Suggestions For Making Your Work Out a Priority

[anjellara]

Take the kids with you
Teach fitness to the whole family by taking the kids with you when you work out. If you have little ones, put them in the stroller and go for a brisk walk. Several companies also make special strollers designed for jogging and running and special attachments that allow your kids to ride behind you in a tent-like wagon while you bike.
Get up early
If you can't possibly fit exercise in during the day, consider getting up 30 minutes early to go for a jog or bike ride or do an exercise DVD. While it may be difficult for the first couple of days, you'll soon find you have more energy during the day. It's also motivation to get to bed earlier the night before.
Invest in home gym equipment
If you can afford it, invest in a treadmill, a stationary bike or another piece of exercise equipment. Put it in the family room and work out while the kids watch a movie, or make it a priority to exercise after you put the kids to bed. If you have the ability to work out on machine in your home, you're more likely to exercise.
Make it a priority
Perhaps the most important part of fitting in exercise when you have little kids is making it a priority in your life. List the reasons why you want to exercise, whether it's to lose weight or have more energy to chase the kids. Then, schedule exercise like you would a dentist or other important health-related appointment. When exercise becomes a priority rather than wishful thinking, you'll find it easier to make time to exercise.

[LINDA]

Those are good ideas, some easier said than done.

Fitness really must become part of a lifestyle, a personal value like "cleanliness" . Without it, there is no reason or satisfaction from doing it.

[bodyshop20]

Family, work, etc then fitness.
Fitness should be a big factor in yr life but not priority ?
If your child was ill, would you leave them to train ? well i would not.
So training to me is very important, but never priority

[LINDA]

I think its fair to say "make it a priority". We are after all not talking about making fitness the only thing that matters in life, just something that is important enough to make the time for... like eating and sleeping.

I've worked out when one of my kids was sick. We are talking common sense, taking responsibility and being flexible with structured plans. It's easy to not make excuses. So maybe mother and father agree to share the time spend with the kids to let each other do their workout. A single parent might think creatively and do a body -weight only workout at home when the child is calm and resting. No biggy.

We do this by making our workout schedule adaptable, hitting the gym around my work schedule. This is OUR time. In summers we include the kids by taking them along for a walk, run, or bike ride at the park. During the school year, we do the same by supporting thier sports interests and letting them play one sport per season as long as it doesn't effect grades.