Gym - when? how?

ns1

DH and I are debating joining a gym, but I just can't figure out when we can fit it in.  Yes, I want to do this, but I can't see having DD in daycare from about 7:30-5:00 while we're at work, and then taking her to a gym daycare after work.  She goes to bed at 8:00, so I already don't have a lot of time with her during the week.  We also live about 30 minutes from the gym we'd get a membership to (it's near our work, not our house; there's really not much near our house).  So, if we went on weekends it would be quite a drive, and I'm not sure paying for a gym membership just for weekends is worth it. 

What do you do?  TIA 

azuremama

I would not join a gym 30 minutes away from home if you're planning on using it on the weekends.  That just adds another barrier to working out, plus that's a lot of money for 2 days a week, tops. 

I belong to a gym near my work and squeeze a workout in during the day.  Or I get up and run in the morning.  You could try some workout videos--Jillian Michaels is fun.  Or get some weights/basic equipment for home.

Is there anywhere you can get day passes, like a local rec center for the weekends?

Virgo17

I think joining a gym 30 minutes from home will make it a huge PIA to workout.  I would either workout during the day or find some alternative to do at home. 

Could you alternate daycare drop off or pick so you can both go a few days a week?  Is there a gym near your house that you could go to after DD's bedtime?

To be honest, when they are that little, anything you can do from home is the most likely to happen with any regularity.  The last thing I feel like doing after the kids go to bed is going to the gym.  I'm more likely to wake up early and do a quick workout before getting showered and dressed.

*sparky*

Virgo17:

I think joining a gym 30 minutes from home will make it a huge PIA to workout.  I would either workout during the day or find some alternative to do at home. 

Could you alternate daycare drop off or pick so you can both go a few days a week?  Is there a gym near your house that you could go to after DD's bedtime?

To be honest, when they are that little, anything you can do from home is the most likely to happen with any regularity.  The last thing I feel like doing after the kids go to bed is going to the gym.  I'm more likely to wake up early and do a quick workout before getting showered and dressed.

ITA w/this.  When DS was a baby, I started doing yoga and other workout videos from home, or jogging w/him in the stroller.  There was no way I was getting to the gym.  When he was a little older, we joined a gym that had great kids' activities we could put him in while we exercised.  But it was close to our house.  I never would go to a gym that was 30 mins away on the weekends.

jf198400

I thought about joining a gym, but also couldn't justify taking the kids to gym daycare after being in DC all day.  Sounds like your best options are working out at night after LO goes to bed and on weekends.  But I would never drive 30mins to the gym.  If theres truly no gyms closer to home, then I'd invest in stuff you can do from home.  I've been using some Jillian Michaels dvds and really like them (you just need a mat and a set of hand weights).  You could also invest in a treadmill or just run outside (I'm thinking about trying couch to 5k).  I do have a very small gym at my office, so I try to workout at lunchtime twice a week.  It's really the only time I can find time.

newenglander71

I just started back to the gym a couple weeks ago.  I go 3x a week, 2 weeknights and Saturday morning.  During the week, I pick DS up from daycare and DH has committed to getting home from work between 6 and 7 those 2 nights so I can go to the gym.  DH fits in runs when he can, but we don't ever work out together.  It's just easier that way at this stage. 

SarahinMD

I was in the same boat. Work (and gym) is 30 minutes from home. I just wasn't going, because I couldn't justify the time away from LO and SO. I know that's silly because being healthy is important, but it was where I was mentally. So we got an elliptical and I use it first thing in the morning... I get up about a half hour before DH and DD (she has an alarm that turns green when she can leave her room, so we know we have at least till then). DH usually gets her dressed, and by the time they come down (sometimes he showers while she plays in room, other times they come right down) I'm done. I've been doing a pregnancy sculpting DVD 3 times a week on mornings when I don't have to be out of house as early. There's no way I'd exercise nearly as regularly if I didn't have the elliptical at home.

ksyknelvr73

I could not realistically make a gym work in my household - with travel time to get there and back, putting DS in the gym's daycare, foregoing that time with him, etc. I exercise at home. I walk/run in the neighborhood with DS in the stroller, and then I do videos (usually Jillian Michaels) in my bedroom after DS goes to sleep. This is the only thing I can seem to manage at the moment.

MaggieF516

I have been going to the gym 2 weekdays (spinning classes). I do feel a little guilty about it, but my son is watched by his grandma and I think he likes the interaction with other kids, babies, etc. He wouldn't ever have this if he didn't go to the gym daycare.  I also try to cut down my routine as quickly as possible (I save a few minutes by skipping stretching) to get in and out of there as fast as I can.  I also put him to bed at 9 pm and we get home at around 6:45 on those days so I have a solid two hours with him still. I also try to go to the gym Saturday mornings and I don't feel as guilty about that as I will see him the rest of the day I also go jogging with him and he loves this.  I live about 5-10 minutes from the gym and I'm not sure if I would go if it was going to be a 1 hr round trip. I would just jog or do a workout DVD at home most likely.  I was feeling really guilty about going to the gym BEFORE I started going, but now that I am I don't regret it at all.  I feel so much better doing this for myself.

rockychryslerb2010

We have a treadmill and kettlebells in our basement, so I usually run or do a quick 30DS or kettlebell workout while E is asleep.

But..... my BOB running stroller is coming today, so my plan is to getup at 6am (E is waking up then anyway) and run for 30-45 min in the morning.  I am lucky, I work from home, so I sneak in a shower at lunch and sit at my desk sweaty all day if I need to.

LoCarb

I work out during lunch at a gym. It sounds like if you get a membership this will be an excellent option for you too. I take a 1 hr 15 min or 1.5 hr lunch which allows me to do 40  min cardio or a 1 hr group class. I take a quick shower and do not wash my hair, apply minimal make-up and back to work. I eat a small meal at my desk.

The lunch time routine allows me to work out 5 days a week w/o an excuse before/after or on wknds.  It is a nice break from the work day too.

jobiann

Sounds like a long way to drive to the gym (this coming from a small town chick from the midwest). I have a gym membership and I go religiously every Tuesday and Thursday right after work (DH picks DS up on those days after work). I love it because it's part of my girl time (I go with two other friends) and I'm actually loosing a few pounds each week.  

cltk12

Now that it's summer, can you do workouts outside or around the house?

2.5 months ago, I decided it was time to make time for me again after DS was born. I now get up at 6:30 and go for a jog each morning while DS is still sleeping and DH is getting ready for work. Also, I do weight training on Monday and Wednesdays at 4:30pm for an hour while DS is still at DC.  I leave work early on those days and catch up after DS goes to sleep if necessary. 

Each night if its nice out after dinner we go for 2 mile walk or a 30 min bike ride with DS.   

Netty_3

I have an hour commute and have to be at work by 7am. I have a 24 hour fitness within .25 mile of my home. I get up (when LO hasn't been up all night to be fair) at 4am to do weights at the gym. As a perk at work I have a free membership to the rec center in town, and a mediocre gym in our basement...so I do 30-45 minutes of cardio during lunch as well. I try to get in 4 days of each...and on occasion add a Sunday class. I don't like taking any more time away from LO than I already do so that's why working out for me has to be done at those times.

Mjmksb04

I go to the gym on my lunch hour. Occasionally, I go after work. What really works for me is that I took up running, because I can do that after work easily.

salt78

I go on my lunch breaks. Would that work for you?