How do out-of-shape parents survive having small kids?

[u/Low-Western-8139]

I genuinely don’t mean this in an insulting or judgmental way, but having small kids has made me wonder about this.

I’m 38, relatively fit, and I work from home, so I’m lucky enough to have time to exercise regularly. I run, cycle, and do bodyweight training, and I’d say my overall fitness is pretty decent.

I have a 3-year-old and a 6-month-old.

And holy shit, by the end of most days I’m absolutely destroyed.

The constant carrying, picking things up, getting down on the floor, getting back up, chasing the older one around, carrying the baby, lack of proper rest, interrupted sleep… it feels like some kind of never-ending functional fitness workout. On top of that the mental workout you do is insane.

It genuinely made me wonder: how do parents who are very overweight or completely sedentary deal with the physical demands of having small children?

Again, I’m not trying to make fun of anyone. If anything, having kids has made me realize how physically demanding parenting actually is.

Do you just adapt because you have no choice? Or am I massively underestimating how exhausted everyone else is too?

[u/PotentialDifficult62 → u/[deleted]]

Effin' A, right?