People always talk about how tough the first few weeks are with a baby. Honestly? It wasn’t that bad for me. I’m a talented napper so if I didn’t sleep all night, I would catch up during the day.
This week? Whoa. Utter exhaustion.
You see, there is no going back to sleep after the baby wakes up at 5:30am. I have to feed him, get myself ready, get him ready, and get him to daycare by 7:30am so I can get to work by 8:00am. It doesn’t matter if I’ve been up until midnight and then up again at 2am and 4am. There is no naptime at work. (But shouldn’t there be?? I’m all for it.)
So this week has been all about survival. Eating what I can, when I can. Sleeping whenever I can find time. Last night I crawled into bed at 8:30pm and it felt GLORIOUS.
I did Day 3 of Week 4 of Couch to 5k on Tuesday night. The weather is so hot here in Florida that I don’t feel comfortable taking Patrick out in the jogging stroller until about 8:00pm. Unfortunately, it’s hard to fall asleep after running that late. I stayed up way too late and was draaaagggging yesterday. So it seems like the late evening workout sessions are out. And there is just no time in the morning. Obviously.
I’m pumping three times a day at work so I really don’t have time to squeeze in a workout at my “lunch break”. That really just leaves me the time between when I pick Patrick up at 5pm and when he goes to be (hopefully) at 8pm. Oh and we’re eating dinner and giving Patrick a bath during that time too. And I hate to give up any of that precious time with him to workout! Can you blame me? Just look at that sweet face!
So when do working moms workout? This is such a mystery to me. If anyone has any suggestions, I’d love to hear them!
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My two are both a little older than yours (7 years old and almost 2 years old) but it is a constant struggle. I am trying to incorporate exercise into my balanced life more and more but it is hard. I have found that although I would love to get up in the mornings to work out I am exhausted but sometimes I do. I almost squeeze them in the evenings sometimes. My now 2 year old will help me exercise by trying to sit on me while I workout in the living room on Saturday mornings too! I am not sure I have any real advice for you but other than hang in there!
It’s tough to be completely honest.
I have an interesting situation, so I workout when my son is with his dad – after work and between chores/errands and the general exhaustion of the day.
If you’re already up at 5:30am maybe do a quick run/walk with Patrick before getting ready (Dad can help get him dressed while you’re in the shower).
Otherwise later is better.
Daily workouts don’t work for me and my schedule, they’ll probably not work for you while you’re 1) drained and 2) it’s so hot out.
Still, grab a half hour when you can. Have Patrick hang with Dad for 30 min or so, or if you’re lucky enough to have family/friends available, take them up on sitting with him for 25-45 min a few times a week.
It’s tough but it’s only your first week back in the working world and you still have time to figure out a schedule that works for you and your fam.
He’s so freaking cute btw
This is something that I struggle with this past year. My biggest problem is that my hubby works 2nd shift, so I am by myself with Saya. When i get home from work, I get to cooking dinner, feeding her (and hopefully myself), bath time, and a tiny bit of play time until it is her bedtime. Now currently, she is co-sleeping so there is no way for me to “escape” and work out. We are working on transitioning her to her room again and that way I will have time to myself which if I had any previously was used for doing dishes, prepping for the next day, cleaning and doing laundry… sigh!
Sorry I have no advice, but I am definitely interested in hearing what other working Moms have to say! Thanks for the post!
I have no clue when working mom work out. Seriously. No clue.
I have confidence that you will figure it out though.
Can you bike to work? There are all kinds of cool trailers for bikes that safely carry infants. You could take him to daycare and go to work while getting a workout in!
I wish I could…but I work pretty far from home with no good way to bike from here to there.
Great idea though!
My little girl is 4 months old (and I have an almost 3 year old). Working out while on maternity leave wasn’t too bad. Once I went back to work, I’d wait until my husband got home and I’d go run or do a DVD. Now that it’s so hot out, I’ve started running at 6 and I get back before he needs to leave for work. When it was just my son, I’d pick him up from daycare and I’d keep him on the activity mat or other toy while I did 30DayShred. It was short enough that he didn’t need my attention but intense enough that I felt like I did something. Do you have a treadmill? It’s a luxury for sure, but I could do C25k while Leah sat in her bouncer or slept in her swing.
I wish I had a treadmill! But there is just no room for it in our tiny place. I loaned my copy of the 30 Day Shred to my sister but I’m thinking I need to get it back. I agree with you – it’s a good workout and doesn’t take too much time away!
It’s only the first one, but On Demand has 30 Day Shred for free. Maybe check and see what other workout videos they have on there too! I’m starting back to work on Thursday and am trying to figure out how I’m going to manage any time working out too. I have a trainer that does a bootcamp at 5pm, so I think I’m going to try and get to that 2 days a week and have hubby pick up Lyra those 2 days. I’ll be missing out on time with her of course, but also giving my husband some quality alone time with her, which I think is important. Other than that I’m going to try the whole walking/running a couple times a week once the weather gets a little cooler. Good luck!
I’ll send it back with Mom this weekend!
Thanks!
I’m so happy you wrote this post. I am currently 33 weeks pregnant with my first baby and have been worrying/stressing about the same thing. I will have only a mere 6 weeks of maternity leave (3 off and 3 weeks work from home) and then its back to work full-time. I have big goals for getting back into shape once I am cleared to workout and I’m just not sure how I’m going to do it all. Just like you, I knwo I will want to spend time with my babygirl whiel she’s awake, so working out right after work is not an option. Thank you for this post. It’s comforting to know other people are dealing with this too.
This can be a toughie. My husband also works 2nd shift so its only me and my 2 1/2 year old son. My day consists of getting up, getting myself ready, getting my son ready, daycare at 7:30am, work by 8am. My lunch hour consist of running errands, grocery shopping, etc. Out of work by 5pm, pick little man up from daycare, get home around 5:45pm fix dinner, baths, playtime, cleanup, getting everything ready for the next day. By the time all is set and done, child sleeping, and everything quiet its a little past 9pm. WHEW!
I am not a morning person at all so that only leave this time for me to work-out. I head downstairs, do my weights, and try to do some 30-45 minutes of cardio. I’m usually done by 10:30pm and in bed by 11pm. I do this 5X a week. Granted I only get about 7 hours of sleep but I have no choice. My husband and I try to leave weekends free of workout so we can spend time as a family.
You just have to work it around your schedule and what’s easiest for you and your family. Once you get a routine in place, you’ll be fine
GOOD LUCK!
Have you seen this book titled “Run Like a Mother: How to Get Moving–and Not Lose Your Family, Job, or Sanity” – here’s the link on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0740785354/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1891369407&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0EBKX92X3KWK5XHY7Q91
I am 30 weeks pregnant and a friend brought this over last week. Best of luck and thanks for posting about going back to work after baby – that’s something I’ll have to figure out in due time!
I’ll have to find that book – the title sounds perfect for me!
Thanks!!!
I wish I could be of some help here! My schedule is wonky (I work mostly at night) so I get to work out either while Eli is napping in the mornings or he comes for a run with me before his morning nap. I bet once you get into the swing of things you’ll figure it out… plus when Patrick starts sleeping through the night you’ll have so much more energy!
Work is legally required to allow u to pump at work and not count it as ur lunch break. So u should still be getting a lunch break outside of pumping. Then you could workout then.
Yes, you’re right. Legally, that’s the rule. Unfortunately, in order to accomplish everything I have to do in a day, there just isn’t time to take an additional break and keep my sanity at the same time!
My daughter is almost four months old and I’ve been back at work for two months now. My biggest piece of advice is to not stress about it right now! I so wish I had told myself that when I first went back to work. Within a few weeks he’ll start sleeping better and you’ll establish a routine where you can fit working out in. The biggest thing right now is to make the most of your weekends. Enjoy your little guy and finding the time to workout will come!
GREAT advice. Thanks for the reminder.
A friend of mine sent me the link to your blog…..YAY Amber!! I have this EXACT problem right now. My daughter is 13 months old and I’ve been back to work since the end of June. From the time i wake up at 5am, and yes regardless of late night and feeds 2x during the night still, I have to drag myself out of bed….its a constant rush to get myself ready, then get her and my husband up, rush threw breakfast if we can get her to eat (she has no problem eating its just that i don’t think she’s full awake yet), rush to drop her at her dayhome, rush to work, and work through lunch because i was late, rush to pick her up, rush home to make supper, play time, bath time and get her things ready for the next day, get her to sleep and then flop into bed….only to repeat it the next day. I have no idea when and where i have time to work out, i’m suppose to be training for another half in December in Vegas but where do i find the time to train and workout???? I trained for a half this past May from Jan to May but I was on mat leave so i was home and found the time. Now that everyday is a juggling circus act i’m also looking for work out ideas. If i were to get up for a run before i got ready that would mean getting up at 4 or 4:30am…..ummmmmm i need sleep, it the only thing powering me through right now.
I have a 4 year old and am expecting another one in September. Early on, you are definitely in survival mode. I was lucky to get a couple of workouts in a week, mostly on the weekends. However, as he got older, he would play with toys or on his activity mat beside me as I did floor exercises & weights. I would use him as my “weights” some to keep him entertained. Then, I’d get my bike rides and such in on the weekends when time was a bit easier to come by (and when I could do it during a nap time). Be patient with yourself, and just get in what you can when you can. Before you know it, you will find things that work for you with more consistency!
i was going to say the same thing! Use the baby as the “weight” and do whatever you can such as squats, (stationary) lunges. push up and dips off of a chair can also be done at home. When your doing house work or standing at the sink you can do little things like calf raises or standing glute kickbacks. Also, at work if you sit you can do seated exercises, here is a link for exercises you can do at work at or near your desk- http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifehack/29-exercises-you-can-do-at-or-near-your-desk.html
hope this helps!!!
This is a snippet from a wonderful article in my local paper today:
“I didn’t know my first born would make me love myself more. I didn’t realize that I would no longer worry about how wide my hips were or how flat my stomach was. My body had created and sustained life, swimsuits be damned.”
Just remember that when you have a hard time motivating yourself to work out
OMG, seriously, one of my BIGGEST fears when it comes to becoming a mom! My husband even asked me a few weeks ago what the workout schedule would be like once the baby arrives. I have an idea of how our workout schedule will work, but I’m not going to know for sure until once we ACTUALLY have a baby!
I only work part time for our ministry here, but my husband is gone ALL the time & w no family to help me at all, I have been in the same boat.
I agree that you shouldn’t stress bout it right now. Soon he will be sleeping more, and it won’t be as hot so you can run around 6pm. For now I would run Sat & Sun when Dad’s home, and one day during the week before baby wakes up (sounds exhausting, but I’m sure you already know you will actually feel less tired during the day:) then maybe one other day do a 30 day shred dvd.. but for now just enjoy him as a teeny baby! soon he will be more independent. and I totally feel you for wanting to spend every minuet with him you can! PS He is SO CUTE!!!!
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exercisetv.tv has a ton of great workouts, some are full length (10 – 60 mnis) and others are mini, move specific workouts (2 mins or less). So you could just do a 2 minute move or sections of a full length one as time is available.
This is why I didn’t work out for a year after my twins. Between working full time, spending time them, nursing and pumping at home because they were slow feeders and doing household/family stuff, I was too exhausted to work out if could find time. My biggest priority was spending my time with them. You don’t get
this time whwn they are little back and it goes by so fast. I was burning so many calories, I ended up losing the weight anyway 7 months.
Just fit small workouts in when you can, focus on strength and flexibility more than endurance (you likely need this more now) and don’t stress about it. You’ve got years to workout.
I clearly remember those days! Everyone has given great advice. Sadly I have nothing to add except that it does get easier and that isn’t much help right now. Your son is such a cutie! My kids are older and I still plan my running and workouts around using “family time” as little as possible. It takes more effort but totally worth it.
You strike me as someone who is determined. You’ll figure it all out
It is so hard trying to figure out how to juggle everything! Maybe once you are more used to pumping your body might adapt and you can pump less often and get the same amount of milk. That has worked for me, but I’m in a different situation since I am pumping and bottle feeding vs. doing a combination of breastfeeding and bottle feeding. GOOD LUCK!
You will get into a rhythm for sure. 