How Do You Find Time for Workouts with 5 Month Old Baby?

http://www.ultimate-exercise.com/

click on "articles"

click on "why superslow?" (and the two "dose-response..." articles are good too).

HTH!

I am a member of the YMCA. It isn't fancy, but it isn't too expensive either. They allow up to 2 hrs of childcare a day. When I started, I would go every weekday and do the 9:20 class. I chose that time b/c it was between eating and nap times for the baby. I would then come home and feed him (if he could stay awake) and put him down for a nap. Then I would shower for the day. He was 5 months old when I started there. He's now almost 2 and we are still on the same basic schedule (he stays awake longer now).

My two saviors - a decent jogging/walking stroller and a YMCA membership. The Y is about $72 a month for a family membership that includes child care. We went to the Park Cities one and I was really pleased with the care there. My jogging stroller of choice is the BOB Revolution. Not cheap, but worth it partly because you can buy a car seat adapter, though at 5 months you may not need that, especially for walking. I like having one with a lose front wheel, rather than fixed. Easier to maneuver and OK for slower running. I even try to run (literally) errands when I can to fit in workouts. Good luck!

I am single parent and majoring in Nutrition and Exercise. I would be willing to watch your baby for you, if you need. I remember what that is like. I dropped 30 lbs after hiring a personal trainer that would come to my house at 5 AM once a week and show me a workout that I did the rest of the week and every week she came and would change it up, increase intensity and I got in the best shape of my life! I would be willing to share what I know with you, or whatever .... I know what it's like. I know it's hard, but it's important that we take care of ourselves and feel AMAZING. We deserve it! Once I get my certification I am going to gear towards mothers mainly single parents who need help getting back into shape. Let me know if I can help.

For my first child, I mapped out a 2 mile walk around my neighborhood, put the baby in the stroller, and started walking! I went right after breakfast every day before it got too hot in the summer. For my second child, I joined Lady of America women's only gym and left the baby in the daycare. They did not charge extra for the childcare (some of the bigger gyms chare an extra $5-$10 per month) and I liked it because it was a smaller, more intimate facility and my child was not very far away.

hello

i take my 4 month old twins in the stroller with me every morning and if the weather is bad in the afternoon for about 1 hour or hour in a half just do it between feedings they go happy and then take a nap during that time

I tried Baby Boot Camp, which was like Stroller Strides, but my baby hated sitting in the stroller that long. I ended up joining an early morning exercise boot camp. I go 5:30-6:30 three days week, which gives me just enough time to hop in the shower before DH goes to work. It is rough getting up that early, but you get used to it.

N.,
I find that it is hard to work out with kids too! I actually am a member at a gym and go there when my husband is at work. When I didn't have a membership, I would just go when my husband was home, no matter what time that was. We used to have a treadmill and I would do that every chance I got. I also have a double jogging stroller, so I just put my kids in that and take a walk as long as they will let me! Also, if you like doing the workout videos, you can just pop those in anytime you like!

I have twins and go to LA Fitness. They have a nice kids area and we dont pay for childcare. Their rates are really reasonable and you can cancel anytime (at least we can since we didnt have to sign a long term contract). If you go into a LA fitness ask if you can 'try' out the gym for a week for free...They usually let you do that.
Good luck!

Hi N.,
I don't know where you live, but if you live in the Flower Mound/Lewisville area, check out Fit Mamas.

It is similar to Stroller Strides. I am the owner & instructor, so I can answer all your questiions if interested.

We meet at a park kind of across the street from Lifetime at 9:30 in the morning 1-3 times per week, your call.

We do our workout around the playground equipment, so the kids can either play where we can watch them or they can stay in their strollers. If I have babies who want out of the strollers, but are too small for the equipment, they can go into the play yard I bring out.

We do a full body workout including walking/joggong, cone drills, small obstical courses, kick boxiong, etc. We do resistance work using stretchy tubing as well as exercises using our own body weight such as squats, lunges, pushups, dips, core work, etc.

Anyway, we have a great group of moms representing a wide range of fitness levels. The kids we have right now range in age from 10 weeks to 6 years. Everyone is very supportave and we actually have a lot of fun. The moms get fit & have a chance to bond. The kids get to play and it is very win win for everyone involved.

Don't worry if your little one gets cranky! I will take anyone crying. Sometimes I change diapers, give bottles, give out snacks, or even carry them for you in a baby backpack. This gives you a chance to relax & just get in a good, guilt free workout.

I am a nationally certified personal trainer (ACSM, NASM, APEX, & Cooper Institute). I have pre & post natial specialty training and over 14 years experience teaching.
I am also the mom of a 5 year old boy & an 18 month old little girl.

Feel free to call me at ###-###-####
A.

we belong to 24 hr fitness now and love it. the day care is my 5 yr old's fave place. we pay $30 a month, including day care. so worth it! otherwise, i work out at home during naps or when he's at preK. since preK isn't for your child your other option would be an early bird or late night workout at home. if you really want to workout and stay fit, you'll do it. i know it's hard but we should do it for ourselves and our kids!

A jogging stroller...I bought mine at a garage sale and sold it the same way when I was finished with it...Recently there was a big spread in the FW paper about DIY workouts--milk jugs usged for hand weights etc--things you don't need a gym membership for. A jumprope is also a great workout!

LA fitness will watch your baby beginning at 3 months old. 24 hour fitness its 6 months old. I just got a membership at LA fitness for that reason. I also take walks with her in the stroller during the day she loves it.

I did a Stroller Fit class when mine was little once a week to get myself motivated about exercise, and I loved it! Baby stays with you at all times in the stroller and the instructor brings her baby as well. This way you don't have to put your baby in a gym nursery (they don't have to be licensed to offer daycare-yikes!)

Then on my own, I'd walk around the block during baby's wake time early in the morning every other day. In addition, I did a Moms Into Fitness video every other day which is just for post natal moms. It's a short 20 minute workout but offers great results targeting those areas lost to pregnancy which I did during his naptime.

You can google Stroller Fit to find a class offered closest to where you live, and I order the video from Amazon. It's called Lindsay Brin's Post Natal Boot Camp. Good luck!

My youngest is almost 5 months...i started working out about 6 weeks ago @ a group bootcamp...
it is from 5-6 am, which allows me to get home before my husband has to leave for work. I really don't miss much sleep b/c my son is up at least once a night anyway!!! I have started napping w/ them since i started.
check out:
www.womensbootcamps.com
Jean is amazing and so positive.
Ps...i am still nursing but lost 1.5% body fat in 4 weeks...she gets results!!
email me if you have any questions.

I've lost 10 lbs over the last month walking the paths around White Rock Lake. Put that beautiful baby in a stroller and head out. I know its not weights, but it is cardio/aerobic and its working great for me.

Good luck!

Get into Stroller Strides. It is a mom's work out/walk with the stroller. You put your baby in the stroller, take of with a bunch of other moms and strollers and walk for I believe an hour or so and you stop frequently to do quick work out sessions. It is the best way to get a work out in with a young baby. They are very understanding when your baby is upset and having a hard day. www.strollerstrides.com

gym daycare or 5:30 a.m. workouts. Yuck, I know, but it's better than nothing.

I do Stroller Strides with my two (23 months and 7 months) and I have been a member since my oldest was 5 months old. You can check it out at www.strollerstrides.com.
Feel free to email me if you have questions,
A.

I have a 2 mo old baby and I work out on an elliptical machine during her morning nap. The elliptical was reasonably priced at around $200, so if you have a bit of cash and your kiddo takes a nap early in the day, you can squeeze it in that way.

Best of luck!!

Unless you drop the baby off at the kid center at your gym, then you'll have to either work out with your child or after the baby goes down at night.

There is a class called Stroller Sides (or somehing like that) that you do stroller workout with your baby. I'm sure there are also dvd's you can buy. Call around...there may be some exercise or yoga classes with your baby.

Just try & make the effort to do it at 3 nights a week at first to build up your stamina. I know you're sleep-deprived, but it'll make you feel better.

I have a month old. He goes to the gyn with me. I also do walks with him.

Stroller Strides, Stroller Strides, Stroller Strides! :) Great workout for you and fun for baby! Check it out www.strollerstrides.com Let me know if you have any questions as I am an instructor. All instructors are pre/postnatal certified so we understand the common dilemmas of moms and address those issues. Good luck and Happy Mother's Day! :)

Hi N.- I go to Bally's. They have a child care center there and my 6 year old daughter loves to go. On days that I don't feel like going, her excitement to go to the child care center encourages me.

S.

go to www.jazzercise.com
and enter your zipcode
the first class is always free
its filled w Mommy's free babysitting
w fabulous hands on sitters
its one hour and so fun
it'll make you a better mommy
you'll wonder how you lived w/o it!
I didn't return till my son was 3
and always wish I'd have gone way sooner

There's a lady in my neighborhood with a newborn that pushes her kid in the stoller every day. Her four year old comes too. He always has one hand on the stroller. She does this everyday after work. I think it's neat that she includes both kids, making exercise a family thing.

I almost hate to tell you this because it sounds brutal, but I used to get up early before my husband left for work. I walked at 5:15am with a friend at a track near my house. Then when the baby got older and my older son was in school I continued, but we took the babies in strollers and walked at the mall immediately after dropping off the older kids. I napped with the baby to make up for my sleep loss.

Here is a healthy diet to consider if you decide that is what you need. http://www.cinchplan.com/healinghappens

I know your pain :)...My son just turned 15 mos old and I judt figured out a work out plan since my husband works shift work and I work 8-5...Early in the morning is probably your best bet if you can't work out at night. Or if you don't work you could always take the baby out in the mornings for a good walk. I have heard that if you can get a good 30 minute workout in at least 3-4 days a week it will help you a lot!!! I know thats not a lot of afvise but hope you can work it out!!! I feel so much better now that I am working out!

I do my workout when she naps. Sometimes it's only about 20 minutes or so...but it's better than nothing. Sometimes I let her watch me while she's in her swing or saucer, she seems to get a kick out of watching me at least. Or if you go to the gym a lot of them have a place for kiddos don't they? Hope that helps!