How do you fit exercise in after LO arrives?

RosesRRed

I work full-time and get home at 6. DS is in bed by 7:30 every night. I am signed up for a half marathon in February and it just seems so daunting trying to fit running into my already busy schedule and spend quality time with my son.

Any ideas?

hikerbeth

Do you have a treadmill or can you leave after DS is asleep?  Or alternatively, can you run before he is awake (I am personally more of a morning exercise person).

And run with a stroller on the weekends.

mikeandjenn

I am the type of person who always wanted to work out, but my good intentions never got executed. I have a four month old and I am training for a hiking competition, and it is very difficult to fit in the workouts! I find though, that if I want to get it done, I will make time. I work out mornings on the days when DH can help with LO in the morning, and I work out evenings when DH gets off early enough to pick LO up from daycare. Having DH support me in this really makes it possible. If he wasn't very involved, I don't know how I would get the workouts in. 

katylady09

RosesRRed:

I work full-time and get home at 6. DS is in bed by 7:30 every night. I am signed up for a half marathon in February and it just seems so daunting trying to fit running into my already busy schedule and spend quality time with my son.

Any ideas?

I was just thinking this same thing today! I've been worrying about it actually. I'm pregnant with my first and it's really starting to hit me that I can't just get up and go whenever I want once the baby's here. I run outside (I cannot STAND treadmills) and am already having anxiety over how I will get out and run when it's cool/warm enough outside (and the sun's still out) with a little one at home. DH is a football and baseball coach, so there are about 7 months of the year when he doesn't get home until 8 or 9:30 at night (and he leaves at 6 in the morning). We don't have any family in town, so I don't really know who I could ask to come and watch the baby for a little while.

I'm interested to see everyone's answers!

JnDbaby4us

Fortunately DH and I alternate evenings of bath and bed time with DD.  So on his nights, I get in a long workout or run.  On nights that I give bath and put DD down, I get short runs. 

Arnegard

When #1 was little, I worked 2-3 blocks from the YMCA.  I would change at work and go there to workout during my lunch hour.  I'd get in 10-15 minutes of weights twice a week and cardio daily.  Some days I did the eliptical, some days I ran on the treadmill.

After I began to SAH, I would walk with DD1.  I have gotten into running now, so if I can't run on the treadmill with #3 is napping, we hit the bike paths.  #1 & #2 will ride their bikes and I can run pushing the baby.

gracerunner21

My jogging stroller has been a life saver.  My husband has a crazy schedule and works some late nights.  This gives me the freedom to go whenever I want to. My LO loves it and usually ends up falling asleep.  It's a win-win!

My advice, invest in a good stroller.

maui7304

I go early in the AM when DH is home.  He has a job in which is he gone overnight and/or is on call.  Now that the weather is cooling off, I will go on my lunch hour or in the afternoons when I pick-up DD.  On weekends, I run with my BOB jogging stroller and car seat adapter. 

marriedtoeric

When I go back to work in January, I'm planning to work out at lunch.  I know I'm not a morning person, and I don't want to cut into my time with LO after work.  Is that something that might be feasible for you, even a couple days/week?  If you could fit 2 lunch runs in (3 would probably be ideal), plus one on the weekend, you should be able to make it happen pretty easily.