How do you squeeze in a workout in a crazy busy schedule?
Replies
-
I go straight from work to my kettlebells class which only lasts half an hour. I've been doing that for a few months and can really tell a difference from just 30 min a day, 3-4 times a week. I'm not a morning person at all but I've also been trying to get up before I wake my son up for school and do the 30 Day Shred - it only takes 20 minutes.0
-
I try and fit in a walk between clinic appts. I can do the mile route around our campus in about 20 minutes. It beats nothing at all.0
-
On days that I don't have time to change out and get a full workout in, I break it up throughout the entire day into my "cigarrette breaks." I haven't smoked since 98 but I should be able to have a minute or two every 30 minutes just like the smokers, right? We have a weight pit at the office so sometimes I will go in ever 15-30 minutes and do one set of a certain muscle group throughout the entire day. Yesterday, I did kettlebell swings, 33 per set. I ended the day with 300 swings. Works very well for me.0
-
There is NO SUCH THING as not having time.
^^^THIS^^^0 -
I have a busy schedule too. I'm a full time grad student, full time employee, father of two kids. The only way I've been able to really make it work is get up and work out at 4AM before the kids wake up. It sucks, but it's what I have to do to make it work.0
-
I sympathise as it is hard juggling your time with kids and work etc not to mention having any energy left. I wouldn't be keen on early rising as you need your sleep more than you need the exercise! You could get a small trampette. They don't take up too much room and bouncing for 10-15 minutes a day would give you a good workout, help to de-stress and the kids would have fun on it as well! :happy:0
-
You don't need to spend 1.5 - 2 hours working out every day. Use the weekends to work out. Walk or bike instead of drive whenever possible. Use time spent with your children to play active games or sports. Exercise does not have to be done in a gym, on a machine or in front of the TV. Just stay as active as you can.0
-
Look up some good HIIT workouts - short but VERY effective!! Make sure they are HIGH intensity HIIT workouts, and you'll be set. (in my opinion - even better if you do it first thing in the morning to jump start your metabolism so you burn more during the day). Good luck!0
-
I've started taking 15 mins of my 30min lunch break and doing three laps rounds our building with my colleague. So nice to get out of the air conditioning and into some fresh air! I also try to do an exercise DVD at home a few nights a week. Just 30mins-1hour when I can fit it in.0
-
if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.
Is that a typo? Every 30 min throughout the day?? Who has a schedule that would allow for that?0 -
I have a friend who's mom is an aerobics instructor. Her motto is "If it is a priority you will make it happen". I always try to remember this motto when my schedule gets hectic. Right now I am also working full time while finishing up my master's degree. Based on my work schedule, I either wake up at 4:15 am to work out before work or work out for a while before class on my early work days. I plan ahead each week so I know what days I will have time to squeeze in a work out. You can make it happen!0
-
Two ways really find a very high intensity level work out programme that only takes 40mins or so.. or personally something my best friend said to me the other day- "President Obama works out everyday, you can't be busier than him!!"0
-
I agree with everyone here! I am a single mother of THREE BOYS yes honey three. I get up at 5am and I dont sleep until 11pm. My job has pilates/ and excersie on Wednesday's and I take advantage of that on my lunch hour. However, I dont have the opportunity nor finances to do the gym nor do I have cable, netflix or the like. I did go to Wal-Mart and spent less than 20 dollars purchased the 30 day shred and two 3 pound weights and got started the total workout is 27 minutes. You have that. You have to push for it. I workout after I have put my children in bed which means that I am beyond tired. But I want this and I have to be all that I am ( mommy, provider, head of house hold....) and still do this. My son got out of his bed the other night and watched me do boy pushups during my set on the 30 day sherd and my 14 year old said " Mom I am so proud of you " thats so worth it!
I also purchased the Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout another great one less than 10 dollars and you can use the same weights. Change up your workouts. Walk when the weather permits ask people on here who are willing to copy a Yoga DVD and send it to you. If you want it we are here to help you get it! We love you! You can do this no matter how hard it seems in the begining becasue that how it seems thats not what it is......We ALL felt that way but each person on here pushed and found a way.... Any questions ASK we gotcha covered.
If you have any type of game system they have workout games for that too......0 -
I do a lot of "mini workouts" throughout the day. I don't know how much it really helps as far as calorie burn but it makes me feel better
1. everytime I go to the bathroom I do a few lunges and squats before and after using the toilet
2. When I get up from my desk I hold in my abs as tightly as possible the whole time I am walking around
3. I carry my purse in a manner so that it is almost like I am doing weights with it
4. i make sure to sit up completely straight and with my abs pulled in at my chair
5. I park far away so I have to walk.
nothing too serious and couldn't be classified as a reals day workout but it is helping me tone up some areas...0 -
If I didn't get up at 5 to do it up, I wouldn't be able to do it. I wake up before my alarm these days. It's my new normal way of being. In fact I slept in late today due to work/school being called off due to a dusting of snow (wtf) and now I'm all out of sorts since I have to squeeze a workout in between wrangling these children.0
-
You can do it. I have three kids, a spouse, two jobs, and several websites to administer. I get up at 7 am, get the youngest (age 6)up, make our lunches, take her to school, go to job #1. Pick her up, come home, change clothes, make dinner while she does homework and I talk to middle child (age 16) about her drama/school/homework. The youngest has sports two evenings a week at the YMCA, so my partner and I split the game/practice time. We get there 15 mins early and one of us goes and works out for 45 mins, then takes over the sidelines while the other goes and works out for 45 mins. On nights she doesn't have sports, I have zumba one night, we do spinning together on one night and he goes gaming while I do the marketing on the last weeknight. I do planks, lunges, and squats in the garage later that evening. When we get home from whatever event is that night, the little one gets bath, story and bed. By that time it's 8:30-8:45, and I sit down to job #2. I work for 2 hours or so, then check my sites, check facebook, watch a show, take a shower and go to bed at midnight. Saturdays we go to the Y and do full body workouts, come home and clean the house and do chores. Sunday is rest and relaxation day. Also the day I spend time with my oldest child and his baby, my grandson.
I have a planner to keep track of everything, but yeah. It takes a little effort and some rushing around, but it can be done if you want it badly enough.0 -
if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.
Is that a typo? Every 30 min throughout the day?? Who has a schedule that would allow for that?
no typo. i do it all the time. if it takes your 4 seconds to do each exercise, it would only take you two minutes.0 -
I do 3 20 minute chunks a day, longer if I find it. I get to work 20 minutes earlier and walk. I walk 20-40 minutes on my break, depending on how much work I have to do. And I have my hubby watch the kids for 20 minutes (but if he doesn't complain I go 30 -40) so I can do Just Dance, DDR, or a video.0
-
Another person here who gets up before 5! With work and kids, it's the only time I have.
After a few weeks of waking up super early, you really do get used to it.0 -
oh man, i remember the day i did 10 push ups every thirty minutes over the course of 18 hours. craziness. i finished the day with 360 push ups. my chest was blasted!! and yeah, at first 10 push ups was nothing, but the last few hours, oh man did i feel it!!0
-
These are really awesome replies, thank you so much! I really needed the kick in the butt. :-)
To the poster who mentioned hitting up the equipment resale shop - that's brilliant! A stationary bike is absolutely something I could do while reading for class!
Thanks!0 -
I work long hours in a two story office and can't make it to the gym. Lately as its gotten cold on days i cant go to tbe gym I've started running the back stairs. Up and down in two minute sets with one minute break. Two or 3 sets really kicks my butt and istarts start a sweat and heavy breathing. Believe me that it is more intense than the stairmaster. At other times I do pushups and crunches. Housework using good form can be a productive workout too.0
-
if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.
Is that a typo? Every 30 min throughout the day?? Who has a schedule that would allow for that?
no typo. i do it all the time. if it takes your 4 seconds to do each exercise, it would only take you two minutes.
Yeah, but not many people I know have daily schedules that would allow anything every 30 min. If I'm in a business meeting that lasts 2 hours, should I just jump up 3 times and start exercising? Or what if I have a 40 minute commute? Stop and do these along side the road? Or I'm traveling for business and the plane ride is 1.5 hours? Definitely not practical for me.0 -
I didn't have the time when I first started either. Then I made the time. Your husband and family should understand that you /need/ this just as much as they need you.0
-
if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.
Is that a typo? Every 30 min throughout the day?? Who has a schedule that would allow for that?
no typo. i do it all the time. if it takes your 4 seconds to do each exercise, it would only take you two minutes.
Yeah, but not many people I know have daily schedules that would allow anything every 30 min. If I'm in a business meeting that lasts 2 hours, should I just jump up 3 times and start exercising? Or what if I have a 40 minute commute? Stop and do these along side the road? Or I'm traveling for business and the plane ride is 1.5 hours? Definitely not practical for me.
Then don't do it.0 -
I’m still trying to find the answer, like you I have a full time job, and go to school. But you have kids, I have a part-time job. I find it extremely hard to do much of anything forget exercising. I say will get up in the morning a half hour early and work out but after staying up till midnight or later doing homework, I struggle to get up at 6 a.m. forget 5:30. So when you figure it out let me know I can definitely use some help.0
-
if you are really that busy, then do what i do once in a while i really "don't have time." make yourself a circuit, like 15 squats, 10, lunges, 5 push ups. do that every thirty minutes through out the course of the day.
Is that a typo? Every 30 min throughout the day?? Who has a schedule that would allow for that?
no typo. i do it all the time. if it takes your 4 seconds to do each exercise, it would only take you two minutes.
Yeah, but not many people I know have daily schedules that would allow anything every 30 min. If I'm in a business meeting that lasts 2 hours, should I just jump up 3 times and start exercising? Or what if I have a 40 minute commute? Stop and do these along side the road? Or I'm traveling for business and the plane ride is 1.5 hours? Definitely not practical for me.
Then don't do it.
In meetings, I tighten my stomach muscles up for 10 seconds.
When flying, I walk the terminal between flights and even did calisthenics at empty gates.
I performed isometric arm exercises in the bathroom during the flight.
When you WANT to exercise, you find a way.0 -
oh man, i remember the day i did 10 push ups every thirty minutes over the course of 18 hours. craziness. i finished the day with 360 push ups. my chest was blasted!! and yeah, at first 10 push ups was nothing, but the last few hours, oh man did i feel it!!
I did that, too, that day (unless he makes a habit of this shenanigan) and it felt wicked! In a good way. Sneak it in. No reason it can't be broken up.0 -
Wake up 30 mins early and workout fasted.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 393.6K Introduce Yourself
- 43.8K Getting Started
- 260.3K Health and Weight Loss
- 175.9K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.5K Fitness and Exercise
- 431 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153K Motivation and Support
- 8K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.3K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 3.8K MyFitnessPal Information
- 24 News and Announcements
- 1.1K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.6K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions