How do you fit working out in to a busy schedule?

[dani302011]

I don't post much but lurk often. I am curious on how you ladies fit in time to workout. I just started back at WW and feel great with my healthy eating but I want to add excersizing to it. I just can't find the time with my schedule. I am looking for suggestions to fit in at least an hour 5 days a week, to walk/run.
Here is my current schedule which really is not flexable at all.
530-wake up, shower, dress, eat breakfast, make lunch
645-7 leave for work
745-8 arrive at work (I have about an hour commute. I also carpool with my DH because we work about 5 minutes down the road from each other and we only have one car)
8-6 work with maybe a 30 minute lunch
615-630 (get dh, he works till 6 but is never out before 615)
730- home (closer to 8 if we have to stop at the market)
once home I cook dinner and we try to eat by 8. But it seems like it normally 830 before dinner is done. Then I do some stuff around the house. Take care of pets, household chores, etc. and normally I am in bed around 10 to try to get about 7 hours of sleep.

During the week I just really feel like I have no "me" time. I am either at work, in the car with DH or running around trying to keep our house up. I wish we could live closer to work, to decrease the commute time, but really we are only 12 miles away now and can't afford to live closer anyway. So... any suggestions or tips you use to get in some time to workout?

[papie]

Could you use PT instead of carpooling? That way you could leave as soon as you are done, work out when you get home and he stops at the market?
What do you do between 5:30 and 7? You could fit in a quick run in that time. Like, get up at 5:30, run. Shower at 6:00-6:15, eat breakfast, leave at 7? Make lunch at night instead.

I don't work out much tbh, I try to go for a run twice during the week and once on the weekend. And on weekends we also do family bike rides, play outside, etc.

[luckyval]

Honestly, I don't do well with fitting gym/exercise time into my schedule. I will always find something else I think I should be doing.

I do much better signing up for classes - a set time every week where someone is expecting me to show up. And I make my schedule work around that.

Is there anyway your H can get a ride home or take mass transit 1-2 evenings a week while you go to the gym/go to a class after work?

[wambam]

It's a non-negotiable appointment on my calendar. I train every day at 5:30.

[Sloane]

I don't, so that really makes things easier

[Deleted]

ah, i don't. lol.

the best for me is to do it first thing, or to take a class in the early evening so that i am committed to go and can work/hang with the family and work afterwards.

[papie]

lol at all the "I don't" answers. Helpful, lol.

[sergey]

When I had regular working hours I had to go first thing in the morning; after work would never happen. Looks like your morning starts early and you have a long commute though so I can see how it might not fit in. Can you make lunch the night before and eat breakfast in the car or at your desk to free up some time? If you could free up 20-30 min every day to do some exercises at home it'll start to make a difference in no time.

[hisno1girl]

I think you can shave off some time for meals by making your lunch the night before and cooking meals on the weekend to use during the week. I mean, you're up 1.5 hours before you leave for work. Does it really take you that long to get ready? Lay your clothes out the night before. Work out in the AM for 30-45 minutes and you still have 45-60 minutes to shower and get dressed.

[leancuisine]

That's a tough schedule. Could you possibly pack your lunch the night before and/or bring breakfast to work? That's what I do... not to work out in the morning, but because I like to sleep more.  I am not sure how long your whole getting-ready routine is, but it seems like you could maybe fit something in the morning, even if it's not a full hour.

What kind of pets do you have? Dogs? Can you take them on a long walk before work or after dinner? Can you do anything on your lunch break?

Do you meal plan? Maybe do a few crockpot meals or make something ahead the night before - then you can squeeze in a jog during the time you would be making dinner?


It may be tough to find a full hour in there. Maybe try to fit in two, seperate 20 minure sessions?  Some activity is better than nothing!

[mrsgoontz]

Jul 11, 2013 9:49:32 GMT -5 wambam said:

It's a non-negotiable appointment on my calendar. I train every day at 5:30.

This.

[VillainV]

I do a few things:

1) I try to work out first thing in the morning, as long as I don't have to be in super-ealry (I have a different schedule every day, so some days are later than others). Usually this is some kind of run or swim with other ladies who live near me, so there is accountability to actually go and do it.

2) Take gym clothes and stuff to shower into work with me when I haven't already worked out before going into work. I definitely won't go to the gym if I don't bring clothes, and it's a lot easier to convince myself to go when I have everything I need in my car already. Sometimes meetings get cancelled or I'm done earlier than I expected, and it's good to use little openings during the day to get a short workout in. (My gym is 5 min away from work, so it's easy to get there in the middle of the day or on my way home).

3) In fact, I have a "permanent" set of toiletries that I only use at the gym, and I leave these in my car so I can always take a quick shower after a workout. This way I can't use not being able to shower as an excuse.

4) Make it a habit. I read somewhere that if you do something for 3 weeks, it becomes a habit. It's hard to get into new things at first, but once you've done them for a while you'll forget what it was like to not do it consistently.

[papie]

Jul 11, 2013 9:51:21 GMT -5 leancuisine said:

That's a tough schedule. Could you possibly pack your lunch the night before and/or bring breakfast to work? That's what I do... not to work out in the morning, but because I like to sleep more.  I am not sure how long your whole getting-ready routine is, but it seems like you could maybe fit something in the in morning, even if it's not a fully hour.

What kind of pets do you have? Dogs? Can you take them on a long walk before work or after dinner? Can you do anything on your lunch break?

Do you meal plan? Maybe do a few crockpot meals or make something ahead the night before - then you can squeeze in a jog during the time you would be making dinner?


It may be tough to find a full hour in there. Maybe try to fit in two, seperate 20 minure sessions?  Some activity is better than nothing!

Oh and ditto this.  Sometimes I fall off track because I want to do too much and end up doing nothing.  Then I remind myself that running for 20 minutes is better than sitting on my ass and I go and do just that. 

[joenali]

AM workouts for sure! During the school year i woke up 4:45 so i could at the very least get in a 30 minute run or go to the pool to swim. Make sure everything is ready to go the night before so you can just walk out the door.

What about making the bulk of your meals on the weekend? then you don't have to cook dinner during the week.

What about going to the gym directly after work?

[thebuddhagouda]

I get off work at 4:30, so we eat an earlier dinner, and I work out as soon as the kid goes to sleep at 8:00. In your case, I would probably try to find a way to get up and do it in the morning. It's really hard to get the routine going, but once it's established you find ways to keep making it work because you miss it if you don't get it in.

[Deleted]

How long are you waiting for your H after work? Is there anywhere that you could do some quick power walking while he finishes up? I'd also try to work out in the morning, then eat and apply makeup in the car, assuming your H is driving.

[gmail]

I workout at around 8-8:30pm

Our schedules are so wonky that sometimes either DH or I are solo with toddler in the evenings, so it just makes sense to do it after he's in bed.

I would say, for you, have your H make dinner or pre-cook something (crockpot, leftovers from a big cooking session on the weekend) and then you workout at 8.

[lightbulbsun]

I had a really hard time fitting it in when I had a long commute, too. You just have to make it a priority.  I wake up at 5:30 every morning to work out.

[snickers]

Jul 11, 2013 9:51:05 GMT -5 hisno1girl said:

I think you can shave off some time for meals by making your lunch the night before and cooking meals on the weekend to use during the week. I mean, you're up 1.5 hours before you leave for work. Does it really take you that long to get ready? Lay your clothes out the night before. Work out in the AM for 30-45 minutes and you still have 45-60 minutes to shower and get dressed.

This is probably your best option.
Also, if you were really dedicated, you could walk on your lunch (I know it is only 30 minutes but it is something) and while you are waiting for your H to come out from work.
Good luck!

[Deleted]

Right now it's really hard, but I do it. I workout 6x/week and sometimes it's in the evening, sometimes it's first thing in the morning before even the kids get up and pray no one wakes up. Lol. I'm hoping it will get easier when Theo is older and can entertain himself for longer than 10 minutes.

[chalupabatman]

I can't bring myself to do am, although I know I should.

I really like the Jillian Micheals 30 day shred videos, that's what got me started. Now I pay for classes at the gym...I'm cheap so paying ensures I will go and they are a set time so I have to make time for it.

For now I would suggest planning a 30 min work out for four days a week, two of those days can be the weekend. If your DH is normally not done until 6:15 could you work until 6, plan to work out for 30 min, then pick him up at 6:30? I'm also wondering if you can cut meal prep down by meal planning and making some things ahead for the week. Freezer meals, crockpot meals, etc?

[candreco]

After the kids are in bed. It helps a LOT that we have a relatively short commute- we leave the house around 6:30 and are at work around 7, and then are home by 4. An hour and a half of snuggle and play time with the kids, then I cook dinner (usually w/ DD's help), we're done eating by 6:30, then more family time and getting kids ready for bed, and they're usually in bed 7:30-8ish. 8-10/10:30 DH and I do dishes, tidy up the house, finish and chores that need to be done, prep stuff for the next day, and work out, with maybe 30-45 minutes of TV at the end to unwind. Work outs tend to be in the 30-40 minute range, and we each get them in around 4 times a week. We have a treadmill and various other handweights, yoga stuff, stability balls, etc, so there's no drive time to the gym.

Pre-kids, we had a similar commute, and would go to the gym directly from work, then I'd shower, and cook dinner while DH showered. Having everything ready to go in the car and not going home first really made a difference.

[dani302011]

Jul 11, 2013 9:49:06 GMT -5 papie said:

Could you use PT instead of carpooling? That way you could leave as soon as you are done, work out when you get home and he stops at the market?
What do you do between 5:30 and 7? You could fit in a quick run in that time. Like, get up at 5:30, run. Shower at 6:00-6:15, eat breakfast, leave at 7? Make lunch at night instead.

I don't work out much tbh, I try to go for a run twice during the week and once on the weekend. And on weekends we also do family bike rides, play outside, etc.

Mass transit/ public transit is not an option where I live.  I am in Charlotte and I don't think the bus even goes out to where I live, although we both work in uptown.

I have thought about trying to work out in the morning, but I feel like we are rushing to get out the door as it is. I need to make my lunch at night. that is a good suggestion, then maybe just add 15 minutes and get up at 515. I tried the 400 gym thing and well... that lasted a week. It was miserable.

[cheeseandcrackers]

i wake up at 6 to go work out before work.. but you start work earlier than i do.. BUT
maybe you could pack your lunch the night before? just grab a banana before work out, get ready and dressed in the locker room after workout?

[spankswife]

I just started ww too, and the 30 Day Shred. It is 20-25 min. I do it at night, around 9. My day is very busy like yours (I have 3 yo/work full time)and when people said they did at 9pm I thought they were crazy, but I just do it before I start watching show or anything. After DD goes to bed, I do it quick, and that's that. After you do it/work out late like that, you just get used to it. Plus you can shower afterwards, which gives me a few extra minutes in the am.

[Deleted]

Well, when I'm not sick, the kids aren't sick, and life is going grand, I wake up at 5:30 and workout for about 30 minutes, shower, and try to start breakfast by 6:30.

[Kit]

I go immediately after work, because I know if I go home first, I'll never leave again to get to the gym. But, I don't have kids so that is easy for me to do.

[dani302011]

Thanks ladies! You all gave great suggestions and actually made me realize I am probably making some excuses too. I just need to tweek a few things and fit it in!

[pittsmcgee]

Jul 11, 2013 9:49:32 GMT -5 wambam said:

It's a non-negotiable appointment on my calendar. I train every day at 5:30.

Yes, this. I have classes that I work my schedule around. How flexible is your work? My work sometimes lets me take a "lunch" to work out and I eat at my desk. You can't take an hour for lunch? Could you split 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins at night?

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2013 10:12:59 GMT -5 pittsmcgee said:

Jul 11, 2013 9:49:32 GMT -5 wambam said:

It's a non-negotiable appointment on my calendar. I train every day at 5:30.

Yes, this. I have classes that I work my schedule around. How flexible is your work? My work sometimes lets me take a "lunch" to work out and I eat at my desk. You can't take an hour for lunch? Could you split 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins at night?

This was my favorite thing to do at my old job (which came w a gym....b/c it was a college).  I would get changed in workout clothes in my building, walk over, workout, take a quick rinse shower (no hair), and be back at my desk to eat lunch in 1:15.  HIGHLY recommend.  It broke up the day and gave me a nice boost of energy.