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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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.
Integrating your kid into your routine is key in my opinion:
- Toddlers are a nice progressive weight and you can e.g. do some kettlebell exercises like swings with them and they will be happy
- You can do things like pushup to pike and the kid can crawl underneath you each time you’re in pike position etc. Be creative, make it a game and they will have fun
- Do simple exercises together: Some simpler yoga things, airsquats and even things like turkish getups (and give them something like a TP roll as weight) work.
- Play with them while you’re resting. Most kids can play for themselves for small periods of time. You could also make that a game: Give them a task (“run to X and back”) and see who finishes first.
- Cardio: Lots of people like to run with a running stroller. Personally I prefer to bike and having a kid on your MTB in something like a “MacRide” or “Kids ride shotgun” seat is really fun. Even now with a 4 1/2 yo (@18kg + seat) it’s fun although sometimes I wish my surroundings wouldn’t be so hilly.
This is a great shout.
Super little kids (less than a year old or so) can’t really do much so you’ll probably have to deal without heavy exercise for a bit, but you can start - for want of a better term - chucking them about a bit (lifting them above your head, carrying them everywhere) when they are small they’ll have fun too.
Eventually you can start running with them when they get bikes or bouncing on a trampoline when they get bigger.
They tend to follow what their grown ups do so get them involved and it’ll be good for both of you!
