Workout Time
Posted: February 24, 2011 at 12:06 pmThank you all SO much for your comments and support on yesterday’s post. It appears to be a hot topic and I’m glad we could all discuss here on FFF! Moving on…
I love my workout time. You all know that. I choose workouts I really enjoy and I have no problem getting them in. For example:
Monday – Upper Body Weights & Week 4, Day 1 Couch to 5K
| Lat Pulldown Machine | Back | 3x10 |
| Flat Dumbbell Chest Flyes | Chest | 3x12 |
| Dumbbell Pullovers for Back | Back | 3x10 |
| Machine Bench Press | Chest | 3x10 |
| Barbell Upright Row | Shoulder | 3x10 |
| Machine Tricep Press | Triceps | 3x12 |
| Machine Biceps Curl | Biceps | 3x12 |
Check out my post for how I create strength training plans.
Tuesday – Lower Body Weights (Cathe Butts & Guts DVD)
Wednesday – Week 4, Day 2 Couch to 5K
What I’m not loving? The workout time…as in time of day. I miss my morning workouts!! I hate going in the afternoon/evening when Peter gets home. Seriously. HATE.
I have always loved morning workouts the best. Before Braedon, I happily went at around 8:30 in the morning after M and I ate breakfast. I followed that little routine time of day from the time I began bringing her to the gym until the end of my pregnancy. It works for me. I have energy. The gym is not too crowded. It leaves the remainder of the day open. It starts me off on the right foot and puts me in a good mood. I will say it again - I miss my morning workouts!
I knew I couldn’t utilize the gym childcare for a short while after Braedon’s arrival. I planned accordingly and made time for myself to get in my workouts after Peter gets home. I thought it wouldn’t cause a problem and I would still love going at that time of day just as much. Scratch that thought.
Going EVERY afternoon for a full workout drives me batty! It makes the whole afternoon and evening one big rush fest. Peter gets home. I finish feeding Braedon. I rush to the gym. Its crowded so it takes me a bit longer to do some things. I get in my approximate hour, then head home to make dinner. We gobble up dinner and then its time to get the kids in bed. By the time all is said and done, I haven’t had any real family time in the afternoon and Peter & I only have 1-1.5 hours of time to relax just the two of us. Every night. See why I hate going in the evening?
I want that 8:30 workout time back. And its doable now that baby B is 6 weeks old and I can bring him to the gym child care. So what is holding me back?
Mommy guilt. I fear being judged by other mommies if I chose to bring my child to the gym daycare at such a young age. Mommy friends. Mommy readers. Mommy gym workers. Actually, when I started writing this post I intended to ask for advice on the scenario. Now I find myself realizing the ridiculousness of that.
The child care has a completely separate section for infants. B would likely stay in his car seat asleep the entire time. I brought M to the gym child care without problems from early on. I would only take them a few days a week right now since I have DVDs I do at home on Tuesday & Thursday. It gives us more time to spend together as a family during the week. It works for me. Why do I need validation in that?
So, I’m going to give it a shot tomorrow. Mommy guilt be damned. If it doesn’t work out I can always go back to evenings. But it will be because its what works best for me and my family – not because its what I think others deem appropriate.
Question of the day – What’s something you have felt needlessly guilty over?
Tags: couch to 5k, workout DVDs, workout schedules
No mommy guilt needed! You are doing something for you, and that’s super important. My guilt right now is having to send my baby to childcare at the end of March. Both hubby and I want me to stay home, but we don’t make enough money to do that, so daycare is our only option. It makes me so sad!
Ugh– needless guilt is the worst. I say, if you feel comfortable with the infant section the gym daycare, GO for it!!! It’s your decision to make and yours alone. Something that I’ve come to realize is that I can’t stop other people from judging me– but I can sure as heck work on how much I let their judgement bring me down and influence me.
Thanks for that point about you can’t control others judging us but how we allow it to affect us.
Good for you! Everybody is different and you know that you can be a better mom and better wife if you take that time to work out. B will be fine in his carseat – or out!
I’ve been struggling with guilt over pregnancy weight-gain. Blah.
I’m glad you wrote this post just so you could realize you don’t need validation to do what works for you! I think you are an incredible mother, and you are so inspiring to be able to balance it all. If baby B will be sleeping the whole time anyways, who cares???
I hope you enjoy your 8:30am workout tomorrow!
Don’t feel guilty! That’s why the daycare is there- it’s important (mentally and physically) for mothers to take care of themselves, too!
And I’m with you- I’ve started loving the morning workouts. And get a little grumpy on the weeks where I don’t get to workout until after I come home from work… ick.
I used to have guilt for everything I did with my kids. Then I realized that I am doing the best that I can do and I love them, so everyone else can stay out of it. You are a great mom, Tina. Taking them to the gym daycare for an hour or so is not a problem. You are there for them ever second of the day. “You time” is important too! Besides, you will gain family time in the end!
Mommy guilt comes up with everything doesn’t it? LOL It’s so crazy!
I know what you mean, but don’t feel guilty! it is understandable and would give you MORE family time, if anything!
all i can say is to give it a shot.. you are such a great mom, and if this routine works for you then go for it. don’t let others make you feel guilty – if you didn’t feel that it was a safe environment, then you wouldn’t even be having this discussion! just listen to your gut and (as hard as it is) don’t let what others think get to you. i am a huge fan of AM workouts so i know how you feel! let us know how it goes 🙂
No guilt my friend! Remember your motto? Do what’s right for you. Just like you blog for you and nobody else. Workout time is for you, however works best for YOU. That’s not selfish at all. Seriously. PS. I LOVE Cathe’s butts & guts, an oldie but a goodie!!
Agree with my sis 😉 Love Butts & Gutts AND do what’s best for you and your family. I can imagine ‘mommy guilt’ will try to creep in, but I bet you anything half of the moms there ‘judging’ are just jealous that you are courageous enough to do what they weren’t!
go for it! You need that routine! Its always a good idea to test it out. Hoping it goes well, keep us posted.
I hate working out in the afternoon too and I don’t even have kids. 🙂
I don’t know anything about kids, but the rationale behind your decision makes sense. At the end of the day, if it works it works, if it doesn’t well.. it doesn’t. I like morning workouts better, but not crack of dawn morning because I have to eat before I do anything more than washing my face. But then I get to work way too late. I hope it works out well for you! 🙂
The morning workout slot does sound a lot better! I hate being rushed in the evenings. You don’t need to feel guilty, but I do understand it. I felt so guilty weaning Meghan at 2. I gave her 2 years of breastfeeding, but still felt guilty. Sometimes there is nothing you can do to stop the mommy guilt!
Mommy guilt is ridiculous, huh? And somehow it ALWAYS creeps in in the most insane ways.
i’ve felt needlessly guilty over leaving work “early” even if i come in early that day to make up for my early departure. i get so annoyed at myself, because i know if i’ve completed my work and that i got my hours in, but i still feel like others are judging me. grr. it’s silly.
i hope your new gym routine works out for you! 🙂
I have guilt about not getting workouts in. It gives me anxiety if I don’t get 4 in a week. I am working on letting go though!
I think I’ve said this before, but happy mommy = happy babies! The kids will be glad you got in your workout time. 🙂
I feel your pain. However, I got over it really quickly, and actually went to my local Y the day my youngest turned 6 weeks old. Best decision ever! That time just works for me, too. I hope you go tomorrow and feel GREAT about it!
Next up for me…finding time to fit in in around the morning nap. Do I go before and make her stay up longer, or wait until after and make it a quickie workout before my half-day kindergartner gets off the bus??? Whatever I try it seems to be wrong these days, and I can’t stand a crabby baby when it could have been prevented by just staying home 🙁
Good luck!
Im probably going to face the same come Aug when M starts preschool.
you’re getting speedy!! keep it up!!! you’re doing so well!
I think that you should do whatever is best for you and your family. If anyone looks at you funny, send them to ME!!!
I totally agree, I HAVE to swim in the morning, drives me nuts to wait around all day!
I am such a culprit of needless guilt. I was experiencing this a lot last night; it’s something I deal with from my family all the time! Right now I am feeling guilty because they wanted me to go on vacation with them but I can’t take time off from work. Why do I feel guilty about something that is beyond my control? Good luck to you tomorrow! I hope you rock it out in the A.M.! 🙂 Oh and a little tip I keep telling myself, is “What’s good for Ali is good for everyone.” If it’s good for you to go to the gym in the a.m., it’s probably good for the whole family!
I took my kids to the gym from the time the gym would let me bring them in. I think it was an awesome thing to do! I got ME time and I think it was awesome for the kids because the gym is a part of their lives. They know no different. They think it is a place to go to often and I know this will only have a positive impact on their lives. Just think, they have no idea that some people don’t work out. They think it is a natural part of every day life – which of course, working out SHOULD be!
Whenever I see a mom at the gym with a newborn I ONLY think positive thoughts about her as a mother!!!!!!
I know exactly how that mommy guilt feels like, its horrible isn’t it?!! And like everyone else has said, you are with them every day, all day so one hour with baby B being in child care, will not hurt him or you (if you feel comfortable with it). I had to start dropping off both babies at daycare when they reached 3 months and they spend 9 hours 5 days a week there…and I know about just getting your workout done. I started trying to do workouts first thing in the morning and it feels so much better knowing that I started off with it and that I don’t have to think about when I am giong to get it done and anticipating it until I can do it.
I’m loving the new blog look, girl!! And no mommy guilt needed – you said it yourself – they’ll be fine! 🙂 I feel guilty a lot about work and missing commitments. Really, I feel guilty whenever I ask fro help. 🙁
One of the things I’ve been trying to do more with my kids is giving them the gift of self expression. Which means sometimes I let them pick out their own outfits. Sometimes I feel like people are judging me when they see us out and the kids look like hobos because their clothes don’t match. But as long as my kids have smiles on their faces I don’t feel too guilty about it. 🙂
The boys will be excited to see you all there! I’ll make sure the gym ladies know when I get there. Since I’ll hopefully be there at 8am on the dot.
I’m hoping to get there at 8 am on the dot tomorrow. 🙂
I love my morning workouts! I don’t do well in the afternoons so I completely understand. No mommy guilt needed…Braedon will be fine in the nursery and you have your family time back in the evenings.
I don’t have kids yet, but I don’t think you should feel guilty. Imagine how your kids would feel if you didn’t leave them to work out because of Mommy guilt- and they had to deal with a mommy who wasn’t healthy and happy? That wouldn’t be healthy for anyone involved. And it’s not like you’re leaving them for hours on end- you probably just work out for 30 minutes or an hour, not too long.
I almost always work out after work or in the evenings… but that works best for me since I go to work at 7:30 :).
A.L.
I’m already worried about having mommy guilt when I workout and I am not even going to be a mom for 3 more months!!
Just remember that you’re working out to be a better person overall and that includes being a better mom!
I am with you and love working out in the mornings. I am way too tired by the end of the day and just want to relax and spend time vegging out at home or with friends.
I don’t think you should feel guilty about taking Baby B to the gym as he is 6 weeks old now. I’m not a mom, but I can see where you are coming from. I hope it all works out for ya 🙂
I can SO relate to this post, Tina. SO SO MUCH. I used to work in a day care, and I have to be honest, I would “judge” when moms brought there newborn babies into the gym. I obviously wasn’t a mom at the time though and I didn’t know what I was talking about. 🙂
I work out in the evening too usually, around 7-8pm after both kids are in bed. I like that time, but sometimes I want to go in the morning. But it is hard taking both kids to the day care and if they are upset it is just a waste. It can be very frustrating.
With Joshua, my 2nd, I took him the day he turned 6 weeks old. 🙂 Ha, funny how things change with your 2nd baby!! I had no guilt.. but I did wonder about what other people though bringing such a small baby. But like yours, he just stayed asleep in his car seat the entire time and no one touched him. 🙂
It’s so crazy how things change. Especially with the 2nd. I really love the workers at the child care too. Hopefully they are the same as before I stopped taking M at the end of the pregnancy.
I’m sure it isn’t easy to leave the baby at childcare, but like you said, it’s for a short time and in doing so you are getting time YOU NEED so you can be a better mommy and wife.
Just do it!! I have a feeling most of us that read your blogs are mommies and know the need for a daily workout. I have to get mine in at 4:30 in the morning because its the only time that works for my family without sacrificing family time. Do NOT feel guilty, its only an hour and its good for the kids to be around other kids periodically. Enjoy the hour and think how good the rest of the day will feel and the evening when you are not rushing to the gym. Have fun!
You have officially felt EXACTLY what I feel every night!! I couldnt even really find the words to explain it but you did. It’s awful isnt it?! and makes the Mommy guilt 100x worse. I know!! (However, for me, that means I have to get up at 4:30am to get in my w/o’s bc i work away from home. and that time frame is REALLY hard..im going to have to be like nike soon and JUST DO IT because H is at that age now where we want to put her in extra curriculars like gymnastics and karate..and well, they are in the evenings and thus will cut into my w/o time)
I admire you for doing what you have to do to ensure your workout is completed. I am sure right now this is only temporary and well, it’s like you said FORGET WHAT THE OTHER MOMS/GYM MEMBERS/PEOPLE IN GENERAL THINK!! It’s about you, your family and you and your families needs. Let them judge but in the end, you know what ultimately works for you and your family. I see nothing wrong with what you want to do in the slightest. xoxo <3
I think I felt guilty for having such a rough time postpartum. I thought, “I should be doing better than this…handling things better!” But that’s ridiculous. I did the best I could, having NEVER done it before.
Good luck with the morning workouts; I agree that it’s SO nice getting it done early.
Your post just helped me to see through even a better perspective, of how tough being a mama can be, and helps me see through my sis’ eyes better too!~Yeahhh in the end, I think you’re a great mom and the way you raise them is prob. what’s right for YOUR babies! 🙂 Every family is different right? Stay strong Tina and this is one of God’s lil ways of teaching you something valuable! 😀
You gotta do what’s right for you 🙂 I don’t think there’s anything wrong with B going to the gym daycare, it’s not like you are there for 6 hours or something!
Oh you didn’t know? I’m a crazy woman and working out is my job so I’m there a full 8 hours a day. 😉 LOL
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tina Reale, Brian Johnson. Brian Johnson said: 5:00am-7:00am M-F RT @TinaFFF: What time do you workout? http://bit.ly/e5pZLa […]
I love my morning workouts as well! It’s crazy how I can look forward to my runs when I do them in the morning, but I dread them when I have to do them in the afternoon. I guess we just have our ideal time of day!
What a wonderful post! I have been working out in the afternoons because now that I am training for a marathon and run a lot outdoors I am a little nervous to workout when it is morning and dark outside! Before training for the race, I would always hit the gym in the morning! I miss having my workouts in the a.m. too 🙂
I hate working out later in the day too! I am definitely a morning work out person and it just doesn’t feel right in the afternoon… I feel sluggish and like you my afternoon are time with my bf and to relax! Luckily at this stage in my life I am able to still workout in the morning, who knows what my next chapter will bring though.
As a matter of fact, my roommate is making me feel needlessly guilty right now by my asking a simple question regarding how long her performance this Saturday is so I could do some planning of my schedule, and now my mind is racing. Hopefully I can get some good sleep anyway because I have a job interview in the morning!
I hope the interview goes well…and that things with your roommate get better in this situation.
If you can bring him at 6 weeks, I say go for it! I don’t think you should feel guilty at all. I think it’s great you can bring him to the gym babysitting that young. I couldn’t bring H until he was 3 months old, and I think I was there the day he turned 3 months! He was always the youngest one there, but I knew I needed that time for myself. (And noone ever made me feel bad about being there… I think all the other moms understand 🙂 ). I’m glad I started bringing him when I did. Hope it goes well today!
Sorry the workout time isn’t quite right. I hear you on feeling so rushed with afternoon workouts. I have a really hard time with morning workouts b/c they would have to be done at 5am….I’m just not coherent enough that early! It’s so hard for me to weigh in b/c I don’t have children. I think that if I did and the gym had a daycare and they would watch an infant, I’d sooo be there.
I def understand the mommy guilt, but you know in your heart that you are not a bad mommy!! We can’t take kids to our kids club until 12 weeks, so I think that they let you bring them earlier just says that they are comfortable taking care of infants and willl do a good job 🙂
I have had a hard time lately because Bella doesn’t want to go to the gym daycare. She cries 🙁 Talk about Mommy guilt. I actually rearranged my workout schedule this week because everytime I told her we were going ,she would cry 🙁
I always enjoy reading your posts!!
I don’t think you should worry about what the other Moms/gym members think at all…… at least you’re getting up and doing something for yourself that will not only benefit you but will benefit your kids in the long run.
I admire Moms that run/workout with kids. Being a Parent is the hardest job in the world, I think.. or so it seems. I so hope that when I have my own kids, I can run with them and drag them to the gym with me. I think I’ll need to for my husbands sanity 🙂 (any my own haha)
[…] awoke and snacks for on the go. I piled everyone into the car by 7:30 am. What for? Not the gym. I tried that schedule out today for the first time. Success in case you were […]
I had been working out at night, because it worked best for me. Mornings are crazy here and honestly I had a hard time getting up early. Things have changed though and I am now getting up a little earlier and doing my videos at home in the morning.
Can’t wait to hear how it went this morning!
[…] I also share my REAL journey back to fitness! Powered by WP Greet Box WordPress PluginIt worked! My new workout time! Going to the gym in the morning worked fabulously. It set the tone for the day and somehow made me […]
It is SO hard for me to go to the gym in the evening, too!! I find I’m more likely to come up with excuses, I’m more tired, and I get less out of my workouts because of it. SO glad you’re able to rework your schedule and go in the morning!
[…] Youthful Energy And StrengthMy Real Age PlanNo Excuses: How to Fit Exercise Into Your Busy DayWorkout TimeTotal Health Assessment5-Move Upper-Body Workout Routine – Healthy Times […]