Busy Schedule - Suggestions?

diazalex073
diazalex073 Posts: 2
in Introduce Yourself
Hi everyone!

My biggest issue with keeping up with MFP and being healthy in general is a busy schedule. I'm a full-time student, work 2 jobs, am really involved on campus, and try to maintain a social life with my boyfriend and friends.

I know being busy should never be an excuse for one's health, but it is! I find it so difficult to balance all of these things AND losing weight!!

Does anyone have some suggestions/encouragement for balancing everything and being successful at it all? I could really use some advice.

Also, please feel free to add me! I'm fairly new to this community and would love to give/receive support!

Kindly,
Alex

Replies

  • FindingTimeForMe
    FindingTimeForMe Posts: 29 Member
    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
  • LuckyFur
    LuckyFur Posts: 96
    give up a little sleep

    give up a little tv time

    go for a run with friends

    count sex as exercise

    butt sex is double points
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    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.
  • MoJokes
    MoJokes Posts: 691
    If you are so busy, i would say do not stress about keeping fit and healthy, as stress causes you not to lose weight.
    If socialising involves drinking, id cut down on alcohol and cut out fizzy drinks of any sort. Try stick to water, or real fruit juices if possible.
    If you take the car to places, maybe start walking?

    When your down on time, i suggest doing intense circuits which can be for 15 minutes-45 minutes. i have an app called Nike Training which is short and intense.
  • Jewels_in_the_rough
    Jewels_in_the_rough Posts: 39 Member
    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.
  • nucgirl13
    nucgirl13 Posts: 56 Member
    Try to plan your workouts. This helps to prevent me from getting to involved with anything if I know I have to go work out in an hour. I also found that logging my food ahead of time really helps to keep me on track. Keep your fridge and pantry full of healthy snack and meal ideas for all week. I usually cook all of my meals for work on Sunday and then I have all set and portioned out for the week. This way when I start running out of time and think ill just run by (insert fast food restaurant here), I think well I might as well just eat what I already made because its just as quick. FYI, I know how hard it is to do this being busy - I usually work 12.5 hours rotating shifts with an hour commute each way and it is hard to stay motivated but I just think about how great I'll look and feel when I've met my goals.
  • Nano1360
    Nano1360 Posts: 101 Member
    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!!!! :tongue: ) They just love to show you how you should work with weights!!!:wink:
    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!
  • JenRun1
    JenRun1 Posts: 212
    Get up an hour earlier, and make time. I have 2 kids, a husband, a full time job, and numerous volunteer projects,and I find time to work out 6 days a week. It's all about making it your priority.
  • angel79202
    angel79202 Posts: 1,012 Member
    try breaking up your workouts into smaller more frequent ones..2 15 minute ones during the day is still exercise!
    also..planning, planning, planning
  • NoMoreJellyRolls
    NoMoreJellyRolls Posts: 142
    I completely understand. I just graduated college in May. I was a full time student, mother of 2, working full time, and parttime. the way i managed, was getting up at 4am to hit the gym, talking my kids/friends on walks with me, and watching EVERYTHING i ate/drink. Since then Ive gone backwards due to stress and dealing with the death of my dad. I am trying to get things back on track
  • wswilliams67
    wswilliams67 Posts: 938 Member
    workout at 5 or 6 am
    log your food on your phone while you eat.
  • 7clarkes
    7clarkes Posts: 11 Member
    Hi Alex,

    I also am very busy. For me the only way to make healthy living a top priority is to give it the time a top priority deserves. (I really like the Big Rock analogy that was posted previously). If eating right and exercising is not a priority for you, it won't happen. I had to make time first thing in the morning (and I am not a morning person) for exercise, otherwise my schedule and the regular chaos of life makes it impossible. Getting up 1/2 hour earlier and getting it done(I do 30 minutes on an elliptical) makes the rest of my day so much better. I have more energy and more focus. I also do challenges on mfp. I'm doing a squat challenge now and I do the squats while I'm in the shower. It's great when I can get 2 things accomplished at the same time. I'm also doing a cardio challenge that only takes a couple of minutes to complete.

    If you do facebook, twitter, or just text, then you have time to fill in your food diary. It really takes very little time. Get some of your friends to join you on mfp so you can keep each other accountable. Committing to healthy living will make your busy schedule actually easier because you will have the energy to get through it.
  • kcaffee1
    kcaffee1 Posts: 759 Member
    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!
  • FezzesRCool
    FezzesRCool Posts: 36
    Trying to fit full workouts is difficult, but all the advice above is excellent. In addition, you can sneak in mini -workouts in daily life. Park your car further from your college and classes so you have to walk further. Take stairs instead of escalators or elevators. When you'reu on break during jobs, take a lap (or more if you have time) around the parking lot. If you're stuck in one spot during one or both of your jobs, try moving in place a bit. Fitting in little things here and there helps. :)
  • diazalex073
    diazalex073 Posts: 2
    So many great suggestions! Thank you!!! I think I really need to stop making excuses and just make it a priority like so many of you said! Thanks!

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