I am a full-time mom with a seven-year-old, a two-year-old and a six-month-old. I want desperately to get rid of the baby weight that I still carry from my two-year-old. I don't have a lot of time during the day. The only time I do have is in the evenings once all the kids get to bed. I know it isn't good to exercise in the evenings; what can I do? Also, what can you recommend for losing the weight (45 pounds) and toning up my tummy and thighs?

Many people have similar issues regarding waistlines and fat in general. I understand your time is tight right now. You can try some weight training. But you can't restrict your caloric intake while you're breast-feeding. So the first phase of your fitness program will have to consist solely of exercise, which is not such a bad thing.

I know from personal experience (my daughter is now 3) how tough it is to keep up a regular program with small kids in the house. You need help. Enlist the aid of your spouse or significant other, a friend or a grandparent. Try to develop a schedule for getting some form of exercise at least three to four days a week. Can you get someone to stay with the little ones for an hour after a feeding? You can just get out and go for a walk. When the baby is a little older (old enough to hold her head up) you can take her with you in a stroller. Just getting out and moving around will make you feel better.

Try to sneak extra calorie-burning activities into your day. Park the car at the far end of the parking lot at the mall. Don't take the car for every errand. If you only need to go a few blocks, pack up the kids and go. Also, there's a new type of class being offered that involves parents and children (including infants). See if anything's being offered at the local Y; if not, see whether they will offer it. Program directors are always looking for new ideas.

Do some strength training with dumbbells, exercise bands or your own body weight (try push-ups and lunges). You can even make it a game for the kids. Getting them started early isn't a bad thing for building long-term, lifetime healthy habits. And for you, building a little muscle is great for weight loss. Muscle is active. Fat is not. Putting on a little muscle means you'll burn more calories even when you're not exercising. Keep the weights handy, and squeeze in a set whenever you can.

Get some exercise videos to work out with when it's naptime for the kiddies. Jane Fonda, Kathy Smith and The Firm are all good series of tapes. Try to do something for yourself every day. Do crunches and push-ups during spare moments. You'll begin to take control of your day and find new, creative ways to fit some exercise in.

My wife used to run only on the weekend, with our daughter in a Baby Jogger. Now she also goes out two evenings a week, on the days I get home early, so she's been able to double her running. Sometimes she'll take our daughter in the evening so I can get a third day of biking in, or I get up early on a day off to get an extra bike ride in. Once you commit to getting your workouts in, you'll find the time. Hang in there!

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