Tips for quick workouts

I am a new mommy and I work full time. I am trying to work out each day. I enjoying running, but am finding it hard to find time to get in a least 2 miles. I tried getting up before the baby wakes, but then I am up at 4:30 and mama needs her sleep. After the baby goes to bed is out of the questions, because again mama needs her sleep. Any tips, quick workouts, etc?

You can look into a jogging stroller so that you can take your baby with you.. or even just take the baby in a stroller and walk. Walking is still good excercise and you can fit in lunges and other types of excersises on the walk. I bet you can find a decent priced jogging stroller online (used or new) and then you can just take the baby with you.. setting a good example from the beginning!

i don't know how old your baby is but having had three my self i know it seems like there is no time for you. i personally improvised and included baby in my exercises. if i was jogging on the treadmil i put the baby either in the swing or vibrating chair near by where she/he could watch me and i them. if i was doing floor exercises (yoga type) i would either lay the baby on a blanket near by while i did this or as they got older i included them in my exercises like laying baby on my stomach while i did leg lifts, or if they are crawling age or more they get a real kick out of laying on your legs while you lift them. there are all kinds of exercises you can do with babies of different ages (might be able to look it up on google) though i admit i wasn't comfortable with them all so baby usually laid on a blanket or was in their swing near by where i could keep an eye on them. be prepared to have to stop often thats just the way it is but some exercises even if it is interupted is better then none. i also love the idea of the jogging stroller! good luck mama, mine are 6, 4 and 2 years old now and too busy to care what mama is doing for exercise today

It's going to be hard to get those good quality cardio workouts in for a bit. You can however do body weight resistance. Lunges, pushups, abs, squats... things like that can be done with baby right beside you. I would purchase a stability ball. They are very handy and you can do a ton of different exercises with it. It helps mix up your routines a bit. My sister had put in a journal entry one time that while folding laundry and putting things away she would do the boxer shuffle instead of standing still. That will get the heart rate up. I think it just comes down to finding a way to move when you are stationary. Being a mom with a full time job it's going to be hard but you'll make it work. Maybe on your days off you can use a friend, family member or hubby to watch after baby while you get out and run. It'll be good you time also. Hope you find some things that work. You can also youtube mommy and baby workouts and yoga. Some good ideas there.

If your baby is big enough, you can get a baby bjorn or something similar that is cheaper. Then you can strap it on and go for a walk or do housework. When my girl was first born, I'd carry her around with one arm and do everything I could with the other...even holding your baby while you do a low level step will give your body a work out and your baby will love the movement. The stroller idea is great too. With my girl, I'd put her in the stroller and head out for hours. The minute I started walking she'd fall asleep so I'd do it every time she was fussy or tired and I needed a break. Congrats on being a mommy!

Thanks for the tips. I do have a jogging stroller, but we live out in the country on dirt roads and that is a whole different type of workout pushing it (not to comfy for the baby). My baby is 5 months old, so she can keep herself entertained for short periods. Yesterday I got a 20 miunte run in before she wanted my attention. I try to do crunches or squats while at work, but I don't feel the burn like I do if I do them all at once. I think I will try and youtube the yoga workouts. That sounds liek fun and something she would enjoy as well.

They looked like fun. I wish that I was into workout when my kids were babies. It would have been frustrating but so much fun at the same time. Good luck.

Honestly, I have been trying to work in cardio for two years now and I am a SAHM. I don't live in a safe neighborhood and getting people to walk with us was hard. Walking just does not raise my heart rate enough, even when pushing a stroller. I finally broke down and bought an elliptical (saved up for it). It is cheaper than a year at any local gym and I do it during her nap time. I get on it an hour a day now.

My husband gets on it when we put her to bed at 8pm and he works all day. He didn't want to go to a gym after work either because he wants to spend time with us after working all day. It is hard for him but he can pound out at least 2 miles on it in 30 minutes.

We got a Schwinn A40 through walmart.com. With site to store you don't have to pay shipping.

I have a treadmill at home that I run on, it is finding the time to put in the mileage that I want. Right now, I am up at 5:15 to get me and baby out the door by 6:45. We are home by around 6 pm each night. I try to get a run in then, but she dictates how much time I get to spend on it. My husband usually doesn't get home until 7:30 and we put baby to bed by 8:00. After that it is dishes, laundry, etc. I am trying to add more balance to my life and include some me time. As long as I feel like I am getting a decent workout in, I feel good.

Oh you are a busy woman. Super mom!

Well, maybe this is not the season in your life for running. I would look into another type of workout that you could do in a shorter amount of time. I tried to do P90X, and although I can fit the time in(a full 60-75 minutes a day) it wasn't realistic. I've since changed to Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred which is only 20 -25 minutes and it's almost a harder workout. It's possible to get a good workout in a shorter amount of time. I've thought of taking up running, but I know this is not my season. It's another part of the self sacrificial nature we have to go thru as moms.

As busymom mentioned - Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred is only 20 -25 minutes - and it has 3 levels of difficulty. The baby can sit and watch you do your jumping jacks!!

When my son was a baby I started using DVD's to workout with. Sometimes he'd cry right from the start and I'd stop and skip that day and others he'd just watch me or sleep through the whole thing. The above posters mentioned the Jillian Michaels DVD's which are great for a quick cardio workout with some resistance thrown in, I do like Ripped in 30 better than 30 day Shred though. It's going to be hard to find time right now, but all you can do is try and eventually either she'll get used to the workouts or she'll be bigger and can be distracted by some toys. I hope you find a solution. Good luck!!

Great news! My baby has allowed me to get anywhere from a 20-30 min run every day. On the weekends, my husband will keep her occupied while I workout. I think I am getting my life in some sort of a balance.

You could do sqauts, chest presses, sit ups, etc. while holding your baby.