How can I exercise with long commute & young kids?

Question

I just went back to work after 7 months of unemployment. Jobs are scarce in my industry, and I had to take a job in the next town over. My schedule is now:

6:00 a.m. wake up, dress, breakfast, laundry (fold dryer items, move items from washer to dryer & start new load)
6:45 leave for work with carpool
8:00 start work
5:00-5:30 p.m. leave for home (when all in carpool are ready to go)
6:15-6:45 home for dinner with kids & husband
7:30 or so, dishes & kitchen clean-up with kids, play with kids, help with homework or whatever
8:30 Kids start getting ready for bed
8:50-9:00 Family prayers, bedtime story, lights out
9:20 or so, housework, time with husband, catch up on personal e-mail, laundry change over (like in a.m.)
11-11:30 Bedtime for 6.5 or 7 hours sleep

I do not want to give up any time with my kids because they are young. I do not want to give up any time with my husband because I'd like to keep him around. I can't afford to give up any sleep, especially when it's my turn to drive the carpool. I thought about using hand weights in the car pool when I am not the driver but there really isn't enough room in the other vehicles. I brought exercise bands to keep in my desk, but I don't have any privacy to use them (all glass walls in our interiors here, except for executive offices.

I sometimes have a half hour at lunch for free time, but I have no privacy to work out with hand weights. I can take a brisk walk around the office park when the weather is good, but that's only 30 minutes, and it's just walking. I can't really work up a sweat because I have no way to clean up afterward. 

On weekend mornings I can still get up before the kids (while my husband is still at home) and get in a walk/run with the dog, but it doesn't feel like enough.

Any suggestions?

? · Accepted Answer

How young are your children? Stroller age? If so, in the evening, pop them in the stroller for a quick run.  If they're older than that, find something fun like playing tag or dancing to do that gets your heart rate up.  Also, I will put on music while I'm cleaning and dance around to it, to get in some exercise then. 

Also, try picking out some very short workout DVD's find ones with 10 minute routines (You Tube is great for this!)-- then squeeze 3-4 of them in between other things, weekend runs with the dog are good, as are walks on your lunch.  

The Mayo Clinic recommends 60 min 3-5x per week (3-5 hrs) of light to moderate exercise for a healthy lifestyle With your schedule currently, it sounds like you're getting ~2.5 hrs with a 30 min walk at lunch every day, and say another hour with the dog? If you can add in even just 20-30 min a day of dancing or playing with your kids, you'll meet the minimums, and then if you can add in three 10 minute workout routines each week as well, and you'll be good.  

It can be tough to work exercise around a full time job and a full time life, but it can be done-- it just takes some creative imagination about what exercise is-- personally I think the "hokey pokie" and "this old man" make great workout songs!

Good luck!

MINDY · Answer

1.Find time to dance with your husband and the kids. Heck, dance with the dog too. Dancing is great a great workout and fun! 
2. Stand as much as possible. You burn more calories standing 
than sitting. See if you can convert your work desk to a stand up desk. 
Even some Generals at the Pentagon use stand up desks. 
get a copy of the book Move a Little, Lose A lot. There are a lot of used copies at Amazon. 
Good luck

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How can I exercise with long commute & young kids?

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