{"id":36447,"date":"2017-01-10T11:15:50","date_gmt":"2017-01-10T16:15:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=36447"},"modified":"2022-04-27T06:45:56","modified_gmt":"2022-04-27T10:45:56","slug":"fit-mom-exercise-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/fitness\/fit-mom-exercise-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"17 Tips from Fit Moms on Finding Time for Exercise"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"How
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sticking with an exercise routine<\/a> can be a struggle for anyone. But for moms, squeezing in workouts can feel darn near impossible. After all, how are you supposed to find time to work out when you can\u2019t even go to the bathroom undisturbed?<\/p>\n

Take Katy Widrick, for example. Before becoming a mom, the TV producer, blogger and group fitness instructor thought she was a master multi-tasker. \u201cI juggled a full-time job with a blog, training for half-marathons and more. Then came my daughter \u2014 my perfect, amazing little girl. And boy, did she teach me that everything I thought I knew about managing my time was a joke!\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Between caring for kids, workplace demands, household chores, doctors appointments, school and all the rest, there is often precious little time for moms to sweat. So we asked some of our favorite fitness-minded mom bloggers to share their best tips for making exercise a reality<\/a> and a priority. (It\u2019s possible. We swear.)<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>15 Healthy Snacks for Kids (And Grown-Ups, Too)<\/a><\/p>\n

17 Tricks That Will Make It Easier to Be a Fit Mom<\/strong><\/h2>\n

1. First Things First<\/h3>\n

Work out before the day gets away from you. \u201cIf I waited until after work, I\u2019d never get my workout in. There are just too many activities and commitments that come up,\u201d says Angela Bekkala, clinical exercise specialist, mom of twins and creator of Happy Fit Mama<\/a>. \u201cNo one will schedule a meeting at 4:30 a.m. That\u2019s my time to rise and sweat,\u201d she says. Meredith Atwood, author of Triathlon for the Every Woman<\/em> and blogger at Swim Bike Mom<\/a> offers another reason to sweat early. \u201cYou’re finished before the kids wake up!\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>15 Get-Out-Of-Bed Tricks from Fitness Pros<\/a><\/p>\n

2. Block It Out<\/h3>\n

If you have an appointment on your calendar, chances are you show up. That same tactic helps Madeline Glasser, the blogger behind Food, Family and Fitness and a full-time student, find time for her sweat sessions. \u201cIf I set aside specific times in my planner, they feel more like an appointment I have to keep,\u201d she says. Each Sunday, Widrick manages her family\u2019s calendar. \u201cI’ll actually block out \u2018Katy goes to yoga<\/a>\u2019 on Thursday nights, so my husband knows it\u2019s his night to pick up our daughter and prepare dinner. I do the same for him,\u201d she says. Schedule it as part of your day and make it non-negotiable.<\/p>\n

\"Best
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. Have a Plan for How You\u2019ll Sweat<\/h3>\n

Once you’ve penciled in your workout, don\u2019t forget to think about what you\u2019ll actually do<\/em> once you get to the gym. That\u2019s one strategy Ashley, of Coffee Cake and Cardio<\/a>, uses to make her 5 a.m. workout a reality. Gia Alvarez of Run Gia Run<\/a> and mom of twins adds, \u201cIt\u2019s one thing to find the motivation to work out. It\u2019s another thing to find the motivation to figure out what to do for a workout. If I know beforehand exactly what I plan to do, I make it happen,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

4. Don\u2019t Worry About Your Outfit<\/h3>\n

Printed capris or plain black? Tank top or t-shirt? Don\u2019t waste your little free time debating wardrobe choices<\/a>. To make it to her early morning workout, Ashley lays out her clothes the night before. \u201cHeck, sleep in your workout clothes if that helps!\u201d she advises. Glasser says, \u201cEliminating that one step of figuring out what to wear helps getting up at 5 a.m. easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>9 Reasons to Never Skip a Workout, As Told To Trainers<\/a><\/p>\n

5. Take RUNch<\/h3>\n

If crack-of-dawn or after-work training sessions aren\u2019t your jam, try taking runch<\/em> aka \u201crunning lunch.\u201d \u201cSince I work full-time, I block out time on my calendar every day from 12 to 1:30 p.m. to workout,\u201d says Nellie Acevedo, creator of Brooklyn Active Mama<\/a>. Katie McFarland also believes in taking runch. The director of corporate real estate strategy and voice behind Mom\u2019s Little Running Buddies<\/a> runs in the afternoon at work when possible. \u201cYou have half an hour. Do your workout, run<\/a>, yoga, whatever but you have to create the opportunity and then commit to it,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

6. Include Your Kids<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to find dedicated \u201calone time\u201d as a parent \u2014 but do you really need it? \u201cI struggled with finding time to work out alone without the kids.\u00a0I quickly learned that wasn\u2019t always possible,\u201d says Rachel Steffen of Running Rachel<\/a>, a stay-at-home mom. \u201cI\u2019ve embraced working out with my boys, and they see that Mommy is a strong woman who enjoys working out,\u201d she says. Personal trainer and mom Tamara Grand<\/a> of FitKnitChick agrees that you should ditch the \u2018either-or\u2019 attitude. \u201cChildren instinctively love to move. Resistance bands are great for playing \u2018hop over\u2019 and Bosu balls make fun mini trampolines,\u201d she says. As your children grow older, workouts can be bonding time. Tracy Morrison of Sellabit Mum has always made a point of introducing her daughters to fitness. \u201cNow my oldest daughter runs with me a few times a week, and we just ran her first 10K<\/a> together,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>The Easiest 10K Training Plan Ever<\/a><\/p>\n

7. Make the Jungle Gym Your Bootcamp<\/h3>\n

Who says that you\u2019re too old to play outside? \u201cWhen I take my kids to the playground, I try to play right along with them. I\u2019ll do triceps dips off a bench, incline push-ups<\/a>, step ups, and try to do a pull-up<\/a> on the monkey bars,\u2019 says Bekkala. \u201cThose little bursts of activity do add up quickly!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Best
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

8. Run With \u2018Em<\/h3>\n

When her childrens\u2019 increasingly early wake-up times threatened to ruin her early morning jog, Morrison ran with it. \u201cI\u2019d put them in the jogging stroller and take them with me. I\u2019d sing and chat during our run together. Instead of spoiling my run, it just made it a little bit sweeter,\u201d she says. Michele Gonzalez of NYC Running Mama<\/a>, also relies heavily on a running stroller. \u201cIt requires a bit more planning since the kids have to be dressed and I have to pack snacks, books and drinks, but it was a great way to spend time with them while exercising,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/strong>Hate Running? 25 Ways to Learn to Love It<\/a><\/p>\n

9. Sweeten the Deal<\/h3>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned to accept the time I do have and make the most of it.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sometimes, you have to grease the wheels in order to fit in your workout. \u201cMy best \u2018trick\u2019 is to bribe my children,\u201d says Steffen.\u00a0\u201cWhether the bribe is a fruit snack<\/a>, park play [time], or something else, my boys are more willing to participate with minimal complaining when there is something in it for them,\u201d she says. No shame in that.<\/p>\n

10. Be a Workout Ninja<\/h3>\n

Stealthy workouts become a must when your schedule is overflowing. \u201cYou have to sneak around and get your workouts in wherever you can \u2013 and sometimes that means in some curious ways,\u201d says Atwood. \u201cBut you can do 10 to 15 minutes of strength training<\/a> while the kids are eating.\u00a0Find a show they love and get on the treadmill<\/a>. You are guaranteed at least 20 minutes of uninterrupted time while they are calm and quiet,\u201d she says. Amanda Tress of Fit Parenting and Pregnancy<\/a> and work-from-home mom says, \u201cIf I have a super busy day, I will break up my workout throughout the day and do some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) at home in 10 to 15 minute spurts. Bethany Meyer of I Love Them Most When They’re Sleeping<\/a> saves her strength training for the evening. \u201cGetting it done in the family room while catching up with my husband and sons satisfies my need to multitask. Often, somebody will join me for planks and bicycle twists!\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a03 No-Equipment CrossFit Workouts You Can Do At Home<\/a><\/p>\n

11. Take to the Streets<\/h3>\n

Being a soccer mom in a minivan is clich\u00e9 \u2014 so ditch the ride. When weather permits, make your commute an active one. Walk your kids to school or bike to work<\/a>. \u201cI live about a mile and a half from my daughter\u2019s daycare. When the weather is nice, I push the running stroller to and from school,\u201d says Widrick.<\/p>\n

\"How
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. Audit Your Schedule<\/h3>\n

\u201cRegular exercisers don’t find time, they \u2018take\u2019 time,\u201d says Grand. \u201cMost of us have unused chunks of time in our day. Those 30-minutes we spend on Facebook or Pinterest. Those 10-minute intervals<\/a> we spend checking email or cleaning. Pay attention to how you\u2019re spending your time and figure out which activities you could \u2018take\u2019 time from,\u201d she says. \u201cIf possible, lump them all together and use them for a workout. If not, spread your activity throughout the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:<\/strong>\u00a0HIIT It Hard with BJ Gaddour’s Bodyweight Burners<\/a><\/p>\n

13. Music Class for Them\u2026Gym Class for You<\/h3>\n

Between soccer practice, ballet or music lessons, kids are sometimes as busy as their parents these days. \u201cUse the time that your kids are in classes,\u201d says Alvarez. \u201cYour kids are getting their fitness in, why shouldn\u2019t you?\u201d While her son is at soccer practice, Meyer squeezes in time on the track<\/a>. \u201cMy kids decompress from their school day, get some exercise, and connect with their friends on the playground. And I get to do the same on the track,\u201d she says. Naptime is another prime time to squeeze in a workout. \u201cAs soon as my kids go down for a nap, I leave them with Dad and I go out for a run or to the gym. I am back by the time they wake up and everyone is refreshed,\u201d says Acevedo.<\/p>\n

14. Don\u2019t Beat Yourself Up<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s face it, life happens in the form of sick days, tantrums and gigantic messes that won\u2019t clean themselves. \u201cThere are days when I only have time for a few miles instead of the planned 7 or 8 miles on my training plan,\u201d says Gonzalez. \u201cI\u2019ve learned to accept the time I do have and make the most of it. I might run the miles faster<\/a> than planned or run a few more miles the next day,\u201d she says. If you do miss a day, don\u2019t stress. \u201cDon’t compare yourself to other moms,\u201d says Laura Peifer, Health and Running Coach, and creator of Mommy Run Fast. \u201cDo your best for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>7 Expert Tips for Pacing Yourself on the Run<\/a><\/p>\n

15. Make Any Space a Home Gym<\/h3>\n

While not making it to the gym or a class is a convenient excuse<\/a>, the truth is, you don\u2019t need fitness special equipment, or a gym membership, to work out. \u201cIf I\u2019m truly stuck at home\u2026I use what I have at my disposal,\u201d says McFarland. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s nothing more than a chair, but you\u2019d by surprised at the range of exercises you can do with a chair!\u201d For example, we\u2019re pretty sure you can do these 10 booty-toning chair exercises<\/a>\u00a0and the “sexy chair” dance workout<\/a>\u00a0anywhere (well, almost anywhere).<\/p>\n

\"Best
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

16. Build a Support Crew<\/h3>\n

Juggling the responsibilities of family, work and life can feel overwhelming, but you\u2019re not alone. Like-minded parents are a great support system<\/a>. \u201cFind a buddy or share your workout on Instagram<\/a>. It really helps to have others hold you accountable,\u201d says Ashley. Fellow parents can also sympathize when life gets messy. \u201cI was up with a fussy, crying toddler at the wee hours of the morning and sure didn\u2019t feel like working out after that!\u201d says Widrick. She posted her experience in a local mom\u2019s Facebook group. \u201cNot only did I get some good tips on how to ease my daughter\u2019s pain, I got a lot of empathetic comments that reminded me that this too shall pass,\u201d she says. And ask for help when you need it. \u201cA few times a week, I hire a babysitter for a few hours so I can accomplish housework and fit in a workout<\/a>,\u201d says Tress. \u201cI’ve come to realize that it\u2019s OK for me to ask for help. Then, I\u2019m refreshed and able to focus on quality time with my family.\u201d<\/p>\n

RELATED:\u00a0<\/strong>Strength in Numbers: How to Find Your Fitness Tribe<\/a><\/p>\n

17. Make It Worth It<\/h3>\n

\u201cI’ve come to realize that it\u2019s OK for me to ask for help.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At the end of the day, spending more time with your family is always a priority. \u201cWorking full-time, traveling, blogging and everything else means less time with my kids. One of the mantras I\u2019ve adopted is: Make it worth it<\/a><\/em>,” says McFarland. \u201cIf I\u2019m going to choose to run or go to the gym rather than spend time with my kids, I better make sure I\u2019m pushing myself the entire time.\u201d McFarland incorporates a mix of compound moves<\/a> and HIIT<\/a> to maximize her time at the gym.<\/p>\n

Fitting fitness into a busy schedule is hard and exercise is often the first thing to get scratched from the calendar. But, with a little forethought and planning, it\u2019s doable. \u201cMake your well-being a priority,\u201d says Widrick. \u201cI just don\u2019t allow myself to think of my health as a secondary priority. When Mommy’s happy and healthy, everyone else has a better shot of following suit.\u201d<\/p>\n

What tips and tricks do you use to find time to workout?<\/em><\/p>\n

Not a Daily Burn member? Sign up at\u00a0dailyburn.com<\/a>\u00a0and start your free 30-day trial today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Originally posted January 2015. Updated January 2017.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whether you resort to bribery, jungle-gym bootcamps or early-a.m. sweat sessions, we guarantee you\u2019ll find a trick here that will make it easier for you to be a fit mom, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":55243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,24,6,19],"tags":[289,104,60,108,341,343,100],"class_list":["post-36447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cardio","category-exercise","category-fitness","category-yoga","tag-exercise","tag-goals","tag-high-intensity-interval-training","tag-running","tag-tax1living-well","tag-tax2exercise","tag-workout"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36447\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/55243"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}