Ok, so I've made a concerted effort to get to the gym more frequently but now that the kids are out of school, their daycare doesn't offer the extended care so that I can go to the gym without them. So they have to go to the gym with me and I don't know how to keep them occupied. The gym at my work does not offer daycare, and the kids are not allowed to sit by me while I'm on the equipment. My kids are 6 and 8. We've taken coloring books, their hand held video games, today we are taking some books for them to read. Tomorrow I thought we'd carry our portable tv and their vsmile with us. Any other suggestions?

My workout takes about 1 hour fifteen minutes to complete. 35 minutes of elliptical plus weight lifting.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. FYI leaving them in the car isn't an option

I never was able to figure out an ideal situation for this one.

The best remeby I found was purchasing some kettlebells. I now take my 8 year olds and my 10 year old to the park and they play while I workout. I even bought a 4 kg. bell for them to use, which they enjoy as well.

HMMM.. What time of day is it for? how about afterschool highschool kid to watch for the 2 hours.
nintendo isn't as fun as weight machines apparently coz' my kids always wantto go work out w/ me.
mine are 3-1/2 and 7yrs old. I've talked to them about having to occupy themselves and why it's important.. then I promise ice cream or a park trip.- That works for me- BUT NOT ALWAYS.
Is the gym at work and the daycare open EARLIER in the morning ? workout before work. GOD, I just hated myself for typing something I would never do, HAHAHA
Even an 8th grader sitting w/ them at the gym- may occupy them.

well the 3rd day in a row of going to the gym and while they are still being fairly well behaved, they are still typical young kids and don't want to sit still as they should. In addition the gym asked me to not bring them during peak hours (4 to 6) which will ruin my whole schedule. I don't want to give up, I am soooo close to goal and I've put a lot of hard work in. The problem is also that I can't afford to pay a babysitter either, their summer care is already throwing my budget out of wack.

I don't know what we are going to do. But somehow I am going to make this work.

What are your daycare and work hours? I can take my son to daycare at 6:30am, get to the gym, shower and workout and make it to work by 9. Get off at 5pm and still have 30 minutes to go get my son. Do you perhaps have a playmate of one of your children that perhaps you could swap childwatch with? Can you sign them up for some sort of camp or class of their own?