Working out during lunch break?

amlyrod

Due to my hubby's work schedule, it's really hard at night to get a consistent work out routine taking care of my 2 year old. To make sure I get my exercise in, I am working out during my lunch break from work. Anyone else do this? Any tips?

cwolfman13

Everyday...on Mon/Wed/Fri I do my 10K training and on Tue/Thurs I cycle or walk. I bring my lunch to work with me everyday and I eat after my workout at my desk while I'm working. I also weight train on Tue/Thurs evenings and Sat mornings, but I have to fit my runs and cycling in during my lunch break...other option for me would be very early in the AM.

Yeller_Sensation

Due to my hubby's work schedule, it's really hard at night to get a consistent work out routine taking care of my 2 year old. To make sure I get my exercise in, I am working out during my lunch break from work. Anyone else do this? Any tips?

If you have your own office and your colleagues don't mind it, invest in a pull-up bar and put it up in the doorway.

At my job, I have two colleagues who sit on exercise balls in their cubicles. If you work in a cubicle with decently tall walls, you can crank out a 30-minute composite strength workout from an exercise ball every day. I did this at my previous job last year; my co-workers did not mind that I had a row of dumbbells underneath my desk. They even thought it was pretty cool. :laugh:

DavPul

to give you tips we need to know what's available to you. how long is your lunch? can you make it to a gym? a shower? are you in a closed environment where stinkytimes will not be appreciated by nearby coworkers?

when i started to lose weight early last year, i used to go for a 50 min walk on the hills around my office. i would sweat up a storm when i got back but i had my own office with a door and didn't have many afternoon visitors.

purpledelight

Me and my co worker started doing that 2 years ago. Today i am down almost 50 lbs. Have reached goal. am in the best shape of my life and am 47 years old!

DO IT! Make it work you can eat at your desk PLUS you spend less because you are not running errands!

AllonsYtotheTardis

When I worked in an office, I did all my workouts during my lunch break. It was the only time that made sense for me at that point in my life, and it was actually a really nice break in my work day, leaving my brain refreshed and ready for the afternoon.

tips? I just made sure to have a change of clothes (including undergarments), a washcloth and towel, and deodorant in my gym bag.

TheGr8Kimbini

I do when I get lunch, and I typically burn about 200 or more calories from an hour walk. Very worth it, especially when you can't promise an exercise after work.

fmouco

I've been doing this for 6 years. Great way to avoid after lunch sleepy sensation!

amandzor

I usually go for a long walk. I've got an hour, so I spend it active and moving. It's definately possible to get a 30 min work out in during your lunch break (if you have an hour). Though if you're a heavy sweater, make sure you leave time for a shower.

BringingSherriBack

I am a single parent so I take advantage of my lunch break to get some exercise in as well. Weather permitting I use my 30 minute lunch to get a 2 mile walk in a couple or 3 times a week. In addition to that I kickbox twice a week on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. I can take my daughter with me to kickboxing if I need to. She either participates (she's 9 and the instructor doesn't mind) or sits quietly and plays games or draws.
It's all about finding what works for you.

dlionsmane

Do you have a gym? Or are you walking outside? I am lucky I have a gym in the building I work in, so yes I work at during my one hour lunch. By the time you change and work in the time it takes to clean up afterwards - I get just about 35-40 minutes to do something.. I do chest, bis and tris on one day, legs on another and back and shoulders on another. Then on the days that I know I won't be able to walk after work, I walk on the treadmill for 40 minutes. Something is better then nothing is how I look at it!
Also I bring lunch and snacks everyday and eat at my desk. It works but you have to make it work. Good Luck!

Laac68

Due to my hubby's work schedule, it's really hard at night to get a consistent work out routine taking care of my 2 year old. To make sure I get my exercise in, I am working out during my lunch break from work. Anyone else do this? Any tips?

That is a great way, to fit in your daily activity. What I do because I sit practically all day is get up every hour and walk for 5 minutes and stretch. I am looking forward to reading others tips as well.

RunnerElizabeth

I've got a gym/shower in my office building so this is easy for me. I go for a 30 -40 min run outside 4 workdays a week. On the fith day I do one of my You Are Your Own Gym workouts in my office. The other 2 times a week that I do YAYOG I do it at home after my daughter is in bed.

bsuew

I walk during lunch everyday, Monday thru Friday. Unless it's raining. I walk 45-50 minutes of my hour lunch break. I walk 3 miles a day. I love walking during my lunch break. Then in the evening I can do other things.

ticky

I'm in the same boat with my husband working a swing shift. I LOVE working out during my lunch break (I usually run at a local park). Not only does it give me extra energy to push through the afternoon... It gets me out of the office so I can avoid all the crappy food brought in by my co-workers.

Tandi_S

I've been doing this for the past 2 years. It works out great! This way by the time I get home my 5 and 2 year old can have my attention, along with dinner, my husband, the dog and everything else normal that's going on.

Tips? Change clothes and shoes for your workout if you plan on doing high intensity (My work has a 'workout room' so that makes it easier). Make sure to have deodorant there and any other things you'd want to touch up. Just prepare a little bit, get into the groove and take advantage of that time! :drinker:

Em2je05

I get a thirty minute lunch break and 2-15 minute breaks at work. Lately my co-worker and I started the squat challenge, so during lunch break we do our squats and 30 walking lunges and then we walk. This helps me just to stay active. I also try to walk around for 5 minutes at least every hour, so I'm not just sitting doing nothing!

larsensue

I use the weights at work every day over lunch hour...

breza262

Good for you! I try to get out and walk for part of my lunch break at least a few times per week. What I found works for me is getting up an hour early and using the time when everyone is sleeping for being active. I usually go for a morning bike ride or walk and it is cooler and much quieter then. I'm like you with a busy evening and I always feel guilty if I take away time from my family.

fooninie

I do the same. I run 5km at lunch because when I get home, the routine with the kids kicks in and I seldom have the time. This way, I get my workouts in and I feel great for the rest of the day!

woodwardtm

I walk or jog almost every day on my lunch break. I make sure to have a change of clothes, something to wash up with and put on fresh deodorant afterwards. It is such a stress reliever that I refuse to give that time up.

Velum_cado

I used to walk during my lunch breaks. That was when I worked on the quay which was an awesome place to wander about. Now I work on a massive industrial estate and I have zero interest in walking around there.

But anyway, I basically just walked as far, and as fast as I could in 15 minutes, then turned around and came back. It was nice to get outside and break up the day!

lmataloni

Lunch has turned out to be the best time for me as well. I am able to eat at my desk while I work so I do not count that as my lunch break. I have 1 hour - so my main tip is do not waste time showering after you work out! Maximize your time exercising! I guess it depends where you work of course - but people are way less fresh and "put together" after lunch in my office compared to the morning and that is because folks work out. I do a quick sink wash of my face and the "privates" and fresh undergarments- but the hair just is what it is. If I felt I looked good in short hair I would go for that and probably try to do a quick shower - but that just does not work for me. Also, as you know, not all exercises are equal - some are WAY MORE efficient at calorie burning than others. Try jumping rope - you will get a killer workout in a vary short period of time. Oh and I bought a nice little fan to finish cooling off at my desk - major helper! I will also add that exercising midday really keeps me alert in the afternoon!

supermodelchic

when kids were little and I worked full time, I would go to gym on lunch break, run 2 miles as fast as I could (20 minutes) 4 times a week then do my weightlifting on the weekend..

mpappas21

I also have a free gym in my office so I go for one hour usually between 11:45-12:45 and then I eat lunch at my desk. I only have a smoothie and a few almonds in the morning and then I eat a lunch under 300 calories after I work out. I usually do the cross ramp or treadmill for 25 minutes and then I do some arm and abs exercises for 10 minutes.

My gym has a nice locker room, though so if I'm sweaty I just rinse off. It does take some preparation though - I bring my hair dryer, brush, make up bag, deodorant, and perfume everyday in addition to my workout clothes. It may not be the best option for everyone but I find it impossible to workout before or after work. I do this 4x week and then I usually walk outside or go to another gym near my condo on the weekends.

eliza46142

Before my gym started offering more flexible classes, I worked out at lunch several times a week. I brought a change of clothes, deoderant, and baby powder, since I did higher intensity workouts. I didn't have time to get to a gym, but there is a long hall in my buiding - I did animal crawls, pushup crawls, plank, burpees, lunge walking, squat hops, thrusts, etc.

pwnderosa

I started with daily walking on my lunch, more for stress relief than weight loss really and it really helped me with both. Now that it's too hot for me to deal outside at noon, I bring in my hula hoop and dance with it in the mostly unused conference room we have here. Great way to keep my energy up during the day and have a fun break and definitely a time saver!

I have just a 30 minute lunch so I usually eat at my desk, no one has minded yet and I've been at it a year now.

Fit_NYC_

This is the only way for me to work out consistently, but I'm fortunate to have a gym in my building so it works out.
But you can still get a lot done in an hour. The biggest concern, as some others have stated is the shower situation, but the importance of that factor will depend on the nature of your job, and whether you have to see clients or not.

samanthapmorrell

I do this as well. I probably could find time at night after work BUT I also find a lot of excuses not to. Right now I go to the local bike path and walk or run 3-4 miles. I did this consistently for a while and that's when I lost the most and felt the best, just started back up. It's much better for to know it's done. I work close to a gym also and during the winter I would just go over there for my lunch break. I eat my lunch at my desk either before or after I work out. It's definitely been the best time for me to make sure I get chance to be active.

Witchdoctor58

I keep an exercise mat, 1 lb weights, and resistance bands at work. I have several DVDs that I can do in 30 min or so, including cardio and yoga. Alternately, I go to a gym near work. I keep gym clothes here as well, plus baby wipes and deodorant. Sometimes I go into the office early, so I can work out before my shift (gives me time to wake up).

It's a great way to rev up the metabolism and burn extra calories. The downside is that I have to eat lunch a lot more quickly than I want to.

Shy_Yogi

I teach yoga class (or attend someone elses class) during lunch at the gym on campus (I work at a college). When I'm not teaching or attending class, I close my office door and do a yoga routine. It's a great workout where I don't get too sweaty (not like when I run at least lol) and breaks up and relieves mid day stress.