How do you squeeze in a workout in a crazy busy schedule?

HealthierMe2012

Alright, I need advice. School is about to start again, which means I'm back into working full time and school full time. How do you squeeze in exercise time? I'm not kidding - I work all day, my husband walks in the door and I'm out to class until 10pm. Mornings aren't really an option because of the kids, and by time I get home from class I'm done. What can I do in between??? I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged, but I don't have time in my life to spend 1.5-2 hours working out. :-(

Mzbutterfly32

How long do you get for lunch? If you get 30 minutes to an hour you can split your lunch in half and do the following:

Walk around the building outside at a moderate rate
Walk up a couple of floors of stairs (3 to 4 times)
While sitting at you desk you can do leg lifts (they wont be as high as while standing and you won't get you heart rate up where it should be) but you will be working muscles for toning.

Hope that helps some.

ToryBarker

I have the same problem, but maybe not as hectic. But I work all day and have 3 kids to take care of when I get home! I have ask people what I should do too. Do you get a break at work? Bring a change of clothes to work and go walk somewhere...even if its just around the building. Or find a close by neighborhood to walk in. When you get home (before school) take the kids on a walk around the neighborhood. I have a pretty good size backyard and my husband tells me to walk the yard. I think if you sit down and looked at your schedule you can find at least 15 minutes to workout (walk, jog, run). If not during the day, try when you get home at 10! I know that sucks, but its only 15 minutes and then hit the hay!!

twinmom_112002

I have the same issues...I do my work-out during my lunch hour. I eat lunch at my desk or in my class. The university has a great gym that has showers and my lunch break is between work and school.

If you have to return to work after lunch or have no time for a shower carry baby wipes to clean up and fresh deodorant. Its not easy and truthfully i skipped yesterday because I was just exhausted.

msjones2831

I bought an 8 in step and just do step aerobics at home first thing in the AM or squeeze it in while watching tv.

Ljthet

Pick up the Jilian MIchaels 30 day shred. It's 8.00 and a 20 minute workout. There are three levels. My co-workers and I have been doing it since the 1st and it's an awesome workout, especially when you are crunched on time. You just need 3-5lb weights and I would recommend a yoga mat.

beckyinma

1 1/2 to 2 hours on your schedule would be discouraging, so cut it down to 30 minutes, which is far more realistic. You're setting goals that are too high to reach, so set goals that you know you can reach. You have to MAKE time is what it's going to come down to. If it means getting up before the kids, working out to a dvd then getting them to school, then so be it. What about lunch break, or the commute to school? Is it short enough that you could walk or bike it? The baby wipes and deodorant solution is very common.

Just suggestions.

tamiesue2

I also bought a step, but I took mine to work and I do it on my breaks. Even if I only get 10 minutes in at a time it is better than nothing. If you have a desk job I have heard of people who have those small exercise bikes that are only the peddles that they slide under their desk and workout while at their desk.

seehawkmomma

25 sit ups
25 Push Ups
25 Squats

At a minium if you cant do a work out. Jennifer Hudson suggested it It doesnt take long I try to do it before bed.

jeannicoleau

I know the feeling. I agree with the rest. I work it in at lunch time and walk around the block. Don't get discouraged. You've got a whole community of people behind you for support.

RyanDanielle5101

You may just have to get up earlier:sad: It sucks but if you want it bad enough you can do it!!

I have a crazy busy schedule too and while I don't have school my son has practice 3x a week and that keeps us gone in the evenings! I always do my Insanity right after work while the kids are doing homework but I am also joining a gym and going to get up at 5:30am and run on the treadmill in addition to the 30DS and Insanity videos in the afternoon.

It's so hard to fit it in but you can do it

hkmamma

I finally admitted that if I was going to do it I had to go to the gym before the day started. It stinks but I am out the door at 5 am. get home at 630 and get the family up. I feel so good it is worth it!

annabellj

i usually go to bed at 10 get up at 4-430 to get to the gym because my goals are lofty right now. but school and family are what are your number ones so work it in when you can. like someone said, walk at lunch, take the stairs when possible, five min of floor work is better than none at all! and sometimes you have to let it go. if you cant get at least 6 hrs of sleep a night then your life might be in workout mode right now. i am lucky i have older kids so they get themselves ready in the morning so i can workout and then i go to work. if they dont have homework, i go in the afternoon sometimes.

engineman312

busyPK

For me, early in the morning is best. I have to be at work by 8am so I'm out and working out by 6am. I only need 1hr to get in a great workout at the gym and then I shower and great ready there. I have two boys - 2 years old and 4 months old and work a FT executive job. A lot of people do workout dvds, is that an option? You only need about 30 minutes for those.

luvJOJO

I drive to the gym and work-out on my lunch break everyday. It's the only time I can get a work-out in being a single mom. If I want to try to burn some additional calories, I do some working out at home (which rarely ever happens lol)

engineman312

Alright, I need advice. School is about to start again, which means I'm back into working full time and school full time. How do you squeeze in exercise time? I'm not kidding - I work all day, my husband walks in the door and I'm out to class until 10pm. Mornings aren't really an option because of the kids, and by time I get home from class I'm done. What can I do in between??? I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged, but I don't have time in my life to spend 1.5-2 hours working out. :-(

ok, i'll be constructive now. who says you need to spend one and a half or two hours working out a day? my longest work outs are like, an hour, once a week. some of my best work outs are 30-40 minutes, and i am dripping sweat and panting like a beast (STOP PICTURING IT!!).

if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.

my latest 40 minute work out was a 21-15-9 set of thursters and inverted rows. that means i did 21 thursters (barbell in front of my chest, squat, on the up movement i did an over head press) and then 21 inverted rows. next set was 15 and 15, etc. it took me about 25 minutes. to warm up i ran for five minutes. cool down was a 5 minute run and 3 sets of planks and then stretched. total time in gym was about 40 minutes.

Kimmullen

I agree with the rest of the replies. I had the same issue and trying to find 1.5 hours was impossible. I started with 30 minutes at lunch time (I recently changed to mornings as my schedule changed) now that is the "norm" and just part of my routine. So, I have recently added two 30 min. w/o a week after work - I am going to the gym but you could do excercise videos and get the kids to do them with you at home or take them bike riding etc.

If you can't find 30 min start with 15 or 20 min. a day - once it is just part of your daily life then look to add 5 min. or see if there is another time of day to do a second 15 min.session and build on it.

Remember your as important as the hubby and the kids and deserve the time as well.

MaximalLife

Alright, I need advice. School is about to start again, which means I'm back into working full time and school full time. How do you squeeze in exercise time? I'm not kidding - I work all day, my husband walks in the door and I'm out to class until 10pm. Mornings aren't really an option because of the kids, and by time I get home from class I'm done. What can I do in between??? I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged, but I don't have time in my life to spend 1.5-2 hours working out. :-(

Nobody ever came to me and said they had extra time on their hands, so they'd
like to get fit.

Nobody has time.
But everybody has time.

Here's the disconnect. People either make the time or they do not.
Your fitness goals are either a priority or they are not.
And if they are not, then failure is asured.

That's reality.
Make the time.

jacksonpt

Alright, I need advice. School is about to start again, which means I'm back into working full time and school full time. How do you squeeze in exercise time? I'm not kidding - I work all day, my husband walks in the door and I'm out to class until 10pm. Mornings aren't really an option because of the kids, and by time I get home from class I'm done. What can I do in between??? I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged, but I don't have time in my life to spend 1.5-2 hours working out. :-(

ok, i'll be constructive now. who says you need to spend one and a half or two hours working out a day? my longest work outs are like, an hour, once a week. some of my best work outs are 30-40 minutes, and i am dripping sweat and panting like a beast (STOP PICTURING IT!!).

if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.

my latest 40 minute work out was a 21-15-9 set of thursters and inverted rows. that means i did 21 thursters (barbell in front of my chest, squat, on the up movement i did an over head press) and then 21 inverted rows. next set was 15 and 15, etc. it took me about 25 minutes. to warm up i ran for five minutes. cool down was a 5 minute run and 3 sets of planks and then stretched. total time in gym was about 40 minutes.

Agreed. Make them short and intense if you are really that strapped for time. 30 minutes is plenty of time to get in a solid workout if you are efficient.

As for having time, as with all things, you make time for the things that are important to you. I squeeze workouts in on my lunch break. I get up before my kids to squeeze in a workout if I know I'm not going to have time to during the day. I've also been known to workout at night after everyone goes to bed. Hell, there are times when I wake up at 2am, can't go back to sleep and end up in the basement spinning for an hour.

If it's important to you then you'll find a way to make it work.

Cylindad

Do you have Netflix? Get up 30 minutes before the kids and do maybe a Pilates set.
Do a search on your favorite type of exercise. For example, there is a Pilates video that gives you a choice, from 15, 30 or 45 minute workout depending on how much time you have.

lts42uk

Pick up the Jilian MIchaels 30 day shred. It's 8.00 and a 20 minute workout. There are three levels. My co-workers and I have been doing it since the 1st and it's an awesome workout, especially when you are crunched on time. You just need 3-5lb weights and I would recommend a yoga mat.

This^ I get up half an hour earlier to get it in before the children get up! In the Uk it's only £5 - best fiver I ever spent!! I'm hooked on Jillian's DVDs now!

UponThisRock

I wake up @ 5am and do it before work

gp79

Get up earlier,before the kids do,and knock out a 40 minute DVD workout.

gatecityradio

I work 12 hour shifts (swing shifts at that). I plan on doing cardio for 30 minutes every day right after work. You could get a wii and get the wii fit game or get a kinect and get a fitness game for it. I just ordered "your shape: total fitness 2012" for my xbox 360 kinect. Or you could try to find a cheap stationary bike at a sporting goods re-sale store, or even try walmart/kmart. You could even buy weights or resistance bands to keep at home. I guess what I'm trying to say is have something to do at home for 30 minutes or so before bed. Doing exersices at home is a good way to get your family involved as well. On your days off you can get in your 1-2 hr full work out in.

jamiemnoonan

I have found that the only way I can get a work out in is at night after the kids are asleep. I usually do not even start working out until 9:00 at night. It was hard to make myself do it at first, but now I look forward to it! Anything you can fit in will help!

MaximalLife

Alright, I need advice. School is about to start again, which means I'm back into working full time and school full time. How do you squeeze in exercise time? I'm not kidding - I work all day, my husband walks in the door and I'm out to class until 10pm. Mornings aren't really an option because of the kids, and by time I get home from class I'm done. What can I do in between??? I'm trying so hard not to get discouraged, but I don't have time in my life to spend 1.5-2 hours working out. :-(

ok, i'll be constructive now. who says you need to spend one and a half or two hours working out a day? my longest work outs are like, an hour, once a week. some of my best work outs are 30-40 minutes, and i am dripping sweat and panting like a beast (STOP PICTURING IT!!).

if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.

my latest 40 minute work out was a 21-15-9 set of thursters and inverted rows. that means i did 21 thursters (barbell in front of my chest, squat, on the up movement i did an over head press) and then 21 inverted rows. next set was 15 and 15, etc. it took me about 25 minutes. to warm up i ran for five minutes. cool down was a 5 minute run and 3 sets of planks and then stretched. total time in gym was about 40 minutes.

And I ALWAYS found ways to sneak in a workout on the job.

I'd do a set of push ups in the bathroom, knee bends in the warehouse, pullups on a pipe rack in the rear parking lot, and on and on. Every day I knocked resistance - full body!

And 3 days I did a 45 minute run in the morning.
There is NO SUCH THING as not having time.

13hirteen

Easy option: Run or cycle to and/or from work and class.

Slightly more equipment-intensive option: Get into weightlifting. You can get an amazing workout into half an hour and - particularly if you do big compound barbell lifts (squat, deadlift, press) - it's the most efficient all-round exercise you can do.

That said, I've been stuck at work for 15-hour days this week so - during the late hours when I have the office to myself - I've been interspersing bursts of work with a couple of exercise sets (alternating between squats, wall sits, planks, crunches, push-ups over the course of the evening).

tamerkins2

I hear ya! I work a full time and a part time job, plus have a toddler and baby to care for! My day already starts at 5:00 a.m., get the kids up and ready, go to work, pick kids up from daycare, go to part time job a few nights a week until 9:00 p.m, get kids to bed. By that time, it is after 9:30! I try to squeeze a walk in during my lunch break. Also, Turbo Jam has a great 20 minute work out video that I really enjoy. I try to do that right after the kids go to bed. Also, on the nights I don't work my part-time job, I take a Zumba class. I am trying to find the motivation to get up and work out BEFORE work. But I haven't been able to do that yet... Good luck and hopefully you can figure something out that works for you!

LadyCABMS

I'm in the same boat. So I have to get really creative, first forget the 30 min workout session, just keep moving! I do squats in the "powder" room, I find any excuse to walk around my office, I take the stairs two at a time, I do mini sets of leg lifts or kicks at the copy machine, or I do reps with the stapler while on the phone with a patient. I have found ways to exercise at my desk using my chair, like seated ab mini crunches, tape dispenser curlers, and sometimes I just squeeze my thigns and buttocks tight! It does look really strange, my co workers laughed...till they saw the results and now we take turns covering the phones so the other can get in a mini-workout 5 mins at a time! And don't forget to take a few minutes to visualize your results, on my break I sit quietly, visualize how I want to look and breath slowly and deeply for even 1 min is helpful. ( No chanting required) Good luck Fitness Pal....:flowerforyou:

CAKEDOC

I wake up @ 5am and do it before work

I AGREE WITH ROCK