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The only time that's worked consistently for me, before or after kids, is to go in the morning before work. It's gotten screwed up for me lately because of DHs hours, but i used to go 2x a week at 7am, and then go straight to work from the gym. Is something like that an option for you with your nanny?

I can sometimes go at lunch, but like you said, work/appts/etc cut into that.

I feel your pain, it is hard, and it feels so much better to he able to exercise!

Today is my 6 week pp appointment and once I have the green light to work out I'm going to try to go to yoga every Sunday AM when my husband can watch the kids. There is no working out before work for me since I'm at work by 7/7:30 (teacher). When the weather is nice, I can sometimes sneak in a workout run or walk outside after school or before I pick up the kids. It's really hard to fit it in, but luckily I'm active with my toddler anyway.

The only way I could make it work was to do the exericise at home. My problem was basically that it took too much time to work out, or so I thought. I boiled it down to having about 30 minutes of time available and decided if I had to make it happen, I had to have the exercise available right away, not travel to it.

So I bought an inexpensive spin bike and I do classes via You Tube.

I agree with prior poster that the first step is to prioritize it, at least a couple days a week (and I would specifically set which days, since it's easy to keep pushing it off and say you'll do it later!).

I also think that it really depends on your personality, but some ideas would be:
- sign up for a membership (so you have some skin in the game) and then work with your support (spouse, nanny, whoever) to pick specific classes each week you'll attend. some people might do better starting slow (e.g., i only have to get up early 2x/week, and i can nap on those days!), whereas others might do better just saying they are going everyday and can't miss.
- get whatever equipment you need (yoga mat, blocks) and do one of the online streaming services that you can do at home. but again, set a specific time/days that you are going to do it, whether in the morning, during naptime, or later in the day.
- find a friend that can meet you at the class, so it gives you extra motivation to see them!

it's really hard, especially working and with kids, to try to prioritize that time because clearly there are so many competing priorities (other me-time things, time with spouse, time with whole family, errands/appointments, work, household chores, etc). but i've found that once i get into the habit, it's actually energizing and helpful to making me happier the rest of the day. even if it's only 1-2 days a week!

i hate working out at home. i know that it's easier because there is less travel time and you potentially have more options for when you do it, but it's just SO unmotivating to me. when i was in my biggest exercise rut, i ended up going to crossfit 3x/week at 7p. i hated missing dinner and bedtime, but it actually ended up being a nice little break most days and gave DH some one-on-one time with DD. and it got me back in the workout habit enough that i did other things on my own as well (running, etc).

Following for ideas. I'm in the same boat. I work full time and my 11 month old is still up a lot at night and I am just utterly exhausted every day. Getting up earlier than I already do (~6am if baby sleeps that long) is absolutely not an option because I get so little sleep. After he goes to bed (7-7:30), I rush to clean up, pack my food for work (I am dairy/soy/nut free for baby so it's a hassle), pack baby's food, clean up the house (babysitter comes), maybe flip a load of laundry, and try to be in bed by 9pm because I'm up all night with the baby.

The only "me time" I have is usually DH and I take about 20 minutes after DS goes to bed and sit on the couch and watch part of a TV show while we eat. That's really it and I don't want to give that up.

The only way I can see fitting it in right now is giving up sleep either in the morning or at night, and when I'm only getting 5 or 6 hours a night, I just can't right now. I am hoping as DS starts sleeping better, I'll make time for it eventually. It is a bummer.

I do try to do little things like - parking farther away in the parking lot, taking the stairs at work, family walks (usually inside at the mall since it's a million degrees out), etc. I guess that's better than nothing.

DH and I have a schedule - he gets MWF and I get TTh during weekday mornings, while the other one takes care of LO. I exercise at home using DVDs or online streaming (I typically do bar style exercises) and he goes to crossfit on his days. On Sat, he takes LO to the grocery store so I can work out during that time too. So we both get 3x per week, which isn't ideal, but it's way better than nothing, which is what we were doing before.

In the past, I have also been able to sort of make it work by doing workouts at night after LO went to bed, but I am pregnant now and very tired in the evenings, so mornings are currently working out better for me right now.

Like a lot of other posters said, early morning! I wake up at 5 and I am out the door to run by 5:15 or I do a youtube strength video at home (I love fitness blender!). I work full time out of the house, so belonging to a gym just doesn't work for me right now. The one near us isn't open until a little later and I wouldn't be able to go before work and I would hate to pick my daughter up from daycare just to drop her off at gym daycare! so for now, I am an early bird!

I work out on my lunch break at work, which isn't ideal but my only "me" time.

Can you workout at home with your LO? My DD loves to do yoga with me. Or join a gym that has childcare?

I agree you have to prioritize it, make time for it, schedule it if you have to. I make sure to do mine during the day because I know I'm useless at night.

Another early morning exerciser! LO usually wakes up to nurse around 5 and sleeps for another hour or two, so I get up after feeding her and workout. It's usually a youtube video or Focus t25. I try to get in at least 30 min. There's also an exercise class I like going to on the weekends so DH will take the baby while I go to that.

Since I work, I either get up earlier and go running, or run after work. If I want to take a class, I'll go in he evening after DH comes home from work.