Working out less?

lindsay1888
lindsay1888 Posts: 8 Member
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
So I've been dieting/exercising since the beginning of summer and have dropped about 15 lbs since then. The past few months I've been working out at least 5 days/week for 40min-1 hour+ each day.

However, I've recently started working a part-time internship in addition to my full-time job so I'm working at least 54 hours every week. Several days each week I have to leave for my internship at 7AM and don't get home from work until after 9PM (go straight from one job to the other). I work Sunday-Thursday and then my internship is on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, so my only real day off is on Saturdays. I've been trying to fit in workouts whenever I can but I'm always so tired from getting home from one job at 9 and having to be awake for my internship just 9 hours later.

Like this week so far I did 1.5 hours on the elliptical and doing weights on Saturday, an hour of cardio on Monday and that's it so far. I was going to work out tonight but when I finally got home from work I was just too exhausted and am about ready to pass out in bed asap. I'm going to try to do at least an hour of cardio/weights tomorrow before work but I feel like 3 days/week isn't enough working out since I was hitting it so hard at first.

So how much working out should I be doing? Is it still effective if I workout less as long as I'm still watching what I eat and staying under on my calories? Help!!

Replies

  • summerblunden
    summerblunden Posts: 184 Member
    Unfortunately, life gets in the way of our best intentions sometimes. Do what you can, don't beat yourself up over it. Any exercise is better than no exercise, and any exercise along with a good eating plan is obviously better than neither. You may not lose as rapidly, but you will continue to lose. Your activity with the extra work is definitely burning more cal than just the one job was, so you're still moving a lot (unless you're sitting at both jobs, all day.) How long do you have for lunch? Is it possible to go out for a walk during that time? I have an hour at my job, and I often squeeze in 30 on the treadmill during that time.

    Just do what you can, and make sure you're sticking to your calories!
  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
    food diary is more important actually. your diet is 75 percent of your program. not that working out is not also,but if your food is spot on, you will still lose consistently. make sure you track honestly and try to stay away from processed foods as the sodium will stall you and the fiber from fresh fruits and veggies will fill you up quicker. make sure you eat at least five times a day, i know, hard to do at work but bring a cooler and be prepared and you can do it. try to do the stairs on break or go for a ten minute walk 3x a day and there you go you have a half hr workout for the day. it doesnt have to be all at once. and if you can get up early 3x a wk for a half early then do a workout then as youare more likely to do it.
  • dbrace
    dbrace Posts: 12
    Just do what you can and push yourself when you are tired. I do feel that sleep is very important so try to get at least 7 hours a night. Do not give up, take the stairs, walk more if you can and power walk on your lunches (if possible). Every little bit helps just keep with the diet and then hit the exercise hard again when your internship is over. Your weight loss may slow a bit but DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED! You will make it through this. ANY exercise is better than no exercise and maintaining the healthy diet/lifestyle is key.
  • eveunderground
    eveunderground Posts: 236 Member
    Is it still effective if I workout less as long as I'm still watching what I eat and staying under on my calories?

    Yes.
  • nick1109
    nick1109 Posts: 174 Member
    food diary is more important actually. your diet is 75 percent of your program. not that working out is not also,but if your food is spot on, you will still lose consistently. make sure you track honestly and try to stay away from processed foods as the sodium will stall you and the fiber from fresh fruits and veggies will fill you up quicker. make sure you eat at least five times a day, i know, hard to do at work but bring a cooler and be prepared and you can do it. try to do the stairs on break or go for a ten minute walk 3x a day and there you go you have a half hr workout for the day. it doesnt have to be all at once. and if you can get up early 3x a wk for a half early then do a workout then as youare more likely to do it.

    I agree. Doing hours of cardio a day is not all that important. If you dont like it or don't have the time you can manage your weight with a strict diet alone.

    If you feel like you need to cardio and you're short of time try some HIIT (high intensity interval training). It shouldn't last more than 20 mins and will give you an increased after burn than steady state cardio. Add some resistance training to that and a spot on diet and you're onto a winner with little time spent in the gym.
  • lindsay1888
    lindsay1888 Posts: 8 Member
    Unfortunately both jobs are desk jobs so I'm sitting a majority of the day. I only have 30min for lunch so I usually don't have much time to do much more than maybe run an errand and then come back.

    I'm definitely still sticking to my calories and very rarely go over, I'm just worried that diet won't be enough. :(
  • gambitsgurl
    gambitsgurl Posts: 632 Member
    When I did weight watchers and lost the 105 pounds I did it without working out a bit. But... models are thin but not in shape and so was I so I'm trying to do both this time.
  • eveunderground
    eveunderground Posts: 236 Member
    Unfortunately both jobs are desk jobs so I'm sitting a majority of the day. I only have 30min for lunch so I usually don't have much time to do much more than maybe run an errand and then come back.

    I'm definitely still sticking to my calories and very rarely go over, I'm just worried that diet won't be enough. :(
    It will be enough if you stick to your calories, it takes a little longer, but you can do it. Also, in my opinion, if you are able to reach your goal through proper healthy diet, the chances of your long term success are almost guaranteed. I reached my goal weight through diet alone, and have been maintaining for a long time. Exercise helps my body look more toned, but whether I exercise or not my weight doesn't bounce around, because I know exactly how I need to eat for the periods when I don't exercise. You can always work out whenever your schedule allows, even if it's once a week. Either way just keep at it!
  • lindsay1888
    lindsay1888 Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you for your response!! I'm going to try to stop beating myself up about not working out as often as I was originally. I worked out Monday and Tuesday night this week and am planning on getting at least an hour in on Saturday also. I was going to workout tonight but am completely exhausted and have a really awful headache. And I might be going dancing tomorrow night after work so that'd definitely be a good calorie burner too.

    And I've still been consistently losing even though my workout frequency has decreased--I went to the doctor today and have lost 4 lbs since last time I went 4 weeks ago so as long as my diet stays consistent I'm going to try not to obsess. haha
  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
    good girl! stay positive, make sure you are drinking enough water, and track track track. just be honest with what you put in your food diary and you can lose no problem. i did jazzercise five days a week and until i started weight watchers, i didnt lose anything! good eating habits are where you will lose it. not that exercise isnt great for weight loss and a ton of other health issues that i wont go into but if you arent eating correctly then it is hard to get it off no matter how much you workout. and the more you stress out about it the harder it will be to get it off. there is a correlation between stress and fat and make sure you sleep enough because that can derail your weight loss also. studies have shown that if we dont get enough sleep we actually make hormones that cause us to crave foods.
  • vkpmusic
    vkpmusic Posts: 343 Member
    I'm right there with you. I work 2 jobs...6 days a week. I'm gone from 5 am to 9 pm most days. Pack your meals! Cook extra on Saturday to break up for the week. It's easier to not fall off the wagon. I try to do at 2 or 3 smaller workouts a week when I get home. I have Walk Away the Pounds and 10 min. Pilates. 30 min and when I'm not tired, easy. But on my double nights (which is when I do them) HARD! Then on my day off, or a day when I can be home at a reasonable hour I do a hard one. My goal is 4-5 days a week of SOMETHING even if it is a small something. Notice i left 3 days in there to go "forget it". Less stress! I am averaging about a pound a week. You can do this! Feel free to add me as a friend.
  • kymarai
    kymarai Posts: 3,702 Member
    I turn on my IPOD to move while brushing teeth and blow drying hair, or anywhere I can, just "dancing". I figure it all adds up at the end of day. Good luck! And keep up the good work
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