Hellobee Boards

This was me when my LOs were younger (we also have a 3 year gap). I didn't do anything other than walk around, like errands, school pick up, etc., and also couldn't figure out how to fit in exercise, work, and family. But when my youngest was around 3 and in full time daycare, I joined a gym to use the pool. I started by going 3 mornings per week. I WAH, so I can set my schedule. Later, I was up to 4-5 times a week as I got into my groove. Usually I just went during the weekdays, but occasionally I could slip out during weekend nap time. Now, both kids are in full time school and we have a different situation. Exercising has become a priority and I probably go 4-5 days a week. I start feeling terrible and have more anxiety if I let things slide.

Do you have gyms with childcare in your area? Then maybe you could go when your older LO is in preschool and drop off the younger one at the childcare.

I find it most realistic to do home workouts at naptime (e.g. Beachbody) and to do other things I love (like cycling) as time/childcare permits.

Sounds like you have a pretty sweet setup to be able to workout a lot! Maybe it’s just not enough of a priority, which much of the time means you haven’t found an exercise or activity that you really enjoy. I’m a runner and basically salivating over all the opportunity you have to run, but it’s not for everyone. I WOH FT, and my kids have the same gap as you, and I run 40 miles a week almost all of it before they wake up. My husband works long hours and every Saturday too. It’s something I enjoy and prioritize so it’s easy for me to do that. However, if running is really what you want to do here are some ideas:

1. Run before everyone wakes up. If you’re freaked out, get pepper spray.
2. Run with 7 month old while big kid is at school. Sounds like this might be ideal.
3. Run/walk/hike with both kids, ideally during nap time. If the 3 year old doesn’t consistently nap this will likely help her fall asleep and free up some time for you to get stuff done. Mine are 2 and almost 5. I ran more with them when they were your kids ages more often but still do sometimes now (3 times last week—one time with 30 lbs of farmers market produce in the stroller ). It’s a great workout. I’d get a used BOB if you find one cheap (swivel wheel only—no fixed wheel with 2 kids), or just a more basic jogging stroller. A BOB is great if you are running to be fast (like if you absolutely need to do sub 7 minute miles sometimes). A Chicco jogger is definitely fine for anyone else. But if you’re walking it doesn’t matter what kind of stroller you have. Another tip would be to do destination runs. When I have to run with the kids it’s never a workout so I don’t mind stopping a few miles in to do something or to take advantage of the storage space below the stroller to run errands (farmers market, TJ Max, getting a few things at the grocery store). If it’s a Saturday and I’m not long running I’ll take them to the farmers market (it’s much easier than driving them there). Playgrounds are also a great idea. Sometimes if I’m in a pinch (like my husband is out of town and I need to work weird hours) I’ll run them to daycare before school or run to daycare after school to get them (yes,with an empty stroller).
4. Get social. Most towns have a run club these days with a wiiiide range of abilities. Usually they meet weekly, and then you find breakout groups/pairs who meet up other days to run together. I can find someone to run with me before 5:30am almost every weekday, and only one of those people has kids. And I can often find someone who will run before 6:30am on a weekend Other people want running partners too and will make your schedule work.
5. Get a treadmill, if it’s in your budget. If you have one you won’t have an excuse not to run anymore.
6. Do it as a family. My husband is way faster than me but a few times a month when we’re home at the same time we will do a family run. If your husband gets home at a reasonable hour (like before 7pm) this would be a great option.

But again, it sounds like you haven’t found an activity that works for you so maybe a gym, spin studio, yoga, barre, paddle boarding, kayaking, etc would fit into the mix well.

I’ve got a 19 month old and a 3 year old. And this is what worked for me: my husband works really long hours and I work out of the home as an attorney but more 9 to 5 (Although I log in remotely after the kids are in bed about 1-2 a week). I go in the mornings. I regularly meet a friend at a 6 AM spin class or a 630 kickboxing class (I prefer kbing but the 6 am time is better so...) I shoot for Monday Wednesday Friday. Then I prioritize going to kickboxing once a weekend. Generally first thing —the earliest weekend class is 9 am so my husband just hangs with our kids or takes them to the playground and I meet up with them sweaty afterwards—but there is a naptime class on Saturday so sometimes that one. Occqsionally (like maybe every other month or so) during the week, I meet friends for a 730 bar class in the evening and then we get dinner afterwards. But this requires my husband conscientiously coming home so much earlier than he would otherwise so this is rarer than I’d like.

For me I found the secret is accountability whether with friends or instructors I know who will ask after me if they dont see me. And also doing a work out I really like. Also close convenience-I live in a city and I can leave for class literally five minutes before it starts.

So I actually was able to trade my single BOB for a double BOB in my running group and it was perfect. My oldest is almost five and just barely fits in it, but it's how I've been able to run for the past almost two years.

I haven't made it work yet (3yo and 3mo). I am going to try more once the baby is sleeping through the night. I have to get up at 5:30, and after being up a few times during the night, waking up any earlier is not going to happen. After bedtime, I have to wash dishes, pack lunches, do laundry, etc. plus I'm wrecked from being sleep deprived.

I am hoping to add in some short workouts after the kids go to bed once I'm getting some more sleep. Ideally I would like to get back to some out of the house activities eventually once the baby is a little older. I hate workout videos and that seems to be about all I have time for.

I run after I drop the older one off at pre k (baby naps in the stroller) 1-2x a week. I use our peloton 2-3x a week during nap times (on a good week). Some weeks I don’t run at all. Or some weeks I do a long walk when the baby stroller naps.

@CatchAFallingStar: I'm having this same issue. My girls are 2 years old and 4 months old. I'm hoping to start doing morning work outs a couple of days a week when my husband is home in the mornings. The only way I can see getting a work out in is to take away from my sleep time. So I will have to make it a priority again and reorgnize the things I do in the evening so that I can get to bed earlier. Otherwise, I'm planning to buy a Peloton bike that I am hoping will change my life.

I am a morning person and a runner (started in my 20s) and I know not everyone is, but the only thing that has worked for me is getting up early and exercising. I have so much energy all day and it's over and done with. I just don't get around to it later on, everything gets in the way! And pushing two kids in a stroller is very hard! Being done with a workout before he wakes up to me feels like I'm double dipping

Maybe get a used one? My oldest is almost 4 but b/c her sister sits in a stroller she had since rekindled her love for strollers lol. Or more like they just want what the other has so when one sits on a stroller, the other does too. I never used the double stroller (we were gifted one) earlier on but now I seem to be using it all the time and my girls are almost 4 and almost 2.

I work out in our basement after the kids are down, or get up super early at 5:30 AM and squeeze in a run on our treadmill (in the basement). I used to be a training/workout fanatic before kids. After having one, I was still able to get in plenty of workouts but once number two came along, I had to change my game plan and carve out time either way early in the AM or at night after the kids are down, which SO isn't ideal because I'm already tired as it is!! You gotta do what you gotta do though..

If I had your schedule I would join a gym with childcare and workout T/Th/F mornings. I joined our local YMCA this summer and it has been amazing! I am off for the summer so we went at 8:15 (when childcare opened) several mornings a week and I did a 8:30 spin class or ran/worked out in the gym. After my workout I had time to take a quick rinse, change and be done by 10...just in time to run errands, go to the children's museum/park etc. before lunch and nap.

I see several people recommended running while your 3 yo is at school, but personally I would take that time to run errands that are easier to do without both kids in tow (dry cleaner, grocery store, post office, etc.).

Also, not sure if your 3 year old would be up for it but around that age I started having my older ride his bike/scooter while I jogged with the baby in the stroller. We didn't go as far or as fast as I wanted but it was something!
Also, don't feel like you have to have it all figured out. Start with something: try a longer walk with the baby still in the carrier/older in the stroller, see if you local gym has a free week trial to test out some classes, go for a jog when your partner is home, see if you can borrow a double stroller for a couple days to try it out. Sometimes the obstacle of making a shift is the hardest part. For me, it was feeling guilty that I was taking time for myself when I should be doing something more enriching/fun for the kids. But personally, I am much happier when I get to move my body more when in turn is great for more family.

It can be scary to get back into a fitness routine if you feel you've been out of it for a while (or never into it) but start with something and you'll likely find more ways to fit it in. Good luck and have fun!

Double BOB all the way. I got one when it was randomly on sale on Amazon. Still pricey but not as bad. My daughter is almost 3 and I know we'll use it for awhile for runs and walks in the neighborhood. And strength workouts inside your house-you can do those whenever and at anytime!