How do working parents ever find time to work out? For now, I work out on the weekends, but I'm trying to lose weight and want to increase my frequency. Between a 6-month-old who wakes up 2 or 3 times a night and the usual evening rush of dinner, cleaning, and toddler bedtime, I am too exhausted by 8:00 PM to do anything. Is a weekday workout realistic at this point? If you've managed to find time for it, what did your schedule look like?

with a 6 month old you are in the thick of it. you'll need the support of your partner to make it logistically work. logistics aside energy levels and being on the right mental state is also a factor.

I personally wasn't able to prioritize this until my youngest was 3 😕

I have a 3 and 1 year old, neither of whom were/are good sleepers. while I’ve tried to find to find time to workout, it’s almost impossible to be consistent when you’re so exhausted - the recommendations to workout in the morning are for folks who aren’t up every 2-3 hours in the night. Before you can tax your body further, I’d focus on the basics in lieu of sleep: 1. eat a balanced diet, prioritize getting fiber and protein in every meal. 2. Make sure you’re staying hydrated!! 3. Try to go for family walks so you can get some steps in regularly with kids in tow. Easy way to add light movement consistently.

Once you start getting rest, then start thinking about working out.

My two cents!

What kind of workouts are you looking to do? lifting, running, classes, or something else? What’s worked best for me is fitting workouts into my lunch break. Luckily my gym is close by, so I can get in and out pretty quickly. Honestly, you don’t need hours in the gym to see progress. Even 30 minutes, 3–4 times a week, can make a huge difference over time.

Since you’re already working out on the weekends, adding just 2 weekdays would probably be enough to build consistency. And if getting to a gym during the week feels impossible, at-home workouts are a great option too. Walking also makes a bigger impact than people realize especially for weight loss and overall health. If you work from home, taking calls while walking or using your lunch break for a walk can really add up.

That said, it’s so hard to prioritize workouts when you’re exhausted and not getting enough sleep. Give yourself some grace and focus on doing what’s realistic for your current season of life. It honestly took me almost two years postpartum to really find my momentum and become consistent again.

You’re doing better than you think, and I know you can do this

Yeah, I couldn't do early mornings when my kids were little and not sleeping consistently. I'd recommend trying to squeeze in a 20-30 min home workout with the kids in the evening (bonus if your spouse can give you a break from the kids to do it).

Workout M-F at 6am. Kids are up at 7am. I sleep trained when baby was 5 months. I figure consistency is key so I built in exercise time first thing in the morning. If I waited until evening it would never happen.

Get up early. I’m always shocked people try and do it at the end of the day, just seems like a recipe for failure.

If you like to run, buy a running stroller. I bought a double and dropped our boys in there. They loved it - the oldest was about 3 and would try to grab everything we went past and the youngest was 1 and always wanted to keep going.

This is one way to include the kids. Otherwise, you’re building a puzzle to fit everything in. It can be done either early in the day or at lunchtime (this is what I did for years).

Find workouts that are shorter too. I have a TRX system in the garage. Twice a week for 30 minutes is all I need for strength training.

It’s doable but planning your day and prioritizing the workout is the way.

I think you should try thinking of quick workouts you can squeeze in at home. Eg 30 min before the kids are up or 30 min if the other parent is with them after work etc

If you have a supportive partner that can be primary caregiver for an hour — pick a morning where they do the whole morning with baby. Reclaim that hour. Or if your work is flexible, workout over lunch and then catch up on emails for an hour in the evening to make up the time.

When my kids were little I worked out at 5:30am 3-5 days a week. It wasn’t easy but it helped my mental health to get that hour with adults alone most days. Otherwise every waking hour of the day I was someone to someone else (employee, wife,mom) and not just me. I really struggled with not having any just me time and that was motivation enough for me to get up that early consistently. I took strength and conditioning classes and it was full of ppl in the same boat as me so I really enjoyed it.

Once I was able to get my baby sleep trained, it changed my entire world. I was not able to start working out the way I wanted until that happened. Quite frankly I was just like you said to exhausted.

However, I would walk every single lunch break around my company parking lot or thankfully enough I was fortunate to have a trail right by our work then once baby was sleep trained, I started being able to have more options.

IMO bodyweight training is underrated and eventually I just built my own home gym and that has been a lifesaver in regards to flexibility - a meeting cancels go get a workout in, can’t get it in the morning then get it in at lunch. Can’t do it then get it in after work, but like others have said sleep is key!

I play tennis after kids go to sleep - 2/3 times a week and then have a small home gym where I spend 30 mins on the other days.

I worked out for 45 minutes at my office gym today between 12:15 and 1pm. I also went for two 15 minute walks. I lifted for 30-45 minutes 3x this week (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday). I have 3 kids ages 3.5, 3.5, and 2. My wife just got back from Orange Theory as well and this was her 2nd time there this week.

Kettlebell workouts take only 20-30 mins and can be done anywhere.

I have no answer. I only managed a very, very seldom exercise session of some sort. I think the best thing I did when my child was older was getting an active dog who I walked at length after dropping my child at school. But you have to love and care for having a dog too which is at least an hour a day time commitment. Looking back, it kept me in shape. At least 30-45 mins of cardio in a green place- not bad !!

I did elliptical or weights at home, or walking around the neighborhood. Less time consuming and easier for me than going to the gym. I’m not a morning person and wasn’t motivated to train myself to become one. So I exercised in middle of the day or at night while spouse covered the kids. Dinner time might be doable for you once a week … spouse can serve something simple and kids are then naturally contained/occupied.

Just switch to a keto diet fat and protein cravings will stop weight will drop easily. Lost 26 pounds from February 17th to May 23rd. Not hungry no cravings satisfied. And enough energy to last until the next meal. No headachs no shaky weakness no stomach ache.

When my kiddo was that age we’d go for a stroller walk every day at 5. If helped with witching hour and post work transition. Once his sleep normalized and I stopped breastfeeding at a year, I’d get up at 6 to do a 15-20 min workout in my walk in closet and shower. Work travel and stress threw me off course but I’m hoping to get back into it. No other times really work. My son gets toddler rage when I try to work out in the afternoons and he’s become a pain to go on walks with (though I try) because he keeps hopping in and out of the stroller :-(