Who has the time to work out?!

MaximalLife

I am serious about losing weight this year and eating 1200 a calories a day almost seems impossible to me. I have been going over by 100-200 cals a day
I want to start working out and doing come cardio, however with school and work I just seem to be tired and not motivated. I would like to start getting up early in the morning and working out before my day begins but I can't seem to get myself out of bed. Any suggestions???

You must decide how bad you really want to reach your fitness goals.
And if this is a goal you truly desire, then attach intense pain to failure and extreme pleasure to success.
That's real motivation that will never fail you - ever.

Nothing will keep you from taking the required action.
You have to really want it though.

ykalucis

If it were a priority you'd be amazed how you could fit it in. You can always break it up - 15 min increments. Make apts with yourself and get it on your calendar. I also try to trick myself into getting extra steps every day (I wear a pedometer)...i use the restroom downstairs, i try to stop in person to ask colleagues questions to get up and out of my office, if i go to a drive through i make myself get out of the car, i park far whether at work or malls, i always take the stairs, etc.

sh0ck

When I make time to work out during the day I actually find that I end up having MORE energy and am LESS tired the longer I keep up the exercise. The hardest part to pretty much ANY working out is the initial "getting started." Try setting aside 30 minutes to an hour a day after work to do SOMETHING and eventually you should get into the groove,

melruiz5

I didn't have motivation to get out of bed, for a long time. i Worked out afterwork. i would make dinner, and while the family ate, i would workout and then i would eat. . . well i missed a day and another and another and ebfore you know it, i was too exhausted to workout by the time i got home. I FORCED myself to get up 30 minutes early one day. I told myself, it's only 30 minutes and you will feel SOO much better and I do EVERYTIME!! Just Do IT< like nike says lol Now, i get up at 4:50 on work days and do my jillian michaels 30 day shred. It makes me feel soo much better because NOW before I get in the shower, in the morning, i feel like i NEED a shower, not just bc i need to wake up, but bc I am sweaty lol YOU CAN DO IT!!!:happy: Plus you will have energy to get through the day, which is a HUGE Plus also :bigsmile:

CouchSpud

It's hard to get into a routine, but once you do, it will be fine. You can have a nice burn in half an hour, so there is really no excuse. I had to make myself take the time for work outs and have now scheduled them into my bb - will put them into my work calendar tomorrow, so people know I won't be available after my official day has finished, plus, my work BB will annoy me with appointments ^^

Anyway, even if you do not make a work out, you can incorperate more moving about into your daily routine. Maybe leave the bus one stop before the rgular one, use the staisr rather then the lift... get up and see the colleague next door rather than sending them a lazy email ^^

JPDad

Start by signing up for a single weekly fitness class at a local gym or rec center. You end up working out with the same people the whole time and are more motivated to go. By paying for a class, it may be easier to find/make time because if you don't show up you just end up wasting money.

Ours here are usually all 12 weeks long, so it's not that much of a commitment.

Beeps2011

Read this:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/431684-pics-of-my-ginormous-man-muscles

Then, do NROL4W. Less time at the gym, better lifestyle results.

Come join, on mfp, the "women strength training" group and the "NROL4W" group.

brittster52

awesome attitude guys!!!!

FrankiesSaysRelax

You probably don't want to hear this but you've GOT to find the time, you have to, it's there, just do it!! You'll be rewarded!

^this. You have to make time to work out. Many people on here work full, go to school and/or are parents. You have 30 minutes somewhere in your day that you could fit in a workout. Watch one less tv show, wake up 30 minutes earlier, go to the gym on your lunch break, etc.

Brige2269

If you go to school, you can study while you work out. I see lots of people reading text books as they use the treadmill or the stationary bike. There is always a work around. I go after work, I tell my family dinner is now served at 7pm instead of 5pm. I hope you can work it out, good luck to you.

carrieanthony

That was always my excuse too. Now my daughters are old enough to get themselves up and ready for school so I get up with my husband at 4:30. He goes to work and I go to the gym for 45 minutes - an hour and go home and get ready for work.

djeffreys10

I don't have time to work out, I make time to work out. I am a single dad raising two kids, work full time, and my office is over an hour from my home. Yet I lift 6 days a week. If it is important to you, nothing will stop you from doing it. If it is not, nothing will make you do it. Only you can decide if you really want it.

SarahBeth0625

Full-time job, 2nd part-time "job" doing photography, 3 kids five and under, no excuses.

sharonfoustmills

Going to work and school is tough, but you can make time for exercise. Once you start, you will find you also have more energy for exercise. Remember, you don't necessarily need a lot of time to exercise, you can even break it into smaller chunks of time (do 3 sessions of 10 minutes in a day rather than one session of 30 minutes). Keep in mind, any exercise is better than none. Don't overlook combining exercise with chores either, raking and push-mowing burn lots of calories and get the heart going.

JamieM8168

No one has time. If its important enough to you, you just find a way to schedule it in

chandanista

wareagle8706

Being too busy is the number one excuse, couldn't think of anything more original?

I guarantee you there are people way busier than you who have accomplished more than you even dream.

As far as the 1200 calories go, you probably need to be eat a bit more anyway. I have no idea what your stats are but I'm just guessing seeing as how pretty much no one needs a 1200 calorie diet. Go look up some BMR and TDEE calculators and figure out what you need to eat on days you workout and then what you need to eat on days you don't workout (which sounds like most days for you) so that way you are still consistently at a deficit even on days you don't workout.

AprilMae1975

I love this thread!! I have been feeling the same way. I know it's all just excuses!! I have been struggling just to wake up for work in the morning. I am going to take the advice of waking up early and doing 30 minutes before my morning shower. Maybe this is what I need to break the sleepy cycle and get back to working out!!

Thanks OP for posting this and thanks to all who responded.....we can do this!!!

jaxbeck

You just do it, you find it. I have four children, a full time job & a handful of other responsibilities. I'm up before the sun & get to it

JoRocka

People do what they want.

You don't work out because you don't want to. Weight loss is hard. I've lost 75 lbs and I can guarantee you that.
No one can motivate you if you don't want to do it. The choice is yours.

this

I like what someone else said- some where - someone else is busier than you- and they find time to work out.

I work almost 4 jobs (3.5)
Full Time
2 part time
and a once a month gig that eats up about 6-8 hours of my sleeping time.... so normally it wouldn't be that big deal but it seriously cuts into my sleep which is why I still count it) plus the costuming I do.

and I go to dance class 2 a week for upwards of 4 hours. I dance on my own for technically purposes at least 3-5 hrs a week and I work out 3-6 times a week.

When it becomes important to you- you'll make time. Period.

we all have 24 hrs in a day- you do not have any less time than I do- and I still manage to balance all that- working out and an out of town relationship.

All our problems are different... but for those who want to do something- they find time to do it. Period.

flitabout

I get the no time! My gym is only 2 blocks away and it is still almost impossible to get to. I was going 6 days a week before every other adult in the house started working and I am sooo happy they are all working now. I like to work out around 10 in the morning. I am a stay at home mom and I work from home. I am having a deffinite issue removing my butt from my bed early enough to get to the gym before everybody leaves for work in the morning! Hubby leaves at 6am, stepson #1 6:30am and #2 at 7:00am. The kids all get up between 5 and 6:30am. I am constantly running trying to get last nights dishes done the laundry done the house picked up swept and mopped as fast as possible so I can start my paperwork for the day! By the time I get that done it's like 4-5pm and it's time to make dinner bath the kids and try to slow down so I can hopefully get to bed by 10 otherwise I am a zombie at 4 when I have to get up.
Basically I am busy really busy there are some days I spend all day in the car with the kids. On those day especially I need to get moving otherwise I would be asleep where I stood trying to make dinner! So my best advice is to find different ways to move. You may not have time or child care to go to the gym. So go for a walk it might be the only time you have during the day to clear your head. I walk my dogs one at a time my old shepherd just can't move it like he used to! then I walk the puppy and I take him on what we call the square around the square which is like 4 miles. I can do that in an hour and I like to do that right after dinner. It gives me the energy I need to finish off my day and I sleep much better for it.
There are ways to get moving you just have to find them. We all have our busy lives to contend with. You have to find your niche for me the gym is hard to get to because I don't have child care or I would be there everyday.

silken555

One of the things that one of my MFP pals said that really touched a nerve and stuck in my brain is this:

You're either interested in losing weight or you're committed to losing weight.

If you're interested then you'll fit it in whenever you feel like but it'll be nothing but a hobby you dabble in. If you're committed, then you will make absolutely sure that exercising and meal planning is part of your weekly routine. Motivation won't even be a factor because you're committed.

So are you interested or are you committed? Only you can decide that.

jerryvo

I also convinced myself that I have no time to work out. What I found is, like many others have stated, it is just an excuse. I have a full time job and 2 young kids in school so I understand limited time but that does not mean no time. Here is my daily schedule if it helps.

6:00 Wake up and short walk with the dog
6:15 show and get ready
6:45 get kids ready for school, make breakfast for everyone
7:15 out the door
12:00 lunch break at work (10 min drive to gym, 30 minute workout, shower, 10 min drive back)
[if you don't have a gym near by go outside and walk for 30 minutes or do something active in your office.]
5:00 get off work and pick up kids
6:00 make dinner
6:30 play time
7:30 bath time
8:00 bed time / read story
8:30 make lunches
9:00 - 10:00 watch TV while lifting weights or push ups or yoga or something active
10:00 get ready for bed

It is not easy and it makes for a full day but there is always time to work out.

Nutella91

ain't nobody got time fo that!

conniemaxwell5

Put your alarm clock across the room so you have to get up to turn it off. Discipline yourself to not go back to bed. Once you've done it a few weeks, it will be easier!

Trechechus

If you want it, you will make time.

Iron_Lotus

If you want it, you will make time.

True story

MinMin97

I am serious about losing weight this year and eating 1200 a calories a day almost seems impossible to me. I have been going over by 100-200 cals a day
I want to start working out and doing come cardio, however with school and work I just seem to be tired and not motivated. I would like to start getting up early in the morning and working out before my day begins but I can't seem to get myself out of bed. Any suggestions???

Those extra cals may not be extra.
And about the fatigue, as soon as you exert some effort to exercise, your energy will pick up within a few days.
Also, a lot of my exercise is done in 20min-30min sections of time.

RacerX_14

ain't nobody got time fo that!

Holla!! Love this.


I do crunches, curls and presses with small dumbbells (20 lbs) at work every day. It only takes a few mins to do each. There should be some kind of exercise you can do during the day.

NikiChicken

Everyone is busy. I take care of a disabled husband, a 9-year-old son and I work full time as well as volunteer at my son's school and with his cub scout pack. However, I still manage to get out of bed and walk, hike or bike every single morning before work. You just have to decide what is important and do it. Yes, I'm tired. Yes, it would be soooo much easier to stay in bed and get that extra hour and a half of sleep, but that won't help me get to my goal, so I make the decision every morning to haul myself out of bed whether I want to or not and move my body. If you allow yourself to make excuses to not exercise, you won't ever exercise. Like the Nike slogan says: "Just do it."