No time to work out.. any tips?

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Replies

  • sarahisme18
    sarahisme18 Posts: 574 Member
    As someone who used to overeat (and still struggles with this every day), I think you could start with changing your eating habits and overcoming those feelings of other people seeing you eat. This is a great book that really helped me: http://www.amazon.com/Crave-Why-You-Binge-Stop/dp/B002VPE7NS/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1350428046&sr=8-13&keywords=how+to+stop+binge+eating

    Once you start eating better, I promise you will have more energy to work out! Even a quick walk around the campus between classes at school can help. I totally understand not wanting to sacrifice time with your son—my husband is a pilot and is only home 2-3 nights a week, but I still have to make my M-W Zumba class. I know that he isn't always going to be there, and so I need to make time for myself whether he is or not, and it makes us both happier when I'm doing something good for myself. I think you'll find the same is true with your son—even if he's coloring and you're doing a workout DVD in the living room. In fact, boys really appreciate that kind of proximal interaction even as much as face time :)

    The big thing is that you have to find out what works for YOU. And it is going to take some time, trying different things, making adjustments. There are so many different ways to arrange hours in the day, activities, get in a work out and a good diet. It doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all. It will take some time to figure out what your routine will be! It has taken me since January to get into a diet habit and a workout schedule that fits into my life and still lets me value everything else that is important to me.
  • maryjay52
    maryjay52 Posts: 557 Member
    sorry but theres always time to work out ..if you dont its because you tell yourself that you dont have time.. 20 minutes ..thats all you need for when you are really strapped for time..everyone has 20 minutes to give ..just do it in the house --walk up and down the stairs, run in place, run outside ,walk outside, get a cardio machine and put it in front of the tv , dance ..do something which is better than nothing
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    I may reccomend getting a dietary supplement. Not diet pills that replace meals, but a supplement.
    My sister uses Sensa, and it does okay for her. She is souvirely obese for her age, and she hates physical activity. If you dont have the time, you dont have the time. Maybe carry weights with you to walk with around campus? Looks kinda dorky though.

    That is the best I can offer. I am in school full time, but I don't have a kid or a job at the moment, so I have a lot of time.
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    Maybe intensify the time you have. instead of jogging with your son, do sprints. It elevates your heart rate faster, and if you sustain, you will burn the same calories in half the time.
  • EatClean_WashUrNuts
    EatClean_WashUrNuts Posts: 1,590 Member
    Putting this as honest and blunt as possible...Make time. You either want it or dont. Stop making the excuses that keep from taking action.
  • RachM
    RachM Posts: 113 Member
    When I was a student and working full time I would set aside 45 minutes at the gym a day. I would bring a textbook or notes to the gym, prop it up on the machine and run/walk/climb. It was what worked for me!
  • bizco
    bizco Posts: 1,949 Member
    I'm sorry you're feeling lousy. Others have provided good tips but I just wanted to stress the importance of getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep will affect everything in your life, including your appearance. You must find a way to manage your time so you get 6-8 hours of sleep every night.

    Read some books/articles on time management. I took a time management class once and it changed my life. Seriously.

    Hang in there hon.
  • sarahisme18
    sarahisme18 Posts: 574 Member
    I may reccomend getting a dietary supplement. Not diet pills that replace meals, but a supplement.
    My sister uses Sensa, and it does okay for her. She is souvirely obese for her age, and she hates physical activity. If you dont have the time, you dont have the time. Maybe carry weights with you to walk with around campus? Looks kinda dorky though.

    That is the best I can offer. I am in school full time, but I don't have a kid or a job at the moment, so I have a lot of time.

    1) Exercise is important, dietary supplement or not. You shouldn't just add diet pills or whatever and call it good....

    2) Please DO NOT carry weights while you walk around, especially do not swing them. You will tear up your joints that way!!!
  • magj0y
    magj0y Posts: 1,911 Member
    walk faster to class. just ten-20 minutes here and there of fast cardio will help you. sitting on a bench and do some leg lift or crunches.
    when you're in the kitchen cooking dinner, you can squeeze in 3 reps of 10 jumping jacks of push ups off the counter.

    then there is floor play with your kid.

    I'd suggest weigh bearing cardio since you can't make it to the gym.
    burpees, albeit evil, is a good one. make sure you get in some core work outs such as
    "mountain climber" exercise is good

    "superman static"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHb1b7cuVtk
    Just put it on mute and go to :37, hold for 10 seconds, do a quick set of 20 reps, hold for a count of ten, and do 3 sets of this.

    Youtube has a bunch of short work outs you can view to try and get some variety in there.

    Good luck! As a mom, I completely agree, if you get too sleep deprived, it just won't work.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    It sounds like you're pretty overwhelmed with your life right now. Not to sound insensitive, but, finding time to exercise is usually more about making it enough of a priority. We find time to do the things that really matter to us. Look, in order to fully be there for your son and whoever else needs you, you HAVE to take care of yourself. No one is going to do that for you. Be creative. Is there someone who can take your son for an hour a couple times a week so you can exercise? Can you get out and walk? You know the ins and outs of your life better than anyone, so take some time to think about when and where you can carve 20 mins out for yourself, or start with 10-15 if you have to. Something is better than nothing. Really. Blessing to you!
  • meghan6867
    meghan6867 Posts: 388 Member
    It sounds brutal, but it really isn't meant to be : Make a habit of making time no matter how difficult it is. Your health is one of the most important things that you have control over. Take control, girl! You can do this!

    137782069820940460_VkaoMXMM_b.jpg

    Get out there and sweat! :wink:
  • oddyogi
    oddyogi Posts: 1,816 Member
    I haven't read through the responses to see if anyone else has suggested this or not, but bodyrock.tv has a bunch of 12 minute workouts that will kick your *kitten* hard, and so does Zuzanna Light at www.youtube.com/ZuzkaLight

    Zuzanna's workouts range anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes. They're really hard too. Good luck.
  • Heather_Rider
    Heather_Rider Posts: 1,159 Member
    standing crunches in the shower.

    stand on your toes while washing dishes.

    lunges while cooking.

    march while reading or studying.

    if you have stairs, dont carry all of your laundry up at once, and RUN up them.

    Finding time to work out is easy.. finding excuses as to why you dont work out is easier...

    It's your choice to make.
  • zenchild
    zenchild Posts: 680 Member
    A couple years ago I worked full time, went to school full time, and my mother-in-law had just died so we were at my father-in-law's house after work Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and all day Sunday to help him learn to care for himself. We also have two dogs and our own house to deal with. I got a recumbent bike and pedaled while I read for class. I would take the dogs for a quick walk around the neighborhood when I needed a break. I learned to combine activities.

    Now our schedule is a bit calmer. We both work full-time but we're also starting a business so weekends and evenings are spend photographing, editing and business planning. Time is precious. Every other Sunday we cook a bunch of meals (soups, chili, roasts) so we have food for the week. I pack all my meals and snacks before bed. Right now I have turkey chili in the fridge for lunch, greek yogurt for breakfast and multigrain crackers and homemade cookies for snacks. When the weather is nice I take a walk during my lunch break. I've given up TV to exercise. After dinner I clean up, pack my lunch and prep my coffee and then workout. Then I check my email and take a shower. I set my clothes out for the next day so all I have to do it put them on. By the time I'm ready for bed I'm completely ready for the next day as well. It saves a lot of time that would be spent scrambling. If I didn't despise mornings it would save me enough time to get up a little earlier and fit in a good workout.

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