Busy Schedule - Suggestions?

It does sound like you are busy. Planning is the real key. Just like your school projects. When is it due; say a month from now. What do you need to do each week? What do you need to do this week? What do you need to do today? At my job we promote a day planner. You have heard of "big rocks." Well if you look at your important things as big rocks - they have to go on your calenadar first. The other things (while important) may not be as important and lesser priority. Hence they are little rocks. Imagine a bucket; if you put in all the little rocks first you will never fit in the big rocks.

People allow others to prioritize their schedule - through lack of control or guilt. Be in charge of your calendar and your day. If you are not a planner by nature - one of those free-lance people this will be difficult. If you don't control your calendar it controlls you and you will end up at the end of the week saying.......What happened????

Don't be afraid to tell friends your priorities and can they work around your schedule. Good Luck!! You can add me as a friend if you want. Take care and good luck and happy planning!!!! Therese

do you watch tv? if so replace it with exercise.

if you truly have zero free time right now eliminate some of the on campus activities you mention.

Try to find small change that you can make that are not very time consuming. Take stairs instead of the elevator. Swap out a snack of a 300 calorie granola bar for a banana with 100 or so calories. Replace juice with flavored water, cutting out a few calories. Walk to the restaurant to meet your friends instead of driving. Maybe these specifically don't apply to you, but make whatever changes that are relevant to your life. It may take longer than if you were able to put lots of time into preparing meals, and working out and such, but you should still be able to lose weight.

I am also a full time grad student so I know what you mean by the word busy!
My suggestions: try to convince your boyfriend or one of your best friends to be your partner in the gym! You should have access to your school's gym, right? (Especially if you start weight liffting you can easily persuade a guy to accompany you!!!! ) They just love to show you how you should work with weights!!!
I know it is hard to be picky when you are with others but try to suggest resturants that will accommodate with your diet!
I would also suggest that you start to calculate your walking in the campus area! I almost walk more than 30 min every day in the campus area!
And for the most part forgo the pizza in campus area!:bigsmile:
I don't drink alcohol but if you drink maybe you can limite it just a little bit!

I send the friend request!

try breaking up your workouts into smaller more frequent ones..2 15 minute ones during the day is still exercise!
also..planning, planning, planning

workout at 5 or 6 am
log your food on your phone while you eat.

It sounds silly, but if you have a TON of reading, or if you record your lectures to listen to later - take those with you to the gym. Then, when you are on the cardio machine of your choice - and comfortable enough about not tripping/falling - plop your book in front of you, and start reading while you exercise. (or plug in your head phones, and listen to the lecture while you're working). If you have a buddy - for the weights, if that's your daily goal - then, after you have your warm up, unplug, and get some quality time with them while picking up the heavy stuff and putting it back down.

Agree about walking around campus - it's not much for any one segment, but it adds up in a hurry! (Some days I only clock 30 mins of walking, others I can clock in over an hour just moving between the car/class/study areas!) Also, don't be afraid to park in a distant lot and walk/scuttle to classes.

Stairs are always an excellent exercise option vs the elevators for upper floor classes.

Talk to your gym, they may have a brochure for body weight, or easily found weight substitute exercises you can do in your dorm room/on the go.

Portion control is going to be important - feel free to socialize all you want, but watch your portion sizes! And try to remember that empty calories are horrible for you.

I can sympathize about being busy (full time under grad senior, heading into an allied health field with all of the attendant hoops to get through, 1 job, and classes that seem to be time hogs in the homework/reading department) - it isn't easy prying loose time for your health, but if you are determined to get fit and feel better, you will find a way!