How do you fit in exercise?

mrmanmeat

I am having trouble fitting in exercise. I leave home at 6:30 am, and come home between 6:30-7 pm, then walk the dog, have dinner, clean up, pack lunch and THEN have my downtime (by then I am exhausted). Any ideas on how I can work in some exercise? My lunch at work is only half an hour, so by the time I heat my lunch up (microwave is on the other side of the building), get back to my desk and eat it, I only have about 10 minutes left. I would love to work out, but can't seem to get the time to do it.

get up earlier.
once you pack your lunch, go to sleep.

bcattoes

Walk the dog uphill, or run the dog.

bcattoes

If you're allowed ten minutes breaks during your workday, you could walk. Either in the halls or outside. Put some kicking music on that you love and go fast for a few. Even those little steps add up!

If you have an office or somewhere you can shut a door, you can also do non-jumping calesthenics on your breaks. I do desk pushups and tricep dips, squats, lunges and resistance bands on my breaks. Two 15 min breaks = 30 min of exercise.

asyouseefit

I come home from work at 6pm, play with the kiddo, prepare dinner, do various chores, eat, put the kiddo to bed, clean up and it's usually 9pm before I have some downtime (during which I craft stuff for my Etsy shop so, yeah, half-downtime). I try to fit a short DVD work-out around 9-9:30pm (like 30DS for instance). I also walk as much as possible instead of taking the car or public transports.

AlsDonkBoxSquat

I am having trouble fitting in exercise. I leave home at 6:30 am, and come home between 6:30-7 pm, then walk the dog, have dinner, clean up, pack lunch and THEN have my downtime (by then I am exhausted). Any ideas on how I can work in some exercise? My lunch at work is only half an hour, so by the time I heat my lunch up (microwave is on the other side of the building), get back to my desk and eat it, I only have about 10 minutes left. I would love to work out, but can't seem to get the time to do it.

I worked out this morning from 5:30 - 6:30 AM, but generally morning workouts for me are 4:30 - 5:30 AM. I leave for work at 6:30, pick up my son at 5 or 5:30 and go to the gym until 6:30 or 6:45, then it's home, food and LM bed time, eat my dinner, pick up some stuff, down time starts at 8:30 and goes until I pass out at 10. You fit it in by putting it into your list of priorities.

dshalbert

Maybe getting up an hour earleir is a bit much with your schedule, but is 30 minutes earlier doable? If so, try something like the Jillian Micheals 30 Day Shred DVD. It's less than 30 minutes, effective and when I do it early in the monring I'm half way through before I'm completely awake :laugh: I makes you really energized all day.

I also like the previous suggestions about jogging/running with the dog. You're out there anyway and dogs like exercise too.

lawkat

I work a ton of hours and am always busy. What I had to do and now I love, is I get up at 5am three days a week and run and the weekends are for my long run and a cross training. I knew that if I put off running until the evening, I would never do it.

A few months ago I would have told you that it is impossible for someone like me to work out in the mornings because I like my bed. What I have to do with myself the mornings I get up early, I don't negotiate with 5 more minutes. The alarm goes off and I am up. It is the only way for me. I get my run in and I feel great and I have the rest of the day to work and then the evening to do whatever.

On a different note, I was reading an article this morning about how people say they are too busy to work out. What they suggested was working out in 10 minute intervals 3 times a day. That way, you are getting a workout in and feeling like you made the time for it.

MacSkillz

It may seem to be a lot, but if you really want to lose weight and reach your goal, you have to MAKE time. My schedule is some what similar to yours and I have been able to make it work. If I can do it, so can you!!

Here is a glimpse of a typical day for me:
5:00am - get up, eat breakfast, work out
6:00am - shower and get ready
6:45am - 9:00am - commute to work
9:00am-1:00pm - work
1:00pm-2:00pm - lunch break = gym
2:00pm-5:00pm - eat lunch and work
5:00pm - 7:15pm - commute home
7:30pm - dinner
8:00pm - get food and clothes ready for the next day
8:30pm - workout while watching either TV or my fiance play video games (lol)
9:30pm - relax -
10:30 or 11:00pm - bed


Not having time is only an excuse. If you are really serious about it, you will learn that you DO have time. You just need to either 1) make it, or 2) find it. I never used to get up earlier than 6:00am. But then realized that would be a great time to work out. Not only is it a good time, you feel amazing afterwards! It really helps me to get energized and get moving for the rest of the day. It's natural caffeine! haha
I hope that you are able to figure something out!! Good luck!!

dchris99

That is a tight schedule, mine is about the same but runs later I leave at 7:30 & go nontop until about 10pm, I have to fit the gym in at 6am. For you I don't think this is an option; so here are a few tricks I have learned, do short 15 minutes or less worth of exercise, a walk, stairs, wall push ups & squats in your office or the restroom, situps, jumping jacks, just a quick burst of 10-50. When you can; starting from the minute you wake up, you won't believe the difference it will make in your energy. When I am not going to the gym, I try to do 50 push ups, sit ups, & squats the second my feet hit the floor. & I do something evey break I take at work. I do calf raises & squats at the microwave. In the beginning I got funny looks but now everyone is used to it. Good Luck, I hope this helps.

Dawn

MissMaryMac33

Walking the dog can be your exercise ---- just go faster and a little farther --- turn it into a run if you like but fast walking is just as good!

mmsilvia

I have the exact same schedule and a baby. I get up at 4am. So I can work out & get myself & the baby ready & out the door by 6:30. Yes it is a LONG day but, after a couple of weeks your body will adjust to it.

There are a few ways to sneak a little more exercise into your day. Always take the stairs instead of elevators. Park your car as far away from the building as possible and walk accross the parking lot. Instead of sending emails hand deliver all paperwork.

You mention that you already walk you dog. Why not make it a longer walk or a power walk or a jog. Every step is a step towards exercise

Good luck!!!!

VeganGal84

Do it during your down time! If you can afford it, invest in a piece of cardio equipment for your home. Like a treadmill or a stationary bike. I have a crazy schedule right now, too, but fit in exercise by doing it during my TV time. :-)

kstep88

Purchase a 20 minute video, or even a 15 minute video and do it after dinner. sometimes you just have to force yourself, and eventually it wont be tough. &&& do extra on the weekends

Corruptkitten

I do Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and it is only 20 minutes, but it kicks your butt. If that is too easy she also makes Ripped in 30 that is more difficult, but short as well.

gemtwist

That's a rough schedule. When I worked those hours, I honestly didn't work out at all. Now, I work 7:30-4:30, but it's still tough to fit in working out when I have to cook, clean, do laundry, go grocery shopping, etc all after work. I'm not willing to wake up earlier, but what works for me is to schedule classes at a gym every afternoon after work, as well as one on Saturday mornings. Then, since it's a planned part of my day, I go to my class, then come home again, and do all those other things around my gym time.

I've also cut way back on cooking from scratch. I try to make a big batch of something healthy on the weekends, then package it into single serving containers to bring for lunch and eat at dinner during the week. That cuts down on nightly lunch packing and dinner making. I also buy healthy frozen meals at Trader Joe's now, so I don't have to cook during the week.

That's what helps me. Otherwise, I'd go straight home and sit on the couch all night.

sharonsjones

I cannot get up at 5am and workout! More power to all of yall that do. I do all of my workout in the evening and on weekends I get up at 7 to run.

engineman312

here are some helpful articles about quick and efficient exercise you can do throughout your day.

http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2011/03/10/angry-birds-workout-plan/

http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2010/12/20/the-20-minute-hotel-workout/

http://nerdfitness.com/blog/2009/12/09/beginner-body-weight-workout-burn-fat-build-muscle/

btw, i'm currently obsessed with this guys blog. he breaks down exercises and routines to their simplest levels, and just motivates you to be a little better then you were yesterday.

anvacarz

Get 30 Day Shred. It's 20/25 minutes and kicks your *kitten*! You can do it while dinner is cooking/cooling off or wake up a little earlier (easier said than done, I know). I think waking up early takes some getting used to. I have had my alarm set for 0515 all week and I'll be damned if I don't change that back to 6! I fit exercise in right after work. I have a 40 minute window between work and picking up my little one and I just go for a quick run. I also do 30DS in the evenings if I have enough energy or haven't eaten a ton. I'm really trying to get up early and get this accomplished but it's a process for me at the moment. I hate mornings!

jfinnivan

If you can't run because the dog is hyper, get the dog trained (either yourself or a professional) so it will run with you.

hikeout470

Consider purchasing a calorie tracker device such as the Body Bugg so you can see where you are burning. Look into incorporating HIIT into your week twice, a huge time saver. And lastly, I would consider you long term goals, why is your day so long and can you do anything to change it? ie, move, change positions, etc. This may sound drastic, but you have to consider caring for yourself in the long term. Hugs.

kkerri

I workout between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.

I'd used to think I "didn't have time," but what I didn't want to admit was that I'd rather sit on the computer and drink wine instead of working out. Then I realized that I'd rather workout at night and be proactive than just maintain the status quo. I find that it's often quite a challenge, but the alternative is to be unhappy with my body.

Leola2011

I have found that if I wait until I FEEL like doing something, it will never get done. I count my workouts as an obligation, much like paying the bills or grocery shopping. It has to happen. And when something has to get done, I do it, even if it means something else has to be sidelined. I'd rather do anything than go grocery shopping. It's just my least favorite chore. But it's not a matter of whether I am able to find time to do it. Working out happens to be something I enjoy, so I don't dread it, per se. But it isn't something that comes naturally to me yet, so I have to make a conscious effort to get it done. To me, it's more an issue of perspective and attitude than it is a matter of time.

I'm managing a family of 8 (sometimes 9, depending on who's home). That includes checking homework, doing laundry, fixing meals, and everything else that parents do.

mbaldan

I felt like I had the same issues, only I had two kids in the mix and an absent father so I really had zero time.
But I wanted to get my body healthy and had to stop making excuses...
We have a Wii so the 1st thing I did was buy Zumba for the Wii. I would get up an hour earlier and do my Zumba. A few months later i bought Just Dance 2. I started doing this at night. My kids even play with me. I actually feel that the Just Dance is a better workout than the Zumba was. Now I work out 3-4 times a week. I have fun and I don't have to make time to go to the gym-I do it at home.
Do you have streaming Netflix? They have workout videos, too, if you don't have a Wii.
Make the time, make it happen. Walk on your 15 min breaks at work. Walk for your lunch and then eat afterwards at your desk...IDK - you'll figure it out when you are really, really ready!

All the best

mbaldan

I workout between 9:00 and 10:00 p.m.

I'd used to think I "didn't have time," but what I didn't want to admit was that I'd rather sit on the computer and drink wine instead of working out. Then I realized that I'd rather workout at night and be proactive than just maintain the status quo. I find that it's often quite a challenge, but the alternative is to be unhappy with my body.

Perfect! I feel like people who complain about their body but don't do anything to change it are the worst! I don't have time....But I can't miss my shows or my bath. Even something as simple as cooking meals ahead (I cook 4-5 meals every Sunday and freeze them for the week) can save an hour each day...that is plenty of time to work out!
Good Job for recognizing!

Buca412

I know what you mean. With kids, and other things, it's near impossible to fit in exercise in the mornings and/or after work. Fortunately, for me, I realized that there is a park district facility a minute down the road from where I work. It's a small facility, but they have a fitness room with a couple ellipticals, 3 treadmills, a recumbent bike and a standard bike, then several weight machines to work upper and lower body, some free weights, stability balls, and bands for resistence exercise. No pool or any of the bells and whistles the larger fitness chains offer, but your basic necessities to get a satisfactory workout. So I'm able to get my workouts in during lunch. I only am able to get 30 minutes in, but it's better than nothing and I try to make the most of those 30 minutes with high intensity workouts. The bonus part is that it's almost like having my own personal gym. Many times it's just me and maybe one other person. Usually, no more than four when I go workout.

If at all possible, look into what can be done during your lunch hour. That's my suggestion. The best of luck to you!

missikay1970

my husband leaves the house at 5:30 a.m. and doesn't get home until about 6:30 p.m. he goes to the gym on his lunch break (and eats in the car on the way) or goes as soon as he walks in the door in the evening. there is time, you just have to make it a priority. his days of t.v. watching are over. and he packs his lunches once per week so that saves time.

vegasaims

I am having trouble fitting in exercise. I leave home at 6:30 am, and come home between 6:30-7 pm, then walk the dog, have dinner, clean up, pack lunch and THEN have my downtime (by then I am exhausted). Any ideas on how I can work in some exercise? My lunch at work is only half an hour, so by the time I heat my lunch up (microwave is on the other side of the building), get back to my desk and eat it, I only have about 10 minutes left. I would love to work out, but can't seem to get the time to do it.

I feel your frustration. I leave my house around 5:45am every morning and some nights I am not home until 9:00pm. When I walk my dog, I turn that into a workout. I walk a little faster and throw in some jogging. My dog loves it since he has so much energy he would like to you and I feel better. I also try to take stairs as much as possible and I park away from entrances to buildings to force me to walk. I would like to get into a routine, but for now I try and make the most of what I can do. Good luck!