After work and kids, find it hard to exercise daily

I go to the gym first thing in the morning! It was really hard to get used to initially (and there's still days it's very hard!) but it's the only time I can get it done. Once you're in the routine it becomes a really nice little getaway, and it makes for a better morning when I come home and get the kidlets up having had a bit of 'me' time.

It's hard getting started isn't it? What worked for me was finding something I liked and could do. Not all exercise has to be in a gym. If you have pain maybe ask a physio or your dr what would be good to do. I have to admit my physio set me up beautifully for success when I first started getting back to moving more often. Something like swimming is great cardio but easy on the joints. Walking instead of running or a stationary bike can be easier too. It can also really help to have someone buddy up with you. It not only gets you motivated but its far more fun.

I really look forward to my time now. I think I shifted from the mindset that it's work and hard, to it's ME time and that really helped too.

I have to agree early mornings work for me as well. I do Zumba DVD's or on the Wii. Sometimes I'll just stream something from Netflix. Even if it's 30 min. The hardest part honestly is just waking up. Once you are up and dressed there's no going back. Something that has worked for me is having my workout clothes ready to go. If I'm unprepared I'll slack. GL!

I've been finding it hard to exercise daily, just want to veg in front of the tv. At work I'm constantly on my feet and just hurt too much after work to do anymore physical activity. On the weekends it's harder I think. I did get some downhill exercise saturday when I went to my daughters cross country meet. I need to exercise more because of the arthritis in my knee, but if I do too much I'm in pain at night and can't sleep, what do I do to balance out my day?

When you go to make this change, it is normal to run into "hindrances."
You just have to start making improvements, and removing those things that hinder you!
Everybody experiences that.
Just make improvements habits of eating, exercising, daily patterns, and sleep.
You won't be able to change everything at once, but one improvement leads to another, and can be quite compounding!
Don't make the scale your only measure of progress, as many people do, but rather focus on all aspects of improving fitness.
Week by week you will get better and healthier.

I have school for eight hours a day, then about six or so hours of homework and studying afterwards. If I absolutely cannot fit in some exercise, I at least try to go for a walk, even just down the street and back. This seems to keep me mentally in the weight loss mode even if I honestly don't have time for working out. Also, my exercise is a run or bike around the neighborhood- I don't go to the gym. You might find it helpful if your "gym" was literally right outside your front doot.

I go to the gym first thing in the morning! It was really hard to get used to initially (and there's still days it's very hard!) but it's the only time I can get it done. Once you're in the routine it becomes a really nice little getaway, and it makes for a better morning when I come home and get the kidlets up having had a bit of 'me' time.

Yes!
And getting to bed on time is key:)

Swim, little fishy, swim. At least until you're in better condition and other forms of exercise aren't so painfuL!

Same here, so I avoid working out in the afterrnoon. I set my alarm at 4a.m. everyday (my babies are asleep at this time) and then once I'm done working out I take a shower and take a little nap (if possible) then head to work. In the afternoo all I do is dinner an relax:) Hope this helps:)

I do Range Of Motion exercises while prone on the couch watching "tv" (I don't actually watch tv, i use netflix/amazon/hulu) These are movements I learned taking care of the elderly, most of them are used by PT's for strengthening muscles after some sort of injury. I always feel better afterward.


They may not contribute to weight loss, but they *are* good for joints and muscles. These sort of movements should never cause pain and should not be pushed beyond the point of pain.

I also want to veg in front of the TV in the evenings. Especially when it is wintery and dark. That is why I go first thing in the morning. It means that I make my lunch for work the night before, sometimes even dinner for the evening is made the night before, then at 5.20am I am up and I am out the door at 5.30am for a run. If it is raining, I do a workout indoors. This morning though I had logged my food that I had planned for the whole day and found I was going to be 120 calories over - so I went for a quick run and now I have 150 spare for an evening treat :-)

Alot of it comes down to advanced planning.

lunch time workouts

Get up early and workout.

If you have to, break it up into small segments, like taking several 10 minute walks each day. It all counts. Doing something is always better than doing nothing.

Great tip!

I do one of two things: 1) get up early and get my workout in or 2) the moment I get home, I put on my workout gear and workout.

I find if I try to sit after work I will not get motivated to exercise. So I get my workout gear on - go run and then come back and start dinner. While dinner is cooking I do my strength training.

Yes it is hard, but if I can do it you can do it. Hubby works out of town 3-4 days a week so I have to single parent those days/nights w/ two kids (8 & 4) and i work full time and I got to school. I still get in at least an hour a day!

You have to be committed and yoiu have to want it. You CAN do it!!!

For me, my girls dayhome is almost exactly 1 mile from my house, so we walk at a fairly fast pace there. Days I work a closing shift, I then walk home, workout, shower, get ready, and head to work. From the bus to work to another 1/2 mile. On my feet all day at work, then a 1/2 mile walk back to the bus. So in a typical day, I'm walking 2-3 miles, at a good pace, plus trying to get a good strength workout in several times a week. Would I rather spend more time with my girls, yes, without a doubt. But working out makes the time I do spend with them better -I can run and play, and only stop when they are tired, not because I'm tired.