anyone exercise during their work lunch break?

Merkavar
Merkavar Posts: 3,082 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Anyone here work out or exercise during their lunch break at work?

Any tips or suggestions? Things to avoid?

I generally play soccer at lunch depending on numbers of players and weather, but if the soccer falls through I generally do nothing other than eat lunch.

Thought I might start going to the gym for a quick run (20 minutes) if I am not playing soccer and was wondering if any one had suggestions or advice.

I have an hour for lunch and the gym is about 5-10 minutes away from work, a few kilometres down the road, if it wasn't for the trees I could probably see it from my work.

I guess I got to work out the timing of it all, whether going to the gym is worth it, if I have enough time for travel, getting changed, running, showering etc
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Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I don't work out at lunchtime, but I always try to have a walk, even if it's only 10 minutes.

    Walk/run to the gym as your warm up and then you've got plenty of time for a workout?
  • MsArriabella
    MsArriabella Posts: 469 Member
    I've been wondering about this too. My workplace has a gym, but there's always the sweat factor afterwards...plus I'm one of 3 girls in the office...I'd love to use the free gym, but...
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    I usually have lunch at my desk as I get hungry earlier than my colleagues. Sometime in the afternoon I often close my door and do something like 36 or 45 mins of bodyweight exercises.
  • yirara
    yirara Posts: 9,941 Member
    MsArriabella wrote: »
    I've been wondering about this too. My workplace has a gym, but there's always the sweat factor afterwards...plus I'm one of 3 girls in the office...I'd love to use the free gym, but...

    Then why not? Is it something cultural that you don't want to use the gym when there are mostly men?
  • wrighty11146
    wrighty11146 Posts: 74 Member
    I tend to go for a 30 min walk outside, I live in Sheffield so plenty of hills to get your heart rate up,
  • sc0rpi0gal
    sc0rpi0gal Posts: 32 Member
    I try and get 3 x 30 min brisk walks in during my working day. I work in an office so the rest of the day is pretty much sitting. Im lucky that Im able to do this I know.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,611 Member
    I walk ... anywhere from 30-60 min. :)

    I also climb stairs throughout the day.
  • dolliesdaughter
    dolliesdaughter Posts: 544 Member
    I have (2) 15 min breaks and a half hour lunch. I walk on one of my breaks and half of my lunch. If I don't walk half of my lunch, then I walk on both of my breaks. Either way, I get a half hour walk in during the day.
  • treegirl97
    treegirl97 Posts: 70 Member
    I have an hour for my lunch and I usually spend it taking a 45-60 min walk. Still getting a bit of exercise but not getting all hot and sweaty at work.
  • Escape_Artist
    Escape_Artist Posts: 1,155 Member
    I have a gym 5 minutes from work and I use my lunchbreak to do my cardio (20 mins HIIT or 30 minutes steady pace running). That way I can focus on lifting / yoga when I finish work.

    It's convenient, I used to always skip cardio so now I feel like I don't really have any excuse lol
    Besides, it helps release some stress midday which is a huge plus for me :smile:
  • rwhansen74
    rwhansen74 Posts: 21 Member
    I live about a mile from work. When it's not so hot out, I'll walk home at lunch and walk back, with about 15-20 minutes in between to knock out chores or have a quick lunch. I haven't been recently because I'll be a gross sweaty mess for the rest of my workday, but when it cools down a bit I'll get back to it.
  • Bianca42
    Bianca42 Posts: 310 Member
    Weather permitting, I take a 1 mile walk with another girl in the office. If the weather is crappy I either do nothing, walk between the aisles in the warehouse or go to a store and walk/browse. (Pretty much rain is the only thing that keeps us away. We walked all winter long in freezing temps and snow.)
  • Indygirl_81
    Indygirl_81 Posts: 142 Member
    Nope, I don't get a lunch break.... I work 12 hrs straight. I also sweat too much to try to get a workout in during the middle of the day.
  • Fitwarrior7_Round_2
    Fitwarrior7_Round_2 Posts: 453 Member
    If i don't get to the gym in the morning, i try to go at lunch. At least 30 minutes of elliptical plus strength training. Plus i have the luxury of a shower here at work in the locker rooms.
  • jlemoore
    jlemoore Posts: 702 Member
    I've gone to a gym and ran on the treadmill in years past. Now it it a fast walk for about 45 minutes or I roll out my yoga mat in my office. This is if I have enough time and if the weather is good.
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    I have the good fortune of having an employer who offers limited group exercise classes at lunch, so I do 30 mins of Zumba everyday. When I'm not doing that, though, I'll get out and walk on nice days, or do the elliptical or treadmill on 2 15 min breaks...just enough to start sweating. I like this because my workout is in for the day at least, so if I don't have time to do more after work, I'm covered.
  • DrewMarcy13
    DrewMarcy13 Posts: 5,819 Member
    I go to the gym during my lunch break and I usually look at the group classes that are offered during lunch or do some form of cardio mainly. The other thing I do is if I didn't get all my strength training in the morning I will try to complete missing sets from the morning.
  • SashEdwards
    SashEdwards Posts: 78 Member
    I run at lunch every day, 4-5km and included walking time it's just under an hour. I work downtown and have access to go run out by the river. There's stairs too. Luckily my location can accommodate that though, but it sounds like you have that option to get out too! Why not?! For me, I have such a busy hectic life outside of work hours if I can't cram it in during the day, it may not happen. It's a time management thing for me more than anything.
  • lisalewis7588
    lisalewis7588 Posts: 76 Member
    I'm supposed to have two 15-minute breaks and one 30-minute lunch at the VA hospital I work at, but I'm lucky if I get five minutes to myself all day. Actually, my only real "me" time is when I use the bathroom. It's the only time I have to check my phone, etc. I usually just shovel food in my mouth in between patients while frantically typing chart notes.

    BUT, I used to (like 8 years ago) work a job that I could work out at lunch if I wanted. I did occasionally. I would usually eat at my desk about half an hour before my lunch break, then go get some cardio in. I usually stuck with a 20-30min elliptical, then quick shower & head back to work. It definitely gave me some energy to get through the afternoon!!
  • just_diana77
    just_diana77 Posts: 7 Member
    I have an Elliptical in my office and I use it for 30 min as soon as I get to work. I also get an hour for lunch, I walk outside for 30 min of that hour. I live in South Alabama the temp is about 115 with humidity, I also work with 2 men and they don't care if I smell. We all have our own offices.
  • annherrin
    annherrin Posts: 35 Member
    I do 4 times a week. I work about 5-10 min away from my gym so as long as I stay focused during my workouts I can get all my lifts done with time to spare. I have the luxury of being salary, so if my gym time does run over, it's not that big of a deal.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    dragon_girl26 wrote: »
    I have the good fortune of having an employer who offers limited group exercise classes at lunch, so I do 30 mins of Zumba everyday. When I'm not doing that, though, I'll get out and walk on nice days, or do the elliptical or treadmill on 2 15 min breaks...just enough to start sweating. I like this because my workout is in for the day at least, so if I don't have time to do more after work, I'm covered.

    Yes, I had one of these enlightened employers in the 90s, which is how I started doing yoga. I am so much more productive and energized in the afternoon if I get in some activity at lunch time. I often take a long lunch break and make up the time. For people who don't have the option of making up the time, even 10-15 minutes of walking or stretching is beneficial. Our bodies are not meant to sit for long stretches of time.

    What I do varies by the season. I walked most days fall-winter-spring. On rainy days I went to the ice skating rink. Mid spring I gardened. (I currently work from home.) This time of year I don't want to be out in the sun midday so I go to the gym or practice yoga at home.
  • jarablue
    jarablue Posts: 127 Member
    Yes. I walk 4.2 miles which takes me a little under an hour for lunch here at work. Not every day but 3 to 4 times a week.
  • Gena575
    Gena575 Posts: 224 Member
    I purposely do not. My lunch hour is a rest period for me. I typically log 12k steps at work and need the regroup (physically and mentally) lunch.
  • CincyNeid
    CincyNeid Posts: 1,249 Member
    I take a Daily walk on my 30min break. Sometimes when I have a charity run coming up I'll go on a 5K run on lunch. And if I ride my bike to work there are a couple close Strava Segements I'll go roll over a few times to see how I do on the leader board.
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    edited July 2016
    OP, why do you need to travel to the gym to go for a run??

    45 mins lunch - 25 min run, no shower :'( but have a huge tub of baby wipes, better than nothing.... If it is raining I will do a quick kettlebell HIIT or other lighter weight/cardio/bodyweight workout...No gym, but warehouse with ancient tv/dvd and a bunch of donated lighter weights...
  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    We only get lunch on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and those are generally 90 minutes, unless the doctor gets way behind, which happens a lot. If the weather is nice, me and a co-worker go on a 30-45 minute walk (I often bring an extra shirt/bra for that) but if she doesn't want to go, I'll either go myself if I already worked out that morning or if I brought my gym bag then I go to the gym (our gym is 5 minutes walking distance). Today I am going to go to the gym and run on the treadmill (outside is still a possibly but there is a heat advisory and I still have to work all afternoon). If I run, no matter what I need a shower but if I just walk or do a strength training routine at the gym then I don't bother messing up my make up, just wipe down the hotspots (this is where the change of shirt/bra comes in to play). I only go to the gym if I have a full 60-90 minutes, otherwise time gets cut too short between the drive time/changing/showering/also eating lunch, etc. if I end up with less time then I still go for a walk when applicable. If I don't work out at all then I'm probably eating something extra delicious and reading a book, lol.

    Sorry that was so long!
  • Wophie
    Wophie Posts: 126 Member
    I don't, however as I don't drive I end up waking at least an hour a day on my journey to/from work. We do have a gym nearby, but I work on a help desk where they monitor the time you're on lunch down to the minute.
  • RespectTheKitty
    RespectTheKitty Posts: 1,667 Member
    I have a gym in my office building so I go there on my lunch. I will run or do a brisk hill walk on the treadmill for about 40 minutes, then have a quickie shower and head back up to work. If it's a super nice day I might walk outside. I do my strength training at home in the evening.
  • peleroja
    peleroja Posts: 3,979 Member
    I do! I have an hour lunch so I spend half an hour working out and the rest getting there and back and changed and all that.

    I usually just have a 30 second rinse off in the shower after and just spray some dry shampoo in my hair. I can easily get out of the locker room in less than 10 minutes including that quick shower, changing, and reapplying whatever I need to.

    Half an hour isn't a ton of time but it's enough for me to run through a quick strength session (usually I do just upper or just lower and work in supersets) or to run 3-4 miles, so it's definitely better than nothing. My normal routine is to go before work on Monday/Wednesday and at lunch on Tuesday/Thursday, so I don't have to sacrifice lunch every day or get up super early every morning.

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