Working full time AND working out?

Calories in - calories out = weight change.

If you cannot work out as much as you did you cannot eat as much as you did. As simple as it sounds it took me ages to realise this.

Just squeeze in exercise whenever you can. Do you work in an office building? Take the steps instead of the elevator. When you go shopping, park further away so you have to walk. At the grocery store, carry the bags to the car rather than pushing the cart to the car. You can sneak exercise in and not realize that you are doing it.

tip - before or after work, without going home in between, works for a lot of people i know, might work for you. can't hurt to try.

I have a "play by ear" working schedule for the most part, and I do work 40 hours a week. It can be exhausting, the thing that helps me out THE MOST is the whole routine of it all. I know it may seem boring but that's the only way I can keep up! I wake up, go to work, go to the gym on my lunch break, go back to work, go to the gym FROM WORK. That's another thing that helps. I pack my gym clothes with me so that I don't go home in between, because I know that if I stop at home, I will lay on the couch and eat thin mints and take a nap aka not go to the gym! Haha. So i know it's hard but if you can make a steady routine for yourself it'll be way easier to just get it done and then flop down after a long day's work AND a great workout!

Yup, it's about habits and priorities. I get up earlier in the morning so I can run or walk or do some other workout. I find that it makes a huge difference to my energy level and mood, so it is worth sacrificing some sleep (or going to bed earlier) to get that extra boost to my day.
The other thiing that might help is to do some research into exercise options that you enjoy that only take 30 mins or so. When you have all day to fill, you can afford to hang out in the gym and do classes and routines that take an hour or more but its really not essential.
For example, you can get a great workout in a half hour run if you throw in some intervals. Or, I know there are a bunch of workout DVD's out there than take 30 mins or less. Or read up on Tabata workouts - short and sharp and apparently very effective.

Hi Katie

I'm 47 and know exactly what you mean about gettinh home exhausted!!

The only way I can manage is to get up early and do an hour at the gym every morning before work. I know the idea of getting up so early hurts, especially on these cold mornings, but I promise you when you arrive at work having worked out, filled with endorphins and freshly showered, the day somehow sems to go better!

Good luck

Paul

This.

I also work full time and have a 5 year old! I cook dinner for my family at least 4 times a week. I don't make it to the gym every single day, because some days when my husband is really busy I have to pick up my son from school. So I go home and start dinner and while doing that, I either do a P90X video or Insanity. And it work really good! they are no more than 1 hr, and it fits my busy schedule just fine!

Suck it up and do it anyway. Some days it gets easier, some days it's tough.

You're 18 so presumably you're living with family, so you don't have to take on the full burden of cooking, washing up, dusting, washing, decorating, ironing, vacuuming, gardening, bill paying, car maintenance, food shopping and house renovations and all the other adult stuff that sucks time out of your life.

I live on my own and still manage to do all that and work full time and make time to exercise 3-5 days a week.

How I do it is by setting a time to go to the gym every week, and not seeing it as optional. It's like part of my work day. I don't get to choose whether or not I go to work, nor do I get to choose whether or not I go to the gym. It's just what I do.

EDITED TO ADD:

I've found that I seem to have PLENTY of time to waste in front of the TV.

Yes, so many people say they don't have time to do "XYZ" that they'd love to do, yet they watch TV for hours every evening. I haven't switched my TV on for nearly two years now, don't miss it at all, and I'm enjoying actually having a life of my own instead of watching other people's!

You have to want it! It eventually just becomes something you're used to and a part of your daily life. I'm 18 as well and I work full time and go to school full time. It's tough at first but once it becomes a habit, you just don't even have to think about it anymore. I wake up at 5:30 AM every single day and never have a day off because the 2 days I do have off of work, I spend at school! I walk/jog at least 3 miles a night and do Turbo Fire (a cardio kickboxing program). Just get your mind set and you can do it!!

I am not a morning person and with 10 hour days and full time school online, I workout in the evenings on the days I work and try for earlier times the days I dont. This is a big reason why I like intense DVD's (like Jillian Michaels) that are short with a huge burn.

I work 8am - 4:30pm 5 days a week, and I get up at 6am 3 days a week to workout before work.

I also walk to/from work when I can.

I used to work out in the evenings after work, but most of the time I just wanted to skip it and relax for the evening.

You just have to put your mind to it, and make time for it. If it's important to you, you will. Good luck!

I look at going to the gym as my 2nd job. I work 8:30am to 5:30pm, then head straight to the gym M-F (sometimes I take a day off), get home around 7:30pm, eat dinner, unwind, take a shower and repeat the same thing the next day. I usually take the weekends off, once in a while I go one day of the weekend.

It is annoying sometimes, but if I want the results I have to do it and I have to think of it as a 2nd job that I *have* to go to.

If you really want it then you will find the time to do it. It isnt going to be easy but if you want it youll find the time.. I work monday thur friday 12 hour shifts and go to school full time and teach zumba class twice a week at the fitness place in town and we have two kids and all there activites and still find time to workout and clean the house and make supper and etc. It is not easy but if you really want to lose weight you have to be determined and not make any excuses and make the time workout and eat right. On the days i dont teach zumba..I will either get up early before the kids get up and workout or I will do it after that bath's are done at night and they are in bed. Winter is kinda harder but during the summer ill put the 2 year old into the weagon and the 5 year old will find his bike all 4 miles. Good luck and im sure youll find something that works best for you.

I get up at 4:30 to workout and get ready for work at 7:15, then work until 5 or 5:30 and hit the Gym again, after which I go home, shower, and essentially die, AKA go to sleep... I just know that not going it NOT an option... I just push myself and tell myself, "I may burn another couple of pounds this week, I have to do this!!"

Best of Luck!!

: ))

I have 4 kids (ages 5.5 to 5 months), I work full time, and I am in grad school.

I am exhausted most days.

If I dont get out of bed at 0545 to do it, then I force myself to do it at night...I either take the kids downstairs with me or wait until they go to bed.

I didnt get out of bed this morning, so I need to fit it in tonight. On top of homework. But its almost so routine now, that if I dont do it, I will feel guilty!

Good luck!