[r00fus]

Were you on a program that focused on diet/exercise changes? Did any of those habit changes stick?

[pmarreck]

The new program does, but hell man, a toddler who doesn't sleep through the night (ever... No family help, either) and who demands 100% attention when he's not at daycare is a massive, massive hit to your free time/motivation/energy/stress. He's wonderful but I'm absolutely fucking miserable right now.

[Balgair]

Echoing others here: Yeah, don't be hard on yourself right now. When they get a bit older, you'll get healthier again. It's okay to slide back. The phrase 'relapse is part of recovery' comes to mind. Just focus on the kiddo for now, and you'll get time and energy back sooner than later. This happened to me too, and I managed to get back to a healthier body when we got done with teething. It's different for every kid, but you'll get there, don't worry.

[nekitamo]

Stay strong and keep going. When they start kindergarten you'll have more time for yourself and things will get better, I promise.

[aziaziazi]

Take my voice for support too. I don’t have kids but see others dads and moms as heroes.

I’ll add that kindergarden age is also around first bicycle age. When I see a parent running with to his cycling kids, the heroes evolve to superhero.

[DisruptiveDave]

Getting out of school at 2:30 instead of daycare at 5pm says otherwise (my current stressor....).

[Tade0]

Similar situation here and my conclusion is that getting in shape requires:

-exercise

-regular sleep

-good diet

With an infant and a toddler on board I can maybe do two, but typically one.

If it's any consolation sleep deprivation prevents long-term memories from being formed, so you won't remember most of this.

In the first three months after my first child was born there was definitely something happening, but I wouldn't know - I don't recall any of it.

[leoqa]

I've got two toddlers and still manage to get outside for a run everyday. Used the Bob stroller when they were younger, now they ride bikes and I jog with them. When my son wouldn't sleep through the night for his first year (pre-walking), I'd set him in a play pen and run on the treadmill nearby.

[Cerpicio]

Hang in there! And focus on the fun times. I'm assuming you're already tried many things, but if you haven't talked to your pediatrician, he might be able to help. Melatonin helped one of our foster kids fall asleep, but yeah, it didn't help him sleep all the way through the night. Good luck!