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Fitness Friday | Fitting in Fitness {Guest Post by @tonee78} #FitFluential

January 5, 2012 By Emily 9 Comments

 

 

Fitting in fitness is hard enough as it is but when you work full time and have a family it may seem nearly impossible at times. From the time my daughter was born (she is 3 now) up until August I worked weekends and holidays only, which left me plenty of time to work out during the week if I planned appropriately. I used to say to all my friends who worked full time it’s not so hard to fit in exercise, just do it, I mean staying home with a baby is full time work too and if I can do it so can you!

In August I started back to work full time Monday through Friday 8-4 and everything I preached to others about fitting in exercise went right out the window. Between work, the kids, cooking, cleaning, and everything else working out just didn’t happen like I thought it would, not only because I was exhausted but I also felt guilty taking time for myself after working all day. I knew this had to change because I needed to exercise for both my physical and mental health without drowning myself in “mommy” guilt. I now schedule my workouts into my day leaving no excuses not to work out.

Here are my tips for fitting in fitness:

  • Wake up early: I get up at 4:30 to get to the gym by 5:30 so I can get home by 6:45 and get to work by 8:00. When I first started working I was so exhausted I thought I couldn’t possibly get up this early, but with proper planning I am now able to get up and go to the gym. The key is in the planning, I have everything I need for the gym ready to go so when I wake up I don’t have to even think about it, I just get dressed and head out the door. If I am working out at home I make sure to have my workout area set up and if I am using a DVD it is queued and ready to go. The easier you make it for yourself the more likely you will get up and actually workout. The benefit of working out in the morning is that is done, if you wait until later in the day it becomes easier to make excuses not to workout.
  • Work out after the kids go to bed: The last thing I want to do at 9 o’clock at night is work out but sometimes it is a necessary evil. There are times that my schedule doesn’t allow me to fit in an early workout or sometimes I am just too tired to get up so I am left with working out at night. t do not make this the norm because waiting until 9 o’clock at night is asking for trouble, the excuses build up and before you know you have missed your workout.
  • Include the family: On the weekends and sometimes at night I try to include my family in my workouts. We go out for, walks, bike rides, rollerblading, swimming (in the summer) or to the park. I have a jogging stroller that I use when the weather is nice, I just strap my 3 year old up and go for a run or roller blading. Making fitness a family activity not only helps you find the time to fit it in but sets a good example for the rest of the family.
  • Childcare: Use your spouse, mother, mother-in-law, babysitter, or anyone you can find and trust to watch your kids. Join a gym that has babysitting services or swap with a friend, one day you watch their kids and one day they watch yours. Your health is important and making it a priority is an absolute must, even if that means enlisting in help.
  • Do what you can: Squeeze in workouts whenever, wherever and for however long you can. There may be days you only have 20 minutes and figure why workout? I say why not? 10, 15, 20 minutes is better than none. I have workouts ranging from 10 minutes to 90 minutes and depending on how much time I have that is what workout I will do. Working out on your lunch hour is another possibility if you can squeeze it into your day, whatever works!
  • Schedule it: Your health is important so make appointments with your self to workout, you wouldn’t miss you child’s doctor appointments and you shouldn’t miss your workout appointments either. Put it on your family schedule so everyone knows this is your time to workout, no excuses!!
These tips have helped me to fit in fitness 5-6 days a week while working full time and taking care of a family. There are days I don’t work out and that is okay, but 90% of the time I stick to my appointments. I have let go of all most of the guilt I used to feel by taking time for myself because I know I am a better person when I am working out. I also want to set a good example for my kids to follow in addition to leading a long and healthy life. Use these tips and start fitting in fitness today!!!

 

My name is Toni and I am a mother, wife, runner, blogger and RN. I blog about health, fitness and my life. I am passionate about running and am hoping to run my first full marathon in 2012. Follow me on my journey as I try to live my life to the fullest.

Check out my blog at Running, Loving, Living. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest.

  • Biography of the Author(Read Below)..
  • Latest Posts (view them )..

Emily

Emily is a wife & mom living in Las Vegas. The owner and writer at Our Knight Life, Emily loves sharing her two adorable boys and journey through motherhood. Emily has run four half marathons to date and is always training for her next big race. She also enjoys creating healthy recipes for her family and sharing family friendly product reviews.

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Filed Under: All, Fitness and Health, Parenting Posts

Comments

  1. Cori says

    January 5, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    Great advice….I have no excuse not to work out ๐Ÿ™

    Reply
  2. Toni Church says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    Thanks for having me!!

    Reply
  3. Missy says

    January 6, 2012 at 6:55 pm

    You are setting a great example for your daughter! If you don’t think that’s true, I still remember “doing” yoga with my mother when I was about 3 or 4 years old. It stays with ya!

    Reply
  4. judy paris says

    January 9, 2012 at 4:10 pm

    just stumbled upon your blog…terrific!…..having been in the health and fitness industry for over 30 years now and teaching stroller exercise classes in vegas, it is so refreshing for me to read blogs about fitting in fitness with young children in the picture!…it def can be done!…as you have proven.

    Reply
    • Emily says

      January 9, 2012 at 8:14 pm

      Hey Judy! I would love to learn more about your stroller class, and even feature you on my blog for a living local las vegas feature! Can I reach you at the email you put here?

      Reply
  5. judy paris says

    January 9, 2012 at 8:40 pm

    oh, most definitely!..yes, that is my e-mail…you can also go to our website at http://www.janddfitness.com to see what it’s all about…

    Reply
  6. Kathleen says

    January 12, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    OMG you are up at 4am and still awake at 9pm?? Wow. Thanks for the tips.

    Reply
  7. Melissa S. says

    February 11, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Great tips!! I now have a better idea of how to structure my day to allow the max workout time!!

    Reply
  8. ryan says

    March 21, 2013 at 6:57 am

    Nice post. I learn something new and challenging on websites I stumbleupon every day.
    It will always be helpful to read articles from other writers
    and use a little something from their websites.

    Reply

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