How to find the motive to exercise after standing all day?

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ihave42cats
ihave42cats Posts: 37
in Fitness and Exercise
I work at a place where i'm not aloud to sit down durring my shift, except durring 2 30 minute breaks through out the 8 hour day. By the time i get off my legs are so tired that the last thing i want to do is walk to my car from the casino (about 1/4 a mile away) let alone go home and exercise!

Is anyone else having these same issues? How do/did you ease into an exercise routine after getting off from a job where you were on your feet all day?

Replies

  • chastityheather
    chastityheather Posts: 4 Member
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    Do you have access to a pool or a bike?
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
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    Standing all day IS exercise.

    If you want some cardio, pick something fun after you've sat down, had some food, and relaxed. But REALLY fun - something you like. Dancing, playing in the pool, kayaking, whatever, playing frisbee with the dog . . .

    When I was waitressing all day, I'd exercise first. Gave me lots of energy and - once I hauled myself out of bed - I LIKED being up at 5:30AM.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
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    Is working out before work an option?
  • ihave42cats
    ihave42cats Posts: 37
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    working out before work is out of the question, i bearly have enough time just to get to work. i work in the morning (anywhere from 6am to 8am) and i'd have to shower after i exercise which would mean i'd have to get up earlier. and i can barely get up as it is!

    i don't have access to a pool or a bike, sadly. i have a treadmill.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
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    I just suck it up and do it.

    I'm a teachers aid in special education.. so I am always up and moving... and the only time I sit is when it's lunch time or when the kids are doing independent work.
  • Gapwedge01
    Gapwedge01 Posts: 494
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    Walking and cycling use different muscle groups. Walking is good for your shins, calves, and glutes (butt). Cycling uses more of the thigh and hamstring areas. Obviously, they both use all of the same same muscles, but your feet will not be begging for a epsom salt bath after a bike ride. After walking for nearly 8 hours riding a bike may be your ticket plus give you a good cross training. For a starter bike you can pick up an used bike at garage sales for next to nothing.
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
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    Well I would just suck it up and do it (like dad106) said. Honestly...we're all pretty tired and balancing working out and jobs, family and kids. The best advice I can give to you is find something fun and that you like. I will be hard to get into a routine at first but you will find after time that it becomes easier.
  • gracieabem
    gracieabem Posts: 211
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    I am lucky in that I have the option of going in the morning, which I sometimes take up, but I am also notoriously busy some mornings so I may leave my run until the evenings. I work on my feet all day and yes, sometimes you just don't feel like getting out there and moving. Oh the inner dialogues I have had with myself in the last couple of hours of work lol! Will I? Won't I? Does it matter if I miss a day? Am I too tired? Is this just an excuse? etc. etc.

    I decided that to combat this feeling, I force myself out the door and say that if I hit the 20 minute mark and my heart's still not in it, I'll give myself permission to stop. I have never followed through with this. By the time 20 minutes comes around I am warmed up, sweaty, motivated and more interested in seeing what I can achieve in my workout (whether it be time/distance/pace or other goal). Even when I'm having an off day, my inbuilt stubborness seems to kick in.

    Afterwards there is always a sense of achievement! It does help that I do really enjoy my running, despite there still being days that I question my sanity. You have to find something you enjoy (or at the very least, tolerate)
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
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    I am lucky in that I have the option of going in the morning, which I sometimes take up, but I am also notoriously busy some mornings so I may leave my run until the evenings. I work on my feet all day and yes, sometimes you just don't feel like getting out there and moving. Oh the inner dialogues I have had with myself in the last couple of hours of work lol! Will I? Won't I? Does it matter if I miss a day? Am I too tired? Is this just an excuse? etc. etc.

    I decided that to combat this feeling, I force myself out the door and say that if I hit the 20 minute mark and my heart's still not in it, I'll give myself permission to stop. I have never followed through with this. By the time 20 minutes comes around I am warmed up, sweaty, motivated and more interested in seeing what I can achieve in my workout (whether it be time/distance/pace or other goal). Even when I'm having an off day, my inbuilt stubborness seems to kick in.

    Afterwards there is always a sense of achievement! It does help that I do really enjoy my running, despite there still being days that I question my sanity. You have to find something you enjoy (or at the very least, tolerate)


    ^^^^^ This is so true! The first 10 minutes of the workout are the hardest......after that your mind catches up with your body and you're into it! Just find something fun and do it!
  • kiwikuchenvogel
    kiwikuchenvogel Posts: 9
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    I'd say if you really want to do it do it. Everything else is an excuse to not excersise.
    I work night shift 11pm till 7:30 am drive 45 minutes home with the bike, sleep for 4 to 5 hours and do the rest of the training before I go to work.
    So, even when I work 8 to 9 hours a night I still find the energy to do some training on my bike and why is that? Because I really really want that...
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    one of my best friend's is a professional makeup artists so she's on her feet all day working shoots.

    she does her workout in the mornings before she leaves for her gigs. that way she doesnt have to rely on motivation to get it down afterwards
  • teacheatsleep
    teacheatsleep Posts: 22 Member
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    I definitely feel the same way. I'm a teacher and I'm lucky if I get to sit at all. For me, working out with others is what keeps me going. My feet ache when I come home from work, but there are 2 other people depending on me to do TurboFire each night. It's hard but eventually my feet and body got used to it. If possible, find people to keep you accountable. If that's not an option, set a time in your schedule, same time, everyday, where you are active. Even if my boyfriend and mom weren't able to meet me one night, I still have it set in my schedule to be at my parent's house at 8pm to work out.
  • emilypurplefrog
    emilypurplefrog Posts: 92 Member
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    Do you watch much television in the evenings? If so, rather than fast fowarding through commercials or sitting during the commercials, get up and do some exercises on the floor. I use my weights and exercise ball during commercial breaks!
  • Heather_Rider
    Heather_Rider Posts: 1,159 Member
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    I know it sucks and you dont want to do it.. but the thing is.. the fat isnt going to fall off. If it did, none of us would be here. Its simple. If you want it bad enough, you get up and do it.
  • isis2triple0
    isis2triple0 Posts: 106 Member
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    I'd say if you really want to do it do it. Everything else is an excuse to not excersise.
    I work night shift 11pm till 7:30 am drive 45 minutes home with the bike, sleep for 4 to 5 hours and do the rest of the training before I go to work.
    So, even when I work 8 to 9 hours a night I still find the energy to do some training on my bike and why is that? Because I really really want that...

    I'm sorry hon but, I so totally agree with this person it all comes down to how bad you want it!!! I use to have to catch the bus at 5:30AM to get to my morning job as a Chef where I too was on my feet for hours and sometimes with out a break! So I would get up at 3:00AM (no lie! I slept in my workout clothes!) to do a hour long total body intense workout, this gave me enough time to shower and fix my breakfast (ate it at the stop). Yeah it was hard as hell at first but, you know what it got easier and easier and I also had more energy at work and afterwards however I did have to go to bed quite early but, you gotta sacrifice somewhere!! You can either stop making excuses and start making changes or stay the way you are period!!
  • RealWomenLovePitbulls
    RealWomenLovePitbulls Posts: 729 Member
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    I work in a nursing home and am on my feet all day (but not standing still) I had a gym membership but wasn't going because I would be so tired after work and then once I got home, I didn't want to go back out. I broke down and bought an elliptical (in the long run, it is cheaper than having a gym membership that I wan't using) so now, i can come home and relax a little bit and once i'm refreshed, then I can just go upstairs and work out

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