What exercise do you do and how do you fit it in?

scarfy73

I am a newbie here. I have decided enough is enough and have started tracking what I eat etc and also looking at exercise.

I am a full time working mum with 3 children. (5, 10, 11) and for the past year I have been doing Zumba classes 2 evenings a week. This is due to start again endish of Jan. In the meantime I am trying a quick 6-10 mins each morning sprint training on the rowing machine but I am thinking about upping my exercise. I am *thinking* about running.

What do you do etc and how do you fit it in?

Looking for inspiration.

JoRocka

Good for you on making changes
What are your goals? this will dictate your plan. If your goal is lose weight- keep in mind that is mostly a function of diet not working out- working out is because you want to be fit- feel better- improve your cardiovascular health- improve your muscle tone- things of that nature.

once you decide what your goals are- you can make a plan based on that.

As far as time? We all have 24 hrs in a day- I work 3 jobs - work out- train for my one job- go to class to support that- and balance an out of town relationship- do most of all my own cooking.

And much like the time I make for work so I can make money to pay my bills- I don't fit that in.

I make time for it.

You have kids right.
They have to be at school? and then you have to pick them up right?

do you "fit that in" or do you just make time for it??

most of us make time for it- we don't fit it in. it's part of our lives because we insist that it be there.

Good luck with your new changes!!!

_Resolve_

Make time, get up an hour earlier then you normally do now.

kgeyser

I understand what you mean by "fitting it in." The only time I get to exercise is either nap time (if that happens) or after I put the kids to bed. Would love to just be able to do it before everyone needs to get up for school, but that isn't going to happen.

ETA: I do home workout DVDs that are about 30 minutes long. Occasionally I can fit in an hour but it's a rare event.

k1214

I also have 3 kids (7, 5, 4) so I get up and walk or run at 5:00 a.m. while the rest of my family are still sleeping. If I miss going that early (because it's early and cold out there!), I try to either walk or head to the Y on my lunch break at work. You just have to schedule time for exercise and work it in to your schedule so it becomes part of your normal routine. Good luck to you!!

jstika

I ride my bike to work, about 5 miles each way. Burns about 250 calories each way. That's how I get my exercise, but I don't have kids. I have a friend who walks or drives his kid to school then goes back home and bikes to work. It's all about priorities. If you think you can't do it then you won't do it.

cookiealbright

:flowerforyou: I have a treadmill and walk on that for a mile after work or I go to the gym for an hour after work or I walk my dog for a mile or I do a workout DVD for half an hour. Depends on the day's schecule. Good luck to ya!

eldamiano

Running. You need minimal equipment, can do it anytime you want and however long you want, and it burns the most calories.

jolodo

I set my alarm for 5.20am Monday - Friday and workout for 30-45mins. Either treadmill, elliptical, dvd and/or power hoop. Nice to know it's done for the day then!!

wolfsbayne

I lift weights 3 days a week and I do that on my lunch break. I can get in and get out in about 45 minutes. Sometimes, on my rest days, I'll do 30 minutes of cardio, also on my lunchbreak. Due to children, work schedule of the fiance, bedtimes and such, my lunch break is the only time I can fit it in. It works for me, though.

Huffdogg

Running. You need minimal equipment, can do it anytime you want and however long you want, and it burns the most calories.

Except calorie burn is not the be-all end-all of exercise. TBH, it's not even a worthy goal. It's much wiser to use cardiovascular exercise as needed to strengthen the heart and lungs, manage your deficit with dietary choices, and work in some resistance training to preserve muscle and bone density.

Someone stuck at home (no gym access) would be much better served doing plyometric/calisthenic exercises that offer some muscle resistance and can also increase heart rate to double-dip and get both benefits. Assuming time is extremely tight and so are resources.

AllanMisner

A noted above, it really does depend on your goals. If fat loss is your primary goal, then diet is going to be key. Beyond that, you may be considering fitness from either a cardiovascular health or musclular health (endurance, strength, mass). Regardless of the kind of fitness you're interested in, you should be able to build a program that you can do in 2 - 3 sessions per week.

Examples:
- For cardiovascular health, you can do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) two to three times per week, less than 45 minutes per sesson.
- For muscular health, you can do a full body (e.g., 5x5) program two to three times per week, less than 60 minutes per session.

Many of us want a combination of both so we either cycle these (four weeks on one, then four weeks on the other) or we workout 5 - 6 times per week.

So, set your goals, them set your priorities.

Huffdogg

Examples:
- For cardiovascular health, you can do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) two to three times per week, less than 45 minutes per sesson.
- For muscular health, you can do a full body (e.g., 5x5) program two to three times per week, less than 60 minutes per session.

I always forget HIIT workouts. Hell, a real tabata-type workout can be under 15 minutes including warmup and cooldown assuming you have some way to generate the extreme heart-pounding intensity--exercise bike I believe was the original activity used for Tabata's experiments.

Huffdogg

Examples:
- For cardiovascular health, you can do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) two to three times per week, less than 45 minutes per sesson.
- For muscular health, you can do a full body (e.g., 5x5) program two to three times per week, less than 60 minutes per session.

I always forget HIIT workouts. Hell, a real tabata-type workout can be under 15 minutes including warmup and cooldown assuming you have some way to generate the extreme heart-pounding intensity--exercise bike I believe was the original activity used for Tabata's experiments.

Ooops. Just noted OP said rowing machine is available. Depending on the type of machine, this could be viable.

just_Jennie1

I try to get up early in the mornings to hit the gym but because of the weather (bitter COLD) I haven't been doing that. Instead I go in the afternoons. My typical workout is 30 min of cardio -- I run 4 days a week and do the arc trainer 1 day -- followed by 45-60 minutes of lifting.

If I don't make it to the gym I'll either run on my treadmill at home or do an exercise video.

2PieceNow

On my weight loss journey, I have found what works for one doesn't work for all!! I like to run but I started with coach to 5 K. I also think you should join a gym or a weight loss group! They just keep you motivated and most are inexpensive! I love the YMCA! There are exercises for everyone! Try Zumba classes!! They are fun and uplifting, just don't be discouraged that's the main thing! Everyone going in doesn't start out knowing all the moves or exercises!! Take one day at a time and keep saying "I can" I have lost 70 lbs and it's taken me two years!! I am almost 50 (tomorrow is my b day) and I have a slooowwww metabolism!!! Don't be too hard on yourself and use the tools here and track your food!! Good luck and you can friend me, I had to get a new acct. her because my old acct. was hacked!!!
Joleen

Capt_Apollo

i wake up early. really early.

rowing is great, and you can do a lot of great work outs with it. it might have to be more than 6 minutes though. there are a lot of great crossfit style work outs with rowing, but i can't seem to find them right now.

aliencheesecake

I am a stay at home mom, and also a student, and it can be hard to find big chunks of time to exercise all at once, so I often do ten minutes of power yoga here, 10 minutes of circuit training there. I find this also keeps me from getting bored with one long spell of exercise and allows me to get my heart rate up several times a day for a quick energy boost.

JoRocka

Examples:
- For cardiovascular health, you can do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) two to three times per week, less than 45 minutes per sesson.
- For muscular health, you can do a full body (e.g., 5x5) program two to three times per week, less than 60 minutes per session.

I always forget HIIT workouts. Hell, a real tabata-type workout can be under 15 minutes including warmup and cooldown assuming you have some way to generate the extreme heart-pounding intensity--exercise bike I believe was the original activity used for Tabata's experiments.

Isn't Tabata 4 minutes only?

HIIT are typically 10-15 minutes- I've done 24 minutes- two 12 minute sessions with a brief bathroom break- but I thought Tabata was a HIIT that was specifically 4 minutes? (with various splits or are those fixed?)

SezxyStef

I have weights at home and lift 3x a week. It takes about 30-45mins max (atm)

Since the new year I have started doing HIIT on my off days (Tu/Th and maybe sat) which atm takes 21mins.

Found some on fitnessblender.com

I am a full time working wife/mom...although my son is now 19 so not as hard....but still a pain in my butt...hehe

I usually do it right when I get home because there is a husband in the house. He cooks while I workout and I clean up after.

No reason as a couple you can't share the work so you can concentrate on your for 30-40mins.

aliencheesecake

Running. You need minimal equipment, can do it anytime you want and however long you want, and it burns the most calories.

Someone stuck at home (no gym access) would be much better served doing plyometric/calisthenic exercises that offer some muscle resistance and can also increase heart rate to double-dip and get both benefits. Assuming time is extremely tight and so are resources.

That's what I do often. Use plyometrics and calisthenics in a tabata style routine. Good hard workout, minimal time and space!!!

aliencheesecake

Isn't Tabata 4 minutes only?

HIIT are typically 10-15 minutes- I've done 24 minutes- two 12 minute sessions with a brief bathroom break- but I thought Tabata was a HIIT that was specifically 4 minutes? (with various splits or are those fixed?)

EACH tabata is four minutes but you can do more than one at a time.

JoRocka

Isn't Tabata 4 minutes only?

HIIT are typically 10-15 minutes- I've done 24 minutes- two 12 minute sessions with a brief bathroom break- but I thought Tabata was a HIIT that was specifically 4 minutes? (with various splits or are those fixed?)

EACH tabata is four minutes but you can do more than one at a time.

okay- that makes sense- I've only ever done 10-12-15 minute split ones (I tend to use 3, 4 or 5 rounds and 10/50 second splits) so I don't really think of 4 minute sessions with a break. Thanks for clarifying.

darrensurrey

For me, exercise is my hobby, just like watching soaps is some people's hobby. Mind you, you could exercise whilst watching soaps.

sweetpea03b

3x/week I do weight lifting... I'm using the New Rules of Lifting for Women.... I can usually finish in about 20min. On non-lifting days, I'll either go for a walk, a 2 mile run, or fit in some Wii Fit/Wii Dance to burn some extra calories. Once in a while I'll do a workout DVD. I use the Gold's Gym Sculpt & Burn which has several 10min sections so you can do a little bit at a time when you can fit it in.

wrk2hrd

I picked a work schedule that allows me to go in at 1230p.

This allows me to get up early each morning and either run, bike, swim (sometimes), and cross-fit.

Don't get so caught-up on WHAT and HOW fast - just focus on getting out there and doing something.

Keep the goals/bar LOW, so you can easily reach them.

Once you get going and start to feel better about just getting out there, you will soon start meeting other people w/ the same goals and before long you are looking forward to outdoor group exercise.

Don't set lofty goals that are all to often unrealistic. Nothing happens overnight, so just get out there and do ANYTHING. Find something you DON'T mind doing. Stay away from stuff you simply have NO interest in doing. Who wants to get up early to do that (swimming)?

contingencyplan

I do suspension training and sandbag training at home. My workouts take anywhere from 20-45 minutes depending on the focus of the day's workout. I sometimes take my suspension trainer with me to work and do it on my lunch break.

Loss4TheWin

I powerlift!!! I'm a n00b, definitely not breaking any world records, but it's the most fun I've ever had and it's the first time in MY LIFE that I've looked forward to going to the gym and been actually upset when I can't make it happen.

I was going at 5am before work, but had to make some changes when I started school. I work full time and go to school full time, so I'm out of the house from 7am to 10pm Mon-Fri. I worked it out with my employer so I can come in a bit earlier in the AM and take a longer lunch so I can train during my lunchbreak. I'm blessed to have a flexible employer and live close to an amazing gym with a great trainer. Honestly though, if my employer weren't flexible and I couldn't figure out any other way to fit it in, I'd be looking for a different job and that may have had an effect on the outcome when I asked. I wasn't really asking so much as telling. I neeeeeed this. Lifting is my happy place....I get kind of twitchy when I miss a workout.

Fit it in! You'll feel so much better - happier, stronger, more confident - BEAST MODE ACTIVATED!!!

...yeah, I just had my pre-workout drink so I may be a little extra exuberant :P

EdTheGinge

When actively losing weight I was having to cycle to work so that was then, now I run and I do it when I get home from work during the week to clear my head and then at the weekend for a longer one just to get out and feel like I've achieved something. I also do a Spin class twice a week.

JenavaTS

Hi,
Are you looking to loose fat only? Or are you also wanting to build some muscle? Or, are you more concerned with cardio conditioning?

Unless you want to start doing long runs and therefore want to train for cardio conditioning, I wouldn't run, TBH. I used to; what I've learned is that it's really hard on my body (I have a pretty strong angle between my knee and hip, called Q angle) and it actually burns muscle if done for long periods of time...meaning if you stop you'll gain weight really quickly because you will not have the muscle tone, and muscle burns calories even at rest.

For me, I have chosen to do about 30 mins to an hour of weight lifting 3 to 5 days a week, and 3 days a week I do 20 to 30 mins of cardio at the gym. I do sprinting on the treadmill - 30 seconds on and 30 seconds off (I jump my feet off the belt and rest) at 8 MPH for 20 to 30 mins, OR I will to the stair treadmill for 20 mins...whatever I feel like doing. I find cardio boring, so I try to watch a show, read a book and not go for too long. I want my cardio sessions to be intense because then I can get away with just doing it quickly.

I go after work and yes, sometimes it means late nights for me. But I do not have children. If I did, I'd have to get my butt up earlier! UGH! But, it would be worth it.

Note that muscle weighs more than fat, so depending on your starting point you may actually gain weight at first with a weight training routine.

And, like it's already been mentioned, the most important thing is diet if you're trying to lose fat!

ValerieMartini2Olives

During the summer, I ride my bike or run outside.
Now that it's winter, I go to the gym and run on the treadmill, lift weights at home, and do various DVD's.

I get my workouts in as early as early as possible to get it out of the way.