Suggestions on getting in exercise.

I have a similar schedule, though I start work at 6:00 and get off at 4:00. The first thing I do when I get home is hop on the bike for a 30 mile ride. The exhaustion disappears by the time you get 10 miles into the ride.

I think you just have to commit to it. If it's important to you, you will find the time! For me, exercise is very important to me, so I get up at 5am to get ready and workout. That's the best time for me because it's before the rest of my day really gets started, and usually when I come home I don't have the same motivation as I do earlier. So getting up just a little earlier can definitely help.

Also, if you feel that strapped for time, have you considered a home workout program? Those tend to be around 30 minutes for a workout, and you cut out the time of going to and from the gym. If you find yourself strapped for time, this could be a great alternative.

I'm in a similar situation and I NEED to get back into an exercise routine. Six weeks ago husband's job transferred him to another state. I work full time and have two small kids. Coincidentally, around the time hub moved away I got walking pneumonia...I'm just now feeling better and I seem to have my energy back. By the time I pick up kids from soccer practice, etc., make dinner, catch up with laundry, and so on, it's 9pm and I'm ready to crash. When am I supposed to work out??

I pretty much have the same schedule. I'm up at 5:30 and home by 4:30. I make dinner, relax for about a hour then I'm at the gym by 7. I've learned that the hardest part of working out is, making it out the door. As long as I get dressed (even if I'm tired) and drive to the gym, it's too late to not work out since I'm already there.

I workout after work around 3pm. I make sure that I eat a good lunch and a pre-workout snack before to make sure I have enough energy for my workout. Its all about making priorities, make workouts your priority and you will find a way to do it.

Can you use your lunch hour for a workout or can you get up 30 min early to do a quick HIIT? Can you take 10 min breaks and do something in office, like walk around, climb the stairs etc.

If diet is in check, you don't need hours of exercise.

Like I have stated so many times before... I am a mother, a teacher and a nurse. I am not a 10.. I doubt I am a 6! LOL... I try to stay healthy! on that note... this is coming from someone who understands... I suggest you do it before you go home... or if you have a spouse who can help... talk to them. I ask my spouse to give me tues and Thursdays. I make those sandwich days for supper... I jog! You sound like me... I am such a selfless person... it is hard for me to not cook for my family and tell them I will be caring for myself. But the best advice I ever got... for this situation: If you don't care for yourself.. how can you expect to be here and care for your family in the future? Its so true! Take three hours a week to make sure your fit for the ones you love!

You just have to schedule it in. When life is hectic, you have to plan to workout. It's like I tell my group of friends and family..... make a plan and then execute it. And don't worry about hours at the gym every day..... the first hurdle you need to get over is believing that you don't have time or energy. Energy will prodice more energy and you will want to stay longer or go more often. You'll see

All of this advice is frustrating because no matter what I say it's going to sound like an excuse! LOL

I already get up at 5:30 and I'm NOT a morning person...I can barely speak in complete sentences at that hour, much less work out. If I work out after work I won't see my kids. They are my priority. I can't not feed them, help them with homework, wash their clothes, etc. to make time to work out. No help from spouse -- he's hundreds of miles away for the next 2.5 years.

So I guess that for me, the choice is clear: sleep or exercise. I can't do both. *sigh*

Looking at your profile, it sounds like you don't have kids. So do what I do...save the major housework for the weekends, and use that time to workout on weeknights.

During the week, I do dishes, pick up any messes, clean the litterboxes and maybe do a small batch of laundry one night (usually workout clothes, because they get to rank if I let them sit in the laundry too long)....usually 15-20 minutes a night, max. I save the dusting, mopping, vacuuming and full laundry for Saturday and Sunday - and I still have time to do a 1.5-2 hour bike ride one day and a long (1 hr +) run the other.

Try waking up earlier and working out first thing in the morning.