To ask how you fit exercise into your work day?

[Wannahaveitall]

I work fairly standard hours 9 - 6, with an hour's commute each way. I do have the option of flexible hours, starting earlier or later. I need to start exercising for the good of my health, and wondered how other people working full time fit it in? Do you exercise at weekends?

I'm already knackered at the end of the day, shudder at the idea of dragging myself to the gym, but I know it will probably boost energy once I get into it.

Thoughts?

[goodasitgets]

I work shifts so it's not so bad. When I work 8-4 I do a class afterwards at 7.30pm. If I work a late and start at 4pm I tend to go in the morning

[harrietspy]

I get public transport to work, so I walk for 20-30 mins then get on the bus a bit further along the bus route. The traffic is slow when I travel so I don't lose much time and the whole commute takes about an hour whether I walk or not. Incorporating exercise into my day like this is the ONLY way I've ever managed to exercise on a regular basis.

If I didn't have the chance to walk in the mornings, I'd probably try to exercise at lunch time (not that I take a lunch break usually).

Hope you find something that works for you.

[Cheeky76890]

Arrange to meet a friend and run together 3 nights a week. Don lights and reflective bands once dark.

[eltsihT]

Is there a way to work exercise into your commute?

I am a sahp so not much help but my dh walks/jogs the long way to the train station in the morning, he used to cycle the long way (5 miles) to work and the short way home 500m but we moved.

[Cheeky76890]

Could you aim to excersise once at the weekend and twice mid week?

[mummy1973]

I try to walk at lunchtime and aim for a swim once a week. I also do some gentle stretches and core strength exercises in the lounge of an evening! Not enough but better than nothing.

[EllieFredrickson]

I've found walking to be the best method. I gave up on the park and ride and park 15 mins from the office, so I have to walk the rest of the way whatever the weather! Appreciate whether or not you can do this will depend on your commute. I use a phone app to try and make sure I walk fast (4mph) and wear a pedometer to try and make sure I do as close to 10,000 steps as I can a day. Building this into my routine has made a big difference.

I try to walk at weekends too. Eg while DD is at her music workshop for half an hour I walk round the block a few times and on Sundays DH and I go walking for 45 mins early on while she is in bed (she's 14).

I also play badminton with girlfriends once a week. We've found that the social aspect makes us go. I also do a Pilates class too in term time - quite relaxing from all the stresses of work as my brain only has room to concentrate on the exercises!

[Comito]

It's awkward, I admit. I get gym membership through work and I try to go to a couple of pilates classes around lunchtime in the week and the gym in the evening. Problem is, I don't get home till about 7, get changed, go straight out, 10 min drive, hour's workout then 10 mins back and I'm not home till 8.30 which is late to eat. I need to get into a routine because at the moment I'm finding it too easy to not bother with the gym after work. I do go at weekends though.

[dun1urkin]

After work and at the weekend.
I'm far too lazy to get up early enough to do it before, and am definitely far too vain to get up in time to exercise and then dry hair and apply slap.
You may find that you are less tired once you get into a routine. I feel a big difference between being physically tired and the mental tiredness I get from work (assuming you don't have a physical job)

[Frontier]

Lunchtimes, evenings and early at the weekends.

Spin class or a brisk walk every weekday lunchtime, running club two evenings a week and early runs at the weekend, so I still have the weekend free to do more interesting things.

On running club nights I find the best way to make sure I get there is to get home just in time to change and leave. If I have time to sit, there's a good chance I will decide I'm too tired to go.

[HazleNutt]

What's your family situation, can you go in the morning before work? I have a 7.30 class - jump out of bed, brush the teeth, go to the gym close to work, shower and make up and I'm at my desk by 9. Probably not doable if you're getting 5 DC ready for school or similar.
Lunchtime class?

Work out at home? There are plenty of short, but intensive exercise DVDs you could do before the rest of the family wakes up.

DH runs - we have a jogging buggy, so he takes baby DS with him.

[addictedtosugar]

Incorporate into commute, or go out at lunchtime.
Yes, I try to go out once at the weekend.
I start much earlier, get home earlier (and have a shorter commute), feed the kids around 5.30, and go out after they are in bed. Much easier in the summer!

[Comito]

Morning gym is a massive no-no for me. I have to get up at 5.45 and it takes me exactly the time before I have to leave to get ready. There's literally no way I'd have time to get up earlier to go to the gym.

I do sometimes go for a quick run around the block instead of gymming.

[Beastofburden]

I have colleagues who make the most of their lunch break by going for a run together. Sometimes they also meet at 8am and run before work.

I swim after work and get DH to be back on time for the kids that day. I also have a personal trainer once a week in the evenings, and it doesn't matter that I don't feel like it, he has no mercy.

If that All sound too much you could get a long way with a 30 minute brisk walk every lunch break. It doesn't all have to be gym and stuff.

[dementedma]

I go for a walk/jog with a friend outside after work.lucky to have the countryside so don't need to pay for a gym. I just make sure I don't even sit down when I get in. In the door, work clothes off, joggers on, out the door. Dcs are older now so probably couldnt do this with young Dcs.

[Dragonlette]

I find it really difficult too. Im a teacher so am usually free from 3:30 but tend to do an hour's marking/planning at school before I drive 30 mins to collect dd2 from the cm at 5. I haven't figured out how to fit exercise into my commute as well as drop off and pick up as timings are tight. I do a step class one evening when dd1 is at an activity, I swim on my way home from work one day as dp works from home that day so he collects dd2 from school. I try to get out for a walk at the weekend too but that's rather dependant on how I feel.

[insertsomethingwitty]

I get up early and run. I trained for a marathon earlier this year by getting up at 5am through the winter to run before taking the children to school.

[BikeRunSki]

I run at lunchtime, or after the dc are in bed. I usually put on my running stuff when they are putting their pjs on, otherwise I would find in very hard to force myself out.

[MrsJossNaylor]

Both DH and I try to exercise every day, so we work it around each other - ensuring that the other one is available to have DS.

For example, if he has running club in the evening, I'll go to a 6.45am gym class. If he's free in the evening, then it's my turn to go for a run or to body pump etc.

And if I'm struggling to fit it in at all, I'll run home from work. I appreciate that isn't easy for everyone, but you could get off the bus/train early.

We also finding that not watching any tv in the evenings helps - most of the people we know who say they don't have time to exercise curiously have time for X Factor/Strictly. Even if you're on childcare duties and can't get out, there's always fitness DVDs. The Shred isn't bad.

[WhoeverYouWantMeToBe]

I work full time and going to the gym after work at 5pm is a killer but I always feels great for going after work once a week. Always do two gym sessions at weekend as well. Have heard good things about insanity and definitely want to try that! Easy to fit into any schedule.

[Bartlebee]

I go to classes that start early, 6.45 or 7. I am lucky in that my dh usually works from home which enables me to do this.

I also go at the weekend, in the mornings, and at least one evening per week.

[missorinoco]

I get up earlier and do an exercise DVD, or one of the workouts on youtube. I choose workouts of a length I can manage without making myself late or getting up ridiculously early. I exercise 3 times during the week, and one or both days at weekends. I don't manage 40 minutes though - I can fit in half an hour max.

I tend not to have to get up too much earlier. Walking on autopilot to switch n the DVD/computer then exercising means I am fully awake and ready to go when it is finished. The days I have a sneaky lie in I usually feel sluggish.

I can't generally face doing exercise at the end of the day - by the time the children are in bed I just don't fancy it, and going to the gym would add another 20 minutes each way. This way I have more time to relax in the evening.

[BikeRunSki]

Big respect to insert!!!

[helenenemo]

I work full time and head to the gym when I finish work at 5, either classes or gym. 1-2 hours. Then get up early and do 2 hours on Saturday and 3 on Sunday.