I used to be fit, running, cycling, partner acrobatics, etc. But I have done very little cardio, strength, or flexibility training since our wonderful daughter came along. She doesn’t sleep well so part of the problem is energy. But the main issue is finding time. My partner and I both work remotely, I have a 08:00-16:30 tech job and my partner teaches music online in the evenings. So I’m either working, playing with my daughter, or exhausted. I’m not complaining, I love my life and being a dad. I want to stay fit and healthy so I can be my daughter’s father for as long as possible. I also don’t want to be hard on myself, I know these toddler years will fly past if I’m not mindful. How do other parents maintain fitness? We don’t have any extended family close.
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Bench press your toddler. They’re heavy.
But also schedule time during the week when the kid is distracted/somewhere else/mail them to in-laws or parents.
I hear you. My wife and I both work full time. The only option is weekends and one parent has to take kid duties. It’s frustrating and exhausting, but we manage to squeeze in a tiny bit of fitness.
How are the trails/parks near you? In my town, there’s a paved path that runs along the top of the levee, and follows the river. It’s smoo th and straight enough that I can lock the front wheel of the running stroller, and get a good run in. Or I can strap my son into a bike trailer. A short drive away there’s a rails-to-trails that I can use for longer workouts. It’s not ideal, but at least it’s something.
Mostly though my wife and I are fortunate enough to work the same schedule and have a lot of family around to help out. Usually my wife watches him while I’m running after work, or I’ll come home and watch him while she goes to a class. If we’re both working out on the same day, we’ll just leave him with one of our parents.
I mean, PR’s are definitely behind me, but I can still get out for an occasional half marathon.
I work from home so I can do house chores and stuff throughout the day and wife only works weekends. I do all my climbing after the kid goes to bed. Wife prefers to workout at home and does during naps.
It took about 6 months to a year to start getting a consistent schedule though. We also did sleep training around 10 months and it was hard for a couple nights but it was 1000% worth it.
So your options are early, naps, after bed, or having your partner watch the kid while you work out. When he was really little we had a play area (really large pack n play basically) and could workout while keeping an eye on him.
Housework and playing (so long as it involves bodily movement) with children count as exercise. It’s just not Gym!Bro approved exercise but it absolutely is exercise.
And every time you lift your child, consider it a medicine ball or kettlebell lift. Because those devices are actually used to approximate the reality motions you are going through.
What you used to be is lean. You are still fit.
