What exercise do you do and how do you fit it in?

cwolfman13 · January 2014

despite popular belief, you don't need to exercise for hours and hours and hours and do crap tons of cardio and push yourself to puking to have a good, productive workout.

When I started out, I started off just walking...I wasn't used to moving much at all, so walking a few days per week for an hour or so was a big step in the right direction...pretty soon I upped that to 5 days per week for 30 - 60 minutes depending on what I had time for. Eventually I added in some running and before I knew it I was running 3-4x weekly and walking on my other days.

A few months into my good livin' I decided to get back into the weight room as well...I knew that it was essential to maintaining my muscle mass while I was dieting...so I joined a nice gym here with a good family plan and child care facilities and my basic routine became lifting 3x weekly full body which takes me about 45 minutes and jogging on my non-lifting days for 30 - 45 minutes. That was it.

As my fitness improved and I dropped weight I decided I wanted to train for an actual event. I signed up for a couple of 5Ks and did those and then decided I wanted to do a sprint triathlon last fall. I was injured while training for that event...I was doing too much volume and injured some tendons in my feet...but during this training is when I discovered my love or riding a bike. I was never too fond of running...it was just something I did because it is a good workout, made me sweat, got my heart pumping, and I could do it pretty much anywhere...but I didn't "love" it and it was one of the big reasons I blew out my feet. I'm a supinator so running, even with proper shoes does a real number on my posterior tibial tendons. Most supinators are not long distance endurance runners, they are sprinters...which makes sens since that's what I did growing up in track and field.

At any rate, I no longer run save for some cross-train here and there...I might jog a mile and a half maybe once every couple of weeks...but I love getting out on my bike. I usually ride at lunch and can get in a good hour 2-3 times per week and then take a long ride on Sunday. I still hit the weight room 3x weekly and basically get in 5-6 days of what I would consider moderate exercise. I miss here and there due to things happen and what not...but I usually make sure I get in at least a 30 minute moderately paced walk if I can't make my actual workout for whatever reason. I also walk and do yoga on my rest day.

StitchHappy8974 · January 2014

I go to a Jazzercise Class Monday - Thursday after Work, and I walk for 40 minutes on the treadmill once or twice on the weekend

nancybuss · January 2014

I am a mom to two, ages 4 and 6. I'm a wife, and full time worker and a second job.

I work out in the AM before everyone gets up. Right now its a half hour workout with T25 DVD's. Before that I did Combat. I've loved them both and stuck to them.

I am NOT a morning person. I couldn't stay consistent at night because my youngest has sleep issues.

for awhile I did Zumba (loved) once a week and bounced around at several other things.

Good luck finding your niche!

aliencheesecake · January 2014

Isn't Tabata 4 minutes only?

HIIT are typically 10-15 minutes- I've done 24 minutes- two 12 minute sessions with a brief bathroom break- but I thought Tabata was a HIIT that was specifically 4 minutes? (with various splits or are those fixed?)

EACH tabata is four minutes but you can do more than one at a time.

okay- that makes sense- I've only ever done 10-12-15 minute split ones (I tend to use 3, 4 or 5 rounds and 10/50 second splits) so I don't really think of 4 minute sessions with a break. Thanks for clarifying.

NP. I use an online Tabata timer so if I set it for more than one tabata, there is really no more than a 20 second "break" between sets.

Huffdogg · January 2014

EACH tabata is four minutes but you can do more than one at a time.

If you're doing actual Tabata protocol, I defy you to do multiples back to back.

walterm852 · January 2014

I have 4 kids (15,14,12,9) and work full time.

I have to workout early, 5:15am or I wont get it in. The kids are so busy after school and have activities its important to be there for them. Then help out with a little homework and household work with my wife. Sometimes I can do additional workouts at night, however, I can always do them at 5:15 ... so thats where I fit it in. Good luck

xXBabyBelleXx · January 2014

Hi,

I walk into work and then run back in the evening (approx 4.8 miles in total) 3 times a week

I also hope to take up weight lifting on Saturdays also.

ktree8 · January 2014

I work full time and have two young kids so know what you mean. I found the only way I can really get exercise in consistently is to go before work when everyone is still sleeping. I am NOT a morning person so it was very hard at first especially in the winter. I had to adjust my schedule to go to bed earlier to make this work (need my sleep). Now if I skip a day I feel like my day didn't start off right (never thought I'd say that!). I do 45 minutes of cardio/weights, 3 days a week before work then workout on Sat/Sun when my husband can watch the kids.

thatjosiegirl · January 2014

I'm a single mom of two (ages 9,11), I also work full time (8-5 M-F with a 45 minute commute both ways) and I own my own freelance business.

I still find time to get to the gym 5 days a week, it has to be a priority and one that you refuse to make excuses for why you can't make it happen.

Reassess your life and figure out what activities are taking up the time that you need to devote yourself to your fitness goals and figure out what can be eliminated or what is of less importance.

You can do it!

supra_driven · January 2014

This is what I have done since beginning in Sept 2013:

-Wake up 1 hr earlier
-Calisthenics in circuit mode. Anywhere between 20-40 mins 3/week
-Alternating days, HIIT. Usually 20 mins including 5 min warm up and 5 min cool down w/stretching.
-Sunday rest

I have lost 50 lbs in 4 months. I'm down to 16% body fat.

But all this would not be possible without proper monitoring of your calories in vs. calories out.

mamahannick · January 2014

I am a full time working mom of an almost 1 yr old, currently a solo parent for a couple of weeks as my husband is away for Army training, and I just started a new routine on Monday after weeks of being lazy and not exercising at all. I am committing to getting up at 4:30 am to do either the 30 Day Shred or hop on the treadmill in our basement ($150 off Craigslist!). In the evening if I can muster extra energy after my daughter has gone to bed, I do a little extra exercise. This is where I'm focusing the energy of missing my husband.

You have to make the time. If it's not a priority, it won't happen in a busy life.

savannahribeiro · January 2014

When I find some down time, I hop on the treadmill. Just a moderate pace, just for a walk (It's really cold where I live in the winter, so I ain't going outside in anything short of a parka). Also, work isn't too far for me, so I walk to and from work daily which totals, for me, to about 130 cals a day. I do most of my actual training in the morning when I get up --- circuit training on day 1 and cardio on day 2.

JoRocka · January 2014

EACH tabata is four minutes but you can do more than one at a time.

If you're doing actual Tabata protocol, I defy you to do multiples back to back.

I did a 4 minute 10/10 split and it's brutal.

Otherwise like I said- all my HIIT's are 10 rest 50 work for 10-20 minutes- I rarely deviate- but occasionally I'll do like 30/30 with a more cardio based sammiched thing- like push ups for 30- stairs for 30 etc etc

4's with no rest are brutal.

What exercise do you do and how do you fit it in?

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