

I started walking. We have a tread mill, and at first I could barely stroll a quarter mile without huffing and puffing. But I kept at it, and shortly the quarter mile became faster and easy. When it did, I added another quarter mile. I kept doing this, adding a quarter mile every time it got too easy, and I'm up to a whole mile now 5 days a week at about 3 mph. I finish it in about 20 min and I use hand weights to work out my arms while I walk. It's getting easier again, but now I'm adding in some incline. I started slow, and with the tread mill I can walk no matter what the weather is doing. I sleep better and I've noticed my heart rate (the tread mill measures it) is getting more efficient. I sleep better and I feel better and my clothes fit better (although doing this for 5 months hasn't budged the scale much. I'm probably still building muscle mass.). I find checking the scale on a frequent basis just discourages me, so I don't bother. I'm not walking for the scale, I'm walking to build endurance and to feel better. 20 - 30 min is not too much time to take out from what ever I am doing (I like to walk first thing in the morning once everyone is out of the house). If I keep this up and make it a long time habit, it's got to have some positive effects on the scale eventually.

There's no need to feel guilty! I wish that I could, but I have zero drive to work out (then again, I'm in my third trimester with baby #5). I would love to have your motivation. Taking a little time a couple nights a week is nothing to feel guilty about. I would say that taking a couple of nights a week to go to the gym, and doing videos at home during the day when the kiddos are busy or napping would help you out and you would still have family time. We need "us" time also, so don't let it get you down that you need to take some too.

I got wii with the wii fit a little over a month ago. My last baby just turned one year a few days ago andI am in my forties and was sick of not getting rid of the baby weight. I also have a 28 month old. I try to exercise most days when I put them down for a nap., Have lost 10 pounds so far!

I spend on average an hour working out everyday, usually at a yoga studio that I am a member of, but sometimes at home or walking/running around the neighborhood. For me, the clincher is that I am a better Mom and better wife when I work out. My mood is better, my energy is higher, I'm more productive, and the time I spend with my family is higher quality rather than quantity. I work full-time, so it can be a struggle. My solution is to usually work out in the morning before anyone in my house is up. The other thing I do is incorporate workout time with family time. My 4-year-old daughter loves to do yoga with me. Sometimes, my husband and I walk her to the playground with her on her Big Wheel bike, so she can keep up and we can walk at a good clip. When my daughter was under 2, I had a back carrier from REI, and I walked all over the place with her on my back. Good luck!

I exercise during Sesame Street. I give everyone their snacks and go in the other room with the door open. They know I am exercising and even imitate me sometimes, but most of the time it's boring to them. They know it's important to me. However, expect to be interrupted a lot at first until they get used to mommy time. Also, the days of working out to music are over since you have to pay attention to what's going on in the house. I don't feel bad because this is the only tv they watch all day and it's good for them to know that I am also a person that needs time for my self too. I lift too and find it's easy to check on them between sets. Good luck!

You will be a better mom & wife if you take care of yourself!! You can do it!! Best of luck

Hi there,
J., taking care of yourself must be a "yes or yes". Don't feel guilty about being healthy, energetic and sexy. This was told to me by my own husband, and it really made sense. You will be absolutely more healthy, your body needs exercising, the better your circulation is the better other organs in your body will work (heart, hormones,articulations..etc); you will have more energy for your kids...and oh God...how necessary that is!!!!; your will look prettier and sexier..and every woman knows how good is that for your marriage.
First, find the kind of exercise you really like, probably is not running but jogging, or water aerobic (soooo relaxing!); may be is the tredmill machine or Pilates.....step, or just walking.
Remember you don't need a lot of time at the beginning, do not exaggerate otherwise you may get hurt. Start little by little (20 min to 30 min) everyday. Try to exercise at your baby's nap time or even during those evening hours, it won't take long, believe me. Also you may want to try at some Recreation Center or Gym where babysitting is provided and you can work out there without worries. Do it, you can do it. I have been there, I felt bad because I didn't feel well, I was always tired, I felt so not in shape...I felt guilty, and I finally realized about what I told you in my first paragraph. My family is happy because I feel well and all of them support me on my daily work out.
Sometimes you will feel you don't have time to eat....make soups from different vegetables, grains and chicken, use potatoes a lot and lots of fruits and water, that will help you to have your meals during the day, don't feel tired and lose weight in a healthy way.
Good luck ...YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!

Does the gym have daycare? Why not try to exercise in the morning, I have heard that this is the best time to do this and it jump starts your body. This could also help with the baby's routine. You should not feel guilty, it's important that you feel good about yourself it makes your whole life seem better. In the morning get in your exercise tough to get going at first but you will quickly see benefits of doing it early, Feed baby, read to baby, house work, noonish, lunch for you and baby make baby take nap, you get some me time, dinner time eat dinner with family and take a after dinner walk together he could give baby a bath and you read baby a story . It's important to establish routines and traditions your baby should sleep better after a full belly a day of play. Remember exercise is to tighten everything diet is number 1. Good luck, I hope you find the energy to get to your goals and know it's important for you to feel good about yourself. It took me almost 2yrs to tighten everything back up you can do it.

Hello there! I can certainly understand your feelings-as i too, have worked out FOREVER-played sports in college so i am used to being in great shape at all times. I have 2 girls, my youngest just turned one in May. And i am now back to my pre pregnancy weight. I was actually back to walking on the treadmill a week after i had her (just walking-no running or weights).
I know how tired you can be if your children aren't sleeping well-my 1 year old- has never been a great sleeper. And i know you want to make the most of your family time-i am the same way. I guess-you didn't really say if you worked outside the home, because that makes a difference. Because i only work part-time so i do have the ability to go workout during the day while my husband is working-and just put my kids in the nursery at the gym for an hour while i am there.
I realize if you work that this may not be an option for you-but i ab solutely feel like if working out is something you want to do, for you, then you HAVE GOT to make time for it. You will have so much more energy-even though i know you are feeling tired now. And you will be a better wife and mother, too. I always try to hit the gym at least 4 days a week-because, as i have told my husband, it is the one thing that i do completely for myself. It my time to go for a run and clear my head, or lift weights and just listen to my music. It makes me feel better about myself and like i said-my days are consumed by doing things for other people (which i don't mind)-changing diapers, doing everyone's laundry, cleaning the house, etc. so its the one thing that is all about me-MY time. And i think you have got find a way to do it. If you work full time-just do two evenings a week-for like-1 hour and then do your other session on the weekend. Or if you have videos as you say-do them after your little ones go to bed so you still have some family time in there. I know its hard but you have got have your own time. And since its summer right- there are active things to do as a family in the evening-go swimming, take the kids on a bike ride or walk around the neighborhood. It still gets you moving-or if you stay home at all-do it during nap time.
I really believe that when we take care of ourselves too, that we are better mom's and spouses- i think you just need to try hard to find a routine that works for you. It's hard, but so important. Good luck.........you will figure it out!

Hi J.,

Don't feel guilty! The better you feel, the better mood you are in and the better you will take care of your family. Don't go off the deep end, but a couple or three days a week at the gym should not cause any reason to feel you are neglecting your family. Once a week, premake the meals that you would normally cook when you will be at the gym. I recently joined the YMCA (January) and have been going two or three days a week. My husband has thanked me. He thinks I'm doing it ALL for him! :) Some of it yes...but it's great for everyone!

M.

Hi J., if you are a stay at home mom, exercise during your child's nap time, or put your child in a playpen and work out all you really need is 30 minutes a day 3 times a week, or use the time with hubby to go for walks, that's the best exercise for s anyway, I know for me and my husband when we would walked together we talked together it's a great bonding time. J.