How do you squeeze in time to exercise?

Linda_Darlene

If it is important to you, you will find a way.

Most days, I get up a little earlier each morning. Sometimes I stay up a little later each night. If I have 10 minutes, I can go for a short walk or pick up a pair of dumbells or do some stretching.

beckyincharge

In order to get a moderate to intense cardio/anerobic work-out, you have to find a slot of time in your day, AM or PM. That sucks, but it's true...

However! If you look at every movement or activity as an opportunity to burn calories, they all add up... when doing household chores, pick up the pace! Try cleaning your whole house in half the time, and you'll find yourself sweating and using up your calories... if you're sitting on the couch, finally have some time to yourself (kids and school or asleep) sit all the way back, lift your legs up, and do some sit-ups or leg lifts. You'll be surprised the effort that takes, while just watching TV! If you're at work (office, food service, wherever) find 2 minutes or 5 minutes to do some squats or jumping jacks, or again, leg lifts. It all adds up! If you keep it on your brain, you'll find ways to do it! Good luck, I can sympathize entirely...!

zojo78

My alarm goes off at 4:30am

Wow, that's commitment!! ;-)

fit4lifeUcan2

Baby steps. Start with a 10 minute walk at lunch. Or take the stairs instead of an elevator. Work your way into a defined workout. Somewhere in your day you CAN give 10-45mins to exercise....if you want to.

I'm a full time college student so on campus instead of taking the elevator like the rest of my classmates I use the stairs. I park at the end of the parking lot (last open spot) instead of a closer spot so that I have to walk a little bit farther. I have disabilities but I still push myself to go farther every chance I get.

kmsairam

I used to say this too (up to about 2 months ago). It's hard if you're a working mom, taking care of a family (including husband). I even have the luxury of working from home most days and still was saying "I don't have time to work out." But once I got in serious healthy/I'm-going-to-do-this mode, I found plenty of time. A couple days/week I go to the gym at 6:30 (5:45 today for spinning). When I get home, everyone is just waking up. Other days, I will take the kids to the track at the nearby school and walk. And some days I take a "long lunch" and head to the gym. I imagine it's harder if you are a single parent (the AM thing wouldn't work unless you worked out at home very quietly) or a working parent with a big commute. It's definitely hard to balance the quality family time with the much needed YOU time. But you can find ways. Even if it's just 30 minutes.

TONYAGOOCH

I totally needed to read this thread. Thank you for posting. I was doing so well with working out after work but like someone said I too was not getting dinner on the table til about 8 pm or we were eating out. ALOT. So I am about to cancel my gym membership. I have other things I can do at home and just ordered the Brazilian Buttlift. I will start getting up earlier to do my workouts as well. AT the present time, my alarm goes off at 530 am and I am up by 6. Get myself ready for work, get my twin 4 yr olds up and ready then we are out the door by 715. Off to daycare then work til 5. Pick them up at 530 (I work out side of town), get home and start dinner by 6. Eat and clean up from dinner and other household chores, baths and bed. I still don't make it to sleep till about 10-11. So my new goal is to set my alarm for 5 and get up no later than 530 and work on my diet. That too has been a fail as of late and I feel like total crap!

Sariebon

I go to the gym on my way home from work. I jump off the train one stop early and do an hour or two of classes and then jump back on the train to head home.
I do this 3 days during the week and then spend a few hours at the gym on Saturday morning.

npeeks22

Whoo....your weight loss is reflecting that hard work!

jjshulou

I asked this exact question when I first signed up. I am a mother of a 6, 2, and 1 year old and I work a full-time job, so I know what it's like to be tapped out. I am slowly finding time for me. I wake up a little earlier each morning and get in as much exercise as possible. Sometimes it's only 10 minutes before the baby gets up, but every little bit counts. I don't get a lunch break at work, so I try to do something with the kids after dinner. I found great kid friendly exercises on demand. Or I take them outside more, walk to the playground, pull them in the wagon etc. Getting up earlier sounded impossible to me, but I actually feel more energized throughout the day. Feel free to add me if you want. Good Luck!

wickedboots

I am so impressed with MFP and it's members. You all are so insightful, share and give good advice. I found inspiration and solutions in each of your posts. Thank you.

I am working out my schedule for next week to workout on my lunch hour twice next week.

bcf7683

My alarm goes off at 4:30am

Same.

karobicheau

I have a 3 year old a 16 month old and I work full time. I understand how hard it is to squeeze it all in. In January I started waking up at 4:30am so I could get my gym workouts in before everyone else woke up. It was hard at first, but now it's just become part of my day, and I actually feel less tired when I wake up and workout!

jturnerx

If it's a priority you figure it out even if it means waking up at o'dark-thirty to get your training time in. I work, I go to grad school, I train for ultras and I have something that resembles a social life.

choochoomummy

I cycle to and from work every day. I'm fitting in 30 day shred a few days a week as well. I'm thinking of starting ripped in 30. I get up pretty early (for me) already but I finish work at 4.30 so I can still cycle home and fit in another 30 mins. My lovely hubbie is carting the kids around and doing most of the cooking so it meanst that it frees up some time for me.

mccbabe1

i get my butt up earlier now and walk my dog before work! i also walk on my lunch break... and I walk or hit the gym after work!!.. i burn a min of 350 cals a day and normally range btwn 500-800 a day! (i use an hrm so i know for sure)
gotta make time!!! keeps me sane.... does both body and mind good!! :drinker:

redraidergirl2009

I schedule it as something that needs to get done for the day, not as something "if I have time for" and that has helped.

k8blujay2

I make time... I often give up my lunch break to exercise... If you desire it you will find time to get it done.

myfitnessnmhoy

I can't figure out how to carve out enough time to really exercise. How do you all do it?

BTW, not much I can give up at the moment to accommodate for exercise. I am tapped out.

I requested a sit/stand workstation at work. On the days (like the last couple of weeks) where my schedule simply cannot accommodate a nice lunchtime workout or my bicycle commute to work, I shove my seat back against the wall and stand most of the day.

I can type quite successfully while holding a squat position or walking in place.

While reading something, I'll take my water bottle, close it, and curl it. Yeah, it's only a couple of pounds and is almost useless as exercise. But it's something.

Yeah, I get occasional odd looks from the people around me.

But two of them have requested sit/stand workstations themselves.

The key is to be creative. Instead of walking normally from your car to the office door, march with your feet going all the way up to knee level. Goose-step. Side-step. Ballroom dance. Walk backward.

Clench your arms and butt while sitting there. If you have to get up to go to the restroom, do 10 squats before sitting back down at your desk.

There's always time to fit in something. And everything counts, even the little stuff.

BigRedgw2010

You make time, just like you plan everything else in your life. For me, getting up at 430 am everyday is best time for me to knock it out and enjoy the rest of the day with my family.

secretlobster

I make it a priority in my life, sometimes sacrificing things I'd rather do.

klmason1

Early morning workouts. I'm up at 520am. Done with Jillian at 6. Place your workout clothes on the dresser so you can hit the floor running. In college we use to sleep in our running clothes, so all we had to do was get out of bed and put shoes on... LOL.. ahhh those were the days...

HypersonicFitNess

Squeeze it in when you can:

If you can't get up too much earlier, get up just a little earlier (enough to walk on the treadmill or outside for 10-15 minutes)

Take a 10-15 minute walk at lunch

Dance for 10-15 minutes before making dinner (or take a walk before or after dinner)

Where there is a WILL there is a WAY...I guarantee ya....

I was working 15 hour days with a 3 hour (round trip, sometimes 4) commute and I still found time to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in EVERY DAY!!! You can do it too....it has to be a PRIIORITY!!! and you HAVE TO WANT TO DO IT!!

Linda_Darlene

I squeeze one out when I get home from work

dying

LMHO! :laugh:

SAMSON25

Reprioritize, then worry about how to squeeze in everything else.

cmpollard01

I started out walking at lunchtime at work...when I figured out that I was walking 2 miles in just under 30 minutes and I'd have to run/jog parts of it and get ridiculously sweaty, I decided it was time to go back to the gym. My alarm goes off at 4am. I have some exercises I do at home, but I'm usually to the gym by 5. Granted, I'm in bed by 10 at the latest every night, but it's what I had to do, and I'm so glad I did! It's not always easy, but with hard work comes great rewards!

HypersonicFitNess

Early morning workouts. I'm up at 520am. Done with Jillian at 6. Place your workout clothes on the dresser so you can hit the floor running. In college we use to sleep in our running clothes, so all we had to do was get out of bed and put shoes on... LOL.. ahhh those were the days...

I did this too....slept in my workout clothes; so all I had to do it put on my clothes (oh and I packed my breakfast, lunch and snacks for work every night and dinner too if it was possible I'd be working late)

heroyalslimness

If you can try to get a workout buddy! Even someone on here. They do not have to physically be with you at the gym. How about someone you can call or vice versa at maybe 15 minutes before you HAVE to get up.

So---you call at 5am. Hi --ready to workout? Your buddy says Absolutely! And you both commit your to a ten minute work-out and call each other after you've completed it.
"Hey! How'd it go?" Great---talk to you tomorrow!

I used to do that--It made a HUGE difference. Pm me if you want video clips-URLS of 10 minutes workouts---

Just start with ten minutes----then each week---add five more minutes
Go on---eat the elephant! a tiny bite at a time.

Hope that was helpful--you CAN do it!

dbparra

Congrats on meeting your first goal!!

cgarand

If you can't set aside a big block of time to workout then try doing 2 or 3 mini workouts. I have a big living room so I have room for the treadmill, elliptical etc. I can hop on during a show I want to watch or while dinner is cooking. Sometimes I will just do lunges on my way from one room to the other (better not to do this if company is over) I also have an aerobics bench and free weights that I leave out and will do a few minutes. But, I always get up around 0400 and that gives me time to do 30 minutes before work and still have coffee.

mamagooskie

If you want to do it, you'll figure out where you can make time. Wake up earlier, go to sleep later, work out during your lunch hour - everyone is busy, but you have to make the time for it.

exactly!!