Workouts and Having a Life...

I used to exercise at night after work (I mean late at night, at like 11 pm!) and I got tired of that quickly. I'd exercise one month at a time and quit for several months, then it was really hard to start back up again. And now I have an 18 month old who only takes one nap per day, so I have to exercise when he naps, there's really no other time I can. So I'm exercising at 11 am or noon. It sucks getting up early, but if you do and get your workout out of the way in the mornings, you feel better throughout the day and you don't have to worry about it after work. Sorry, that probably didn't help, but that's my opinion. :laugh:

I do evenings at home now, but in the past I also really liked knocking it out right after work at a gym located 5 mins walk from my place of employment. I'd work out, shower & be out for dinner/what have you in 70 minutes (got to be very efficient at showering, but had short hair at the time). Helped to rent a locker, and keep things there.

I'm not a morning person, I'd love to be but I'm kind of a snarling wildebeast if I get up before 8:30, but I find myself running out of time to workout at night. How does everyone fit this in? What kind of scheduling ninja have you become to make time for exercise?

If you're "not a morning person" - what kind of work schedule, responsibilities and/or activities are you trying to balance that have you running out of time @ night?

I'm up to go to the gym bet. 5:00-5:30 most mornings because after that I have to work a full time job (with an hour commute each way), and after work, I have to pick up my kids, walk the dog, feed them all, clean up the kitchen, get the kids baths when needed, and get them into bed by 8:30-ish. Then I go back to work to opening mail, paying bills, and doing laundry as needed. I'm asleep by 10:00 most nights to start all over again the next day. But that's the only time that works for me, especially b/c my husband likes to get to the gym around 9 pm after the kids are in bed.

Until you can fit a larger block of time to workout, why not add up little chunks of exercise throughout the day? Take the stairs, stand more often, park farther away from all doors, take a quick walk around your work area inside/outside. It's not ideal but it adds up to a bit of a deficit. Every little bit counts! Like everything else, we make time for what's important to us.

I have a full time job and twin 4 yr olds at home. My husband works nights 6pm - 6am. My gym doesn't open till 9 am. Originally I was up at 6 and out the door by 715 to take the girls to daycare and be at work by 8. Got off at 5, picked up the girls, got to the gym by 6 or 630, worked out till 730, got home by 8, fed everyone, baths and bed. Hated it. It wasn't fair to the girls because they had been in daycare all day then got stuck in another childcare at the gym and had no time with me. So now, I am up at 430 am while everyone is still in bed. I do my workout then get ready for work. This leave me time after work to spend with the kids, clean my house, grocery shop or just whatever. It's hard to get used to but I find it works best for me.

Oh and being a crazy person in the morning because you have to get up is all in your head. I don't mean to sound mean but you only act the way you allow yoursef to act. Plus at 430 am you don't have to deal with anyone and have that time to wake up and put on your happy pants.

If it's really important, then you will FIND the time to workout.

during summer I was working out before work and sometimes after. well now with my kiddos back in school, by the end of the night after work I have been too tired and before work to tired to get up. :yawn:

can't win for loosing but I have been taking a longer walk on the weekends and trying to exercise for more than 30min when I do get it in and focus more on my eating habits. :happy:
I' m a work in progress.
I was just asking my pals something similar. thanks for the tips.

The wife and I are lifting at lunch for about 45min X 4 per week, then running 3 - 4 after work. Teamwork is the key and find someone to go with. Hope this helps.

I'm sure some people will jump on me for this, but... you don't HAVE to work out every day. I work a 4/10 schedule. I'm up on work days at 4:45am. I get home at 6pm. I eat and I go to bed by 8pm. On my 3 days off, I usually go walking at the lake (for 90 minutes a pop) and do some yoga. You don't have to bust your butt at the gym to lose weight. But exercise definitely makes you healthier in the long run.

(nb: NOT directed at ANY ONE personally- just observations from my own life):

When it comes to exercise- regardless of time:
You can throw up all sorts of rational, reasonable roadblocks as to why you can't, why it's inconvenient, why it's (fill in adjective)- and you will be RIGHT.
You won't get fit, you won't be healthy, but you will be RIGHT.
No harm no foul- we have likely all done so at one point or another.

You have to wrap your brain around the idea that fitness/mindful eating are something worthwhile, that they're worth doing, and that they're worth the discomfort and inconvenience.
If you can't or won't - don't waste your time-really.
You're not ready.

Wait for:
-the heart attack (yours, or a family member)
-the sudden death of a family member (hey, they didn't like exercise either, so it's ok! Dead, but ok!)
- the announcement by your doctor that you're (type II) pre-diabetic /diabetic
(Hey- my blood sugar meter comes in pretty colors!- NEATO! - and diabetes is SO socially acceptable!- why, we ALL know SOMEONE with it, so it must be OK!
Never mind that diabetes = internal systemic RUNAWAY CORROSION & RUSTING of ALL body systems, and will likely be a critical factor in your death- sooner or later. Sure, you may be able to reverse it (if you drop everything, take it seriously, and reverse it EARLY on), but you likely won't. )
- the realization that you lost that opportunity for your dream job (you interviewed just great and that size (high double digit number) suit fit you perfectly! G-d BLESS LANE BRYANT!) because:
They looked at you and realized that you (ALL of fabulous, pulchritudinous, perfect-for-that-job you) were going to be a huge liability on the group health insurance plan (OH YES- THIS DOES HAPPEN).

For me-
- I have found that it's more stressful to think about avoiding exercise than to just hold my nose and get it done.
- I actually don't hold my nose' as much at the concept of exercise, once I actually do it.

- I found it helpful to work in small micro-workouts during the day.
-Those micro workouts inform me- I realize that I DO have time to do some useful workout, even in small bits of time, and that it wouldn't be so bad to string a few of those micro-workouts together. I'm often doing longer workouts, or more frequent workouts, as a result.
- Most importantly- I quit making exercise such an 'event'.

You don't have to dress like Lance Armstrong every time you jump on a bike, & you don't have to put on tshirt/shorts/wicking socks/proper footgear every time you pick up a dumbbell. I found that I was spending so much time organizing, researching, packing, etc. my gear that I wasn't actually USING it! ha!

I found that I DID have time to work exercise into my day, but didn't necessarily have time to find/put on the correct shoes, sweat-wicking socks, performance T , sports bra, and sweat wicking shorts on/changed, properly warm up, properly cool down, stretch, meditate, hold 5 yoga poses, visualize my new self, etc....on and on.....

I learned that, because I wasn't 'killing' every workout that- gasp! I could get some useful workouts in, even if they didn't pass the 'target heart rate/talk without gasping' threshold.

For instance-
I have 15 # dumbbells near where I sit when I watch TV.
I pick them up during commercial breaks (Not every break, but at least 1-2) , and do 10 reps.
No, I don't warm up per se, cool down, but am mindful, slow, careful and correct in my movement.
Is it as good as a dedicated 20 minute weight-training session at the gym?
Arguably YES- because a '20 minute session' can instead be:
-10-20 minutes in traffic, one way
-5 minutes to dress/pack/lock locker
-5 minute warmup
-20 minute workout
-5-10 minutes waiting during workout to get on equipment /futzing with hand sanitizer (MRSA, anyone), resetting digital readouts, getting headphones/audio player adjusted, etc.
- 5 minute cooldown
-5 minute wait for the 'good' showers (not the ones with the cheap plastic dogwashing hand-held shower)
-5-10 minutes to dress (longer because you are damp from the shower)
-10-20 minutes in traffic to go home.
I don't always have 70- 100 minutes for a 'socially acceptable' workout- but I DO have time to whip off a few careful, considered, focused reps in my living room.
Most importantly - I'm more likely to DO the reps in my living room.
Exercise DONE (carefully!) is better than exercise PLANNED.

Another example-
I have an old Tony Little Gazelle (without a data center) that I picked up from freecycle.
It's set up at the top of my backyard (& it's getting rained on right now- I spray WD40 on all of the junctions at the top of spring & autumn).
I jump on it whenever the dogs go outside into our fenced backyard.
(I have an escapist beagle that WILL get out in less than three minutes, so I have to go out with her every time- no 'looking out the window', checking occasionally, as she can climb fence faster than the Marines! ha!)
I may be in a dress, in sandals, dress slacks (ok- never stillettos! ha!), but I just jump on it and have at it for 5-10 minutes. NO, it's not an uuber aerobic workout, it's not concussive, it's not a lot of things- but it beats sitting around, and it's not hurting.
I have also found that listening to a podcast /streaming online radio, etc. can make the time FLY by - and the dogs get to commune with nature, too!
Pretty sweet to look at your chronometer and realize that you've just knocked out 40-60 minutes on the ol' Gazelle, rather than sitting inside, checking on Facebook, reading email, etc. (all of which can be done simultaneously on a smartphone while on the Gazelle, anyway).
Nope- I don't always have time to do that- but when I do, it's still useful exercise.
Maybe not AS useful as it COULD be, but again- exercise (carefully) done is better than exercise planned.

Another example-
Bedrooms on floor 2, washer /dryer in basement- three flights of steps one way.
2-4 loads of laundry every day (our 92 year old Dad lives with us), and bed needs to be made daily.
No, it's not a stairmaster- but those who watch me work don't doubt that I'm moving!
Kick up the intensity (RUN!) and you've just (effectively) done interval training.

I could go on about how to kick a water aerobic workout into gear (it's not just for ladies who want dry hair/jewelry!) by using big dumbbells, ankle cuffs (weighted or not) and intervals (placid on the water's surface, churning like a butter-maker below the waves!), but you get the idea!

But the hardest workout is the decision to finally take it all seriously- without rationalization- and actually just DO it.

I have a full time job and twin 4 yr olds at home. My husband works nights 6pm - 6am. My gym doesn't open till 9 am. Originally I was up at 6 and out the door by 715 to take the girls to daycare and be at work by 8. Got off at 5, picked up the girls, got to the gym by 6 or 630, worked out till 730, got home by 8, fed everyone, baths and bed. Hated it. It wasn't fair to the girls because they had been in daycare all day then got stuck in another childcare at the gym and had no time with me. So now, I am up at 430 am while everyone is still in bed. I do my workout then get ready for work. This leave me time after work to spend with the kids, clean my house, grocery shop or just whatever. It's hard to get used to but I find it works best for me.

Oh and being a crazy person in the morning because you have to get up is all in your head. I don't mean to sound mean but you only act the way you allow yoursef to act. Plus at 430 am you don't have to deal with anyone and have that time to wake up and put on your happy pants.

I would have to agree. I get about 3:30am to get to my gym by 4am and I honestly feel better if I get up and work out than if I sleep until 6.

its more mental than anything. once youre in the gym and warmup and stretch etc, your soreness and worries and whatever are usually gone. getting up and getting there is the hard part.

you either want it or you dont

Are you working 16hrs a day? No? Then you have time for your fitness program. It's all a matter of priorities - if you really want to do something you'll find a way.

I used to work for a company that allowed me to flex my schedule. It started with me changing my hours to start at 7:30 am-somehow getting up early for work is easier than if I have to do it to get to the gym- maybe the paycheck thing. PLUS I don't like that I have to shower and change and fit that in before work (is the beast in me). I'd eat at my desk for lunch so I could get out by 4:30, then workout right after. Later they let me work one day at home. Now, I don't have the flexibility but still make it work.

Another trick is I sometimes make meals on the weekend so I just have to re-heat it during the week (or at least cook some of the meat/ make a red sauce, whatever helps). If you make enough you can eat leftovers for lunch the next day. I also pack my gym bag with 5 sets of work out clothes so I don't have to deal with it before I leave the house in the AM.

Good luck!

Okay, you describe me completely. I have to get up by 7, but I am too exhausted to exercise. My schedule is as follows:

7- up, brisk clean up on the house, kids out of bed
8- read bible, get kids working on school
9-6 - schooling kids, cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc....
6-7 - cleaning up dinner, giving kids baths, and last minute pick ups
7-10 - put kids in bed, exercise, shower, put myself to bed

I'm tired!!!!!!!!!!!!!