How do you fit a workout in?

2

Replies

  • valcran
    valcran Posts: 6
    When I worked, I fell out of bed at 5am and did a women's weight training program, twice a week - before anyone else was up! and then walked to work and home again for a total of 5 hrs cardio-vascular which I could do in less time than it took when I drove, and dealt with traffic and parking.
    I varied my ( downtown) route and looked at flowers, birds and trees instead.
    This was 'me' time and left evenings and week-ends free for quality family time, which could include walks and games - together!!!
    Work with your body clock and the family schedule, would be my advice - I will admit, being a natural early bird gave me plenty of time a.m. to work with but if you are a night owl, it would also work.
  • kingofcrunk
    kingofcrunk Posts: 372 Member
    If you do decide to do workout DVDs then I'd recommend the 30 Day Shred. The workouts are only 20 minutes long (bit longer with warm up and cool down) but you really feel like you've worked after them.
    If you have internet you can just do these from youtube, theres no need to buy the dvd.
  • oboeing
    oboeing Posts: 1,816 Member
    i have 20 minutes in between my two jobs (after traveling from one to the other) which is enough time for me to squeeze in a one mile run, freshen up, get dressed, and start my 2nd job.
  • MinMin97
    MinMin97 Posts: 2,674 Member
    Amazing schedule! You are incredible, Mommy!
    My suggestion is to try to make sure you don't stay up later at night than necessary...so try to get to bed early. With an infant, this can be thrown off pretty regularly.
    But the idea is that you won't mind a fairly early start in the morning if you've slept enough.
    Even if it's only 45 min first thing in the morning....you'll make great progress. Plus that "me-time" first thing is so refreshing.
    Key is to get to bed, and be prepared for the morning the day before.
    Blessings to you, Mommy!
  • saptamani
    saptamani Posts: 14 Member
    I'm a recent law school graduate, full-time worker, parent, and husband. I found that the best way to work out was to do an exercise that allowed me to study while I worked out. I'd go to the university's fitness center in the morning and ride an exercise bike or eliptical while doing my daily reading. I don't know if such a system would work for you, but I found it to be an efficient use of time.
  • OneFitDude16
    OneFitDude16 Posts: 169
    Decide. Commit. Succeed.
  • chcoley
    chcoley Posts: 63 Member
    Find a gym with childcare! I felt terribly guilty about leaving my three kids in childcare when I first started going to the gym. As it turns out, they LOVE going and have made lots of friends there and I love having my hour or so to myself to do what I need to do for me (and for them!). :)
  • corrinnebrown
    corrinnebrown Posts: 345 Member
    Body Revolution - Jillian Michaels...30 minutes. Thats it and its a GREAT workout. I do it right before bed and then I sleep great :)
  • jamers3111
    jamers3111 Posts: 495 Member
    I prefer working out before my brain registers what I'm doing! haha I get up at 5am and either go for a run, hop on the elliptical, or do P90X. I also do my P90X strength videos at night since there isn't as much cardio.
  • RachelLovitt
    RachelLovitt Posts: 35 Member
    I am too tired at night and can't work out after dinner, so I work out early morning at home with DVDs.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    Wake up 30 minutes earlier.

    30 Day Shred takes less than a half an hour.
  • sunny_smile5
    sunny_smile5 Posts: 91 Member
    Also being a mother who works full-time with no time to hit the gym, I can understand your situation. Home workout videos -- such as 30 Day Shred -- have been the best for me. I usually just do my workout (only 30 minutes each day) whenever my daughter falls asleep. Also, I just try to walk as much as I can..every opportunity I get, I walk. For example, during my lunch break at work, I take walks. Also, I just try to park further away from the entrance whenever I go shopping or just out about. Not only that, I watch what I eat and also eat 6 small meals and snacks per day instead of 3 big meals. Every little thing you do counts!
  • heddylyn
    heddylyn Posts: 173 Member
    I have two kids and I get up at 4:30am to go to a 5am boot camp. I'm usually back home before anyone at my house is awake. It never gets any easier to get out of bed that early but I never regret going. Dragging myself out of bed is the hardest part of my work-out!
  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    early am, late pm. either or
  • confettibetti
    confettibetti Posts: 405 Member
    Home DVDS. Or walk/run with the kids in a double stroller.

    This is a good idea!!! :)
  • confettibetti
    confettibetti Posts: 405 Member
    Walk on your lunch hour and eat at your desk later?
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    When I was going to the gym, I'd get up and go about 2 hours before I knew my husband and kids would wake up. Now, we live to far from the city to go to the gym, so I fit in exercise whenever my husband can watch our kids. I'll go for a mountain bike ride in the late afternoon, I'll do Brazil Butt Lift while my youngest two are napping.

    For you, I think the best thing would be to get some dvds so that you can work out at home. Get up before your kids and do it in the morning. That way, you'll get it done for sure, and you'll have more energy for the day.
  • debussyschild
    debussyschild Posts: 804 Member
    Late night workouts might be the solution, especially after you've put the baby to bed. Try them out and see how your body reacts sleep wise. Usually, workouts right before bed will make it harder for you to sleep, but that's not the case for everyone or every time. I love working out late!
  • dmpizza
    dmpizza Posts: 3,321 Member
    My wife wakes up early, works out, then goes back to bed.
    The New York Sports Club near me has inexpensive babysitting right there in view of the gym.
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    10 minutes at a time.
  • NikkiSixGuns
    NikkiSixGuns Posts: 630 Member
    I get up super early to work out before leaving for work. I know that if I don't do it then, it's probably not gonna happen.

    When the weather is cooler I go run or bike. Now that it's super hot I've been doing the Jillian Michaels 30-day shred video. The workouts are pretty intense and only take about 30 minutes (including a few extra stretches afterward) so I can knock them out without depriving myself of too much sleep.

    Good luck, and applause to you for all that you're taking on! Whew! Makes me tired just thinking about it...
  • SFbarmaid
    SFbarmaid Posts: 117 Member
    There s a saying-If you want something bad enough you will find the time. A 24 Hour gym is your best bet

    true. I drag both of my kids to the gym with me EVERYDAY. I go to 24 hour fitness. I work nights. This 2 hours that they spend in the gym daycare is pretty much the only "me time" I get these days.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member

    Is it ok to wait until 10:00 at night to try to workout or is that too hard on your ability to fall asleep after you're done?

    I work out at 10:00 sometimes. Almost nothing affects my ability to fall asleep though so I have no problems there.
  • Eafears
    Eafears Posts: 135 Member
    There is a book called Sass your self slim by Cynthia Sass. She says that people use the "busy" excuse all the time when they don't want to do something or truly believe they don't have time. She recommends taking one day to log all of your activities in 15 min incriments. That means everything. At the end of the day you should be able to see the where and the how of fitting exercise into your life. But the main point is you have to want it and commit to it. I used to do leg lifts while I brushed my teeth and squats while I blew dry my hair, its easy to look at your activities and see how you can adjust them to fit in exercise.
  • cmeade20
    cmeade20 Posts: 1,238 Member
    I would workout at home, either at night or get up earlier. Theres tons of free really good workouts available online. PM if you want links to them.
  • karenmi
    karenmi Posts: 242 Member
    I'm always interested reading posts from women who are much younger than I am who are trying to juggle so many things at once; maybe it's just us old bags that have been there, done that and learned the hard way that you can't have it all.

    Perhaps this is not the right time in your life to try to do this "hard core"? Maybe, as some others have suggested, you need to incoporate activities that you can do with the kids, or while you're studying, or during your lunch hour, etc. If you are trying to do too many things at once something's going to suffer, and it would be sad if that's time with your kids, since they are little for such a short time.

    Life's too short not to have any fun!
  • klbaierwalter
    klbaierwalter Posts: 308 Member
    I work full time, and I've been studying for entrance into my master's program. I belong to a 24 hour gym and I LOVE IT!! There are some days when I don't get off work until 6pm or later, and I'm in at 7:25, so I can squeak a workout in there after work on my way home, or early in the morning before I need to be at work.

    Kudos to you for all you do! :-) Good luck! I'm sure I'll be asking your advice when I'm working on my master's have kids and am working full time!
  • MSeel1984
    MSeel1984 Posts: 2,297 Member
    I work a full time job and had a hard time getting a workout in after work (gotta pack lunches for me and the hubbs, make dinner, take care of the dog, etc), so I started going before work. Get up a little before 5, work out for an hour, get cleaned up and go to work. Working well so far...I get a lot more done.
  • Lift_This_
    Lift_This_ Posts: 2,756 Member
    I copied and pasted this from a similar thread, my answer is still the same.

    I make the time. It comes down to how bad you want to. I worked 50 hours a week, aced my architecture classes, made it to most of my wrestling training classes and lost 50 lbs. I was in the gym at 5am and not home until after 11pm most days but I made it happen.

    That guy and his wife are super awesome!!!!
  • sandhillsmom
    sandhillsmom Posts: 319 Member
    As I head back to work next week I have thought about how I will get in workouts as well. I am doing 15 minute workouts now so I can work one it at home before work. My school has free weights and I can get in a workout there after work. I am walking 5 days a week now. and I hope I can squeeze in some gym time 3 times a week. I'm making them as dates with myself and putting them into my calendar!

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