When to make time to work out?

hrush1889
hrush1889 Posts: 56 Member
edited November 25 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, I am having trouble finding what time to work out (go to the gym) works best for me. I have just started a new job a couple weeks ago and have been having trouble getting motivated.

I work full time, 9:30-6:30PM. I am not a morning person so a morning workout to me would be hard to wakeup early for, then after work I am always super hungry and want to go home and eat dinner. After eating and cleaning up it seems to get late and I am tired and don't feel like leaving the house. Any advice?

Thank you!
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Replies

  • biodigit
    biodigit Posts: 145 Member
    One option would be to at minimum workout 4 days a week - 2 on weekends and 2 weekdays. So that means you would only have to worry about working out just two days after work. since you're so hungry right after work, I would recommend having some snacks that can give you quick energy boost, that can be utilized at the gym. Or you can workout on the weekends until you can muster up some energy to do it in the evenings after works.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    Exercise videos after dinner
  • Packerjohn
    Packerjohn Posts: 4,855 Member
    Learn to workout in the morning. 9:30 is not early. Myself and many other people have eaten, worked out, cleaned up, commuted 30-60 minutes and worked 2-3 hours by 9:30.
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    If you rule out morning and night and can't work in the afternoon, you've made yourself stuck. You didn't mention a second job or volunteer responsibilities or children or anything else that takes up time between 6:30 pm and 9:30 am., which to me looks like you have plenty of time for working out. When exercising is a priority for you, you will find the time to do it.
  • pobalita
    pobalita Posts: 741 Member
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Learn to workout in the morning. 9:30 is not early. Myself and many other people have eaten, worked out, cleaned up, commuted 30-60 minutes and worked 2-3 hours by 9:30.

    This exactly. If you want to work out enough, you will find the time.
  • cnbbnc
    cnbbnc Posts: 1,267 Member
    pobalita wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Learn to workout in the morning. 9:30 is not early. Myself and many other people have eaten, worked out, cleaned up, commuted 30-60 minutes and worked 2-3 hours by 9:30.

    This exactly. If you want to work out enough, you will find the time.

    ^^
    These. I work 8-5, but the day is longer with commuting. I started working out in the evenings but then hated having that hanging over my head all day. I also feel like I just want to go home after work, have dinner, and relax. I now get up at 5am and am at the gym around 5:45. Waking up early is an adjustment, but....I wanted to do this, so I'm doing it. It gets to be a new normal after a couple weeks.

  • thepersonwiththeface
    thepersonwiththeface Posts: 5 Member
    Waking up early to workout is hard at first, but you can get into the habit pretty quickly(especially if you make yourself go to bed at a decent hour). By doing it first thing in the morning, you're able to make sure that nothing gets in the way. You don't necessarily have to go to the gym(if that saves you time or whatever), you can just go for a run/walk/do some bodyweight exercises/exercise videos/whatever. It'll be hard at first getting into the grove of waking up and exercising, so you can start slow if that helps. Start going to bed earlier and setting your alarm for earlier, and then maybe start with just going for a walk before you get ready to go. (you can even sleep in your workout clothes!)
  • thepersonwiththeface
    thepersonwiththeface Posts: 5 Member
    You could also bring a snack to work to eat before you leave so that you can get in a workout before dinner.
  • Mouse_Potato
    Mouse_Potato Posts: 1,513 Member
    Eat a snack on your way to the gym after work. Simple solution. :)
  • mylittlerainbow
    mylittlerainbow Posts: 822 Member
    Ideal would be if you had a gym/fitness room in your office building. Then you wouldn't let yourself go home until you'd worked out or you could do it on a break or as part of your lunch hour. Or maybe you even COULD get there slightly earlier - half an hour to start with? - and work out then. If this doesn't exist, then bring your sneakers to the office and eat lunch quickly and walk/run in the area, even around your building several times. And maybe signing up for a fitness class to stop in on on your way home from work might work for you.
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
    pobalita wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Learn to workout in the morning. 9:30 is not early. Myself and many other people have eaten, worked out, cleaned up, commuted 30-60 minutes and worked 2-3 hours by 9:30.

    This exactly. If you want to work out enough, you will find the time.

    x1000000

    Either you want it, or you don't. I get up at 4:15 four days a week. It's either that or 10/11pm.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    You have to figure out what will work best for you, make compromises, and fit something in somewhere. Maybe it won't be leaving the house to go to the gym any more. Maybe it will have to be working out at home, getting up earlier, or something.
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    RGv2 wrote: »
    pobalita wrote: »
    Packerjohn wrote: »
    Learn to workout in the morning. 9:30 is not early. Myself and many other people have eaten, worked out, cleaned up, commuted 30-60 minutes and worked 2-3 hours by 9:30.

    This exactly. If you want to work out enough, you will find the time.

    x1000000

    Either you want it, or you don't. I get up at 4:15 four days a week. It's either that or 10/11pm.

    Co-signed.
  • Jennloella
    Jennloella Posts: 2,286 Member
    yeah you'll just have to decide and start doing it. I wish my days could start at 930, and I'd kill to be off by 630. I get up at 5 to have time to work out before the kids wake up and I have to get to school, then work. I'm off around 830pm, in bed by 10. whichever you decide and start doing will become habit, but no one can give you a trick to get extra hours in the day we all get the same!
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited October 2015
    malibu927 wrote: »
    Exercise videos after dinner

    This^

    I can't get myself to leave the house either. With snow & ice season coming....it's just going to get worse (for me).
  • canary_girl
    canary_girl Posts: 366 Member
    Get up in the morning. You will learn to like it. I get up every morning at 4am to work out and wouldn't ever trade it for a 7pm work out.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    UltimateRBF wrote: »
    hrush1889 wrote: »
    Hi, I am having trouble finding what time to work out (go to the gym) works best for me. I have just started a new job a couple weeks ago and have been having trouble getting motivated.

    I work full time, 9:30-6:30PM. I am not a morning person so a morning workout to me would be hard to wakeup early for, then after work I am always super hungry and want to go home and eat dinner. After eating and cleaning up it seems to get late and I am tired and don't feel like leaving the house. Any advice?

    Thank you!

    Take a walk on your lunch break

    Pack a gym bag and hit the gym on the way to work, or in the evening on your way home

    Get your biggest workouts done on your days off

    Whatever you do, it's not about having enough time ( which frankly, your work schedule is like, the EASIEST to plan stuff around), but it's about making priorities and habits.

    This ^^
  • oh_happy_day
    oh_happy_day Posts: 1,137 Member
    You'll make it work when you want it enough. Either get up earlier or take an afternoon snack and go straight after work. Easy.
  • senecarr
    senecarr Posts: 5,377 Member
    Ever sat down and honestly calculated the hours of TV or or video services you view on a typical day? That's usually a spot people find they can live with giving up.
  • Leslierussell4134
    Leslierussell4134 Posts: 376 Member
    edited October 2015
    Honestly, it sounds like the best time is going to be after work for you. As many people have said, you need to make this a priority. Do not let yourself go home without getting at a workout in. It doesn't need to be a lot. According to the Mayo Clinic, adults only need 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity spread out over the week. You need to strength train twice per week, hitting all major muscle groups for no specified time, as long as you get at least one set per group. Not really that much to ask for.
    So if you take a 10 minute walk before work and after work, that's already 100 minutes of (hopefully) moderate activity. 50 more minutes reserved for the weekend. No excuses!!!
  • zdyb23456
    zdyb23456 Posts: 1,706 Member
    If it were me I'd workout before work, on my way in or right after work before getting home. That's what I always did/do.

    I prefer to workout in the mornings before anything (i.e. excuses) can bump it off the schedule. The first few weeks waking up early sucks, but it gets easier over time.
  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    5am at the gym if you want it you will do it.. I work 8am to 8pm 5 days a week.. Food prep helps a lot.
  • Willbenchforcupcakes
    Willbenchforcupcakes Posts: 4,955 Member
    When you want it bad enough, finding the time will be easy. Have clear concrete goals will make it a lot easier.
  • MamaMollyT
    MamaMollyT Posts: 197 Member
    Lunch break. Or take a heavy snack to eat end of day and gym bag and workout before you go home. Meal plan and prep onSundays to help the week go smoothly. Or just get up an hour earlier. Your body will adjust.
  • urloved33
    urloved33 Posts: 3,323 Member
    A.M. work outs are fantastic. If you gut it out and get there...you will have great energy for the day and when you get out work...weeeeeee you are free with your workout far behind you.
  • hakamruth
    hakamruth Posts: 124 Member
    If the gym is on your way to work, AM would be the best. I am not a morning person either but I got up in the morning to go to the gym. It was great because there was a lot less people. Then I'll shower and get dressed at the gym and go to work. Breakfast is either packed or try to buy something healthy somewhere. When going to the gym in AM was no longer an option I would have a snack before I left work and then go directly to the gym. I do not go home. Once you are home, you do not want to go back out nor did I want to use any of the exercise videos. Have a post workout snack ready or make sure you already have dinner waiting at home where you just need to heat up, otherwise you might be tempted to go out for fast-food.
  • eliaus3640
    eliaus3640 Posts: 32 Member
    I found time by prepping my meals on the weekend. Not having to make meals each night opened up the time I needed to workout
  • liftreadphilosophize
    liftreadphilosophize Posts: 180 Member
    I hate working out after work, so I wake up early and work out in the mornings even though I loooooove sleep and would very much enjoy relaxing in bed until I had to get up for work. This week I accidentally overslept on a really important workout day and I chose to work out in my dreaded "after work" time because working out and my goals around working out are more important to me than my dislike for working out after work. I definitely understand the "ugh" feeling, but it's really a mental game. Hungry? Grab a pre-workout snack to tide you over. Tired? Put in ten minutes of your workout and then see how you feel (I guarantee that most often, you will find that you can and want to finish). Just don't feel like it? Remind yourself of why you wanted to get serious about working out in the first place and see if you want that more than you don't want to work out. It's not easy, but it can be simple. Good luck!!
  • prisduke
    prisduke Posts: 3 Member
    I have the same issue and I just eat a bit of my dinner right when I get home and then take a preworkout powder to give me energy to go to the gym!
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