Working out during lunch hour worthwhile?

I personally hate it. I don't like the rushed feeling and I hate the experience of changing clothes in a locker room and then having to clean up and get ready to go back to work. But it's obvious from watching my co-workers that lots of them don't mind the experience (or they enjoy it more than working out during other times of the day). What other people think of it is less important than what *you* think of it.

I just started working out at my work's gym. I tried it once months ago and hated feeling so rushed and I wasn't too familiar with the gym set up so I didn't like it. I decided to try it again since I was only working out 1-2 times a week usually since I never wanted to go after work. Now I have a plan when I get there, get a great workout in 30 minutes, and know what time I need to leave to get dressed and back to work. My lunch break is 45 minutes and I can eat at my desk after. I look forward to my lunch break and feel energized and strong all day after. I don't like coming back to work all sweaty but I think it's worth it!

I'd feel too rushed to go get a lifting workout done over lunch and that's all I do at the gym. I used to cycle or walk on my lunch breaks and I enjoyed that but was always a sloppy, sweaty mess when I got back to the office so now I just work through lunch and take off a little early to go ride...but exercise over lunch was a nice way to break up the day. I used to keep wet wipes in my office to clean up a bit.

For me it's worth it. My husband is out the door too early (6:15am) for me to work out before my work starts at 8 (because someone has to get the kids ready). If I wait until after work, I just won't do it. So I run on my lunch. It is absolutely a pain in the butt to change, run, then change and eat at my desk, but it also keeps me from visiting the numerous fast food establishments around my office.

I only work part-time, though, and it wouldn't be enough time for ALL of my weekly workouts if I worked full-time and only used my lunch hours.

I work from home (I own a small consulting business) so I don't know what I'd do without working out during lunch. I went to the gym for nearly 5 years at lunch but was lucky that for 3 or so years, it was only 5 minutes away (that one close eventually and I had to drive around 10 minutes each way). I'm also fortunate that I could drive home (then) a sweaty mess and take a quick shower at home where it's much more comfortable to do so and put on literally jammies and be back at my desk by 1:30 or so. I work till around 5:30, sometimes 6 to make up for missing around a half hour to get cleaned up.

Just this last year, we bought a Concept 2 rower and an Air Dyne Pro bike and heavy KBs, so I hardly ever leave home now and it's added 10 to 15 minutes back in to working, which is huge for me, not having to drive to the gym any longer.

I detest evening workouts and there's a lot more of the "look at me" types in the gym in the evenings (or at least at my gym) than there is at lunch -- huge benefit to working out at lunch. People want to get in, get out and not socialize. Early AM is also a struggle for me, so if I couldn't workout at lunch I'm not sure what I'd do.

It is worthwhile and it can be a nuisance. You just have to decide what works best for your lifestyle and what your alternatives are.

For me, it is worth it because I live right across the street from my work. I get an hour long break to run home, feed my dogs while I eat, change into workout clothes, go for a run with my dogs (if it's nice), come back home, cool off a bit, change back into work clothes and head back.

I have had a problem in the past of binge eating on my lunch break, so it definitely helps to have minimal time to eat on my lunch break before I need to head back to work. I also don't keep food at my desk because I will eat all the things lol

I work out at 3:30 am but if I can, I usually go for a walk during lunch...just icing on the cake

If it's half a pilates class, yes, I've done that. Or part of a yoga class. Not more, though.

SonyaCele wrote: »

for years i did my workouts at lunch, and i was in great shape and the best part was that after work i could relax guilt free because i already got my workout in for the day.

This was the best part of riding at lunch for me...

I workout before work so that I don't have to use my lunch break. I'd rather have more time in the morning when I'm on my own schedule. I might still get a quick workout in on lunch - 45 min stair master, or a 45 min elliptical or rock climbing. But that is in addition to what I did in the morning.

I like to use my break to get out of the office and away from people.

darrenbeckworth wrote: »

Take a walk, get some sun, and burn some calories... save anything sweat related until you can shower.

If the weather is decent, I'll take a half hour walk during my lunch break. Helps clear my head and get the blood moving after mostly sitting all morning.

I’d rather just work out before or after work, and then then take a quick lunch. I’m not an hourly employee so taking a long lunch just prolongs my work day.

In my previous job I had a gym close by and would go in my lunch hour occasionally, I was lucky that I was able to work flexibly and so it didn't matter if I went over the hour so didn't feel rushed. I also found it energised me for the afternoon as well so was a win win.

I work out lunchtime - I only get 35-40 minutes of actual exercise in, but I don't hang about - do super sets of two different body parts (ie squats and benchpress) so that one part of me can recover while I do the other set. I have noticed that lots of people just sit around checking their phones and chatting, so long work outs aren't necessarily any more effective.