If you work full time, how do you fit in keep-fit?

[Newyea]

Just that! If you keep fit, how or when do you fit exercise into your working day? Especially (indeed specifically!) if you work in an office, and do not have much flexibility over timings.

Sort of allied to this, if you have any (healthy :-) lunch tips that help you feel full of energy, this would also be helpful. New year, new job, hopefully new me. Thank you!

I don't have children but I exercise after work as I can't face the mornings!
Peloton

I'm in bed by 10 and get up at 5.

I go straight from work about 3 times a week. One of those days I pick kids up from their activities at the same gym (winner!) and two other days my parents give them tea etc and take them home for me. I get home about 7.30.
Then I generally go to gym once or twice at weekends when kids are either at their dads or are lazing around at home for an hour.

Make the commute your exercise.

I get up really early. Just before 5pm and back for 6.30 to get on with the day. I used to go after DD had gone to bed but I don't think it's healthy. Your body is winding down for the night and it makes sleeping hard.

I used to go on my lunch break as the gym was one minute away but I'd only get 40 mins and then 18 to dry shampoo and redo my makeup. Was a nightmare and I felt people were watching me to make sure I didn't take the piss.

I get up for work at 6am - go to bed around 10/10.30. If I got up at 5 I wouldn’t have time in the evenings to do everything I need to once I got home from work before heading to bed about 9/9.30

I get up really early and take my dogs for a brisk 40 minute walk every morning before work, then they have another 20 minute walk after work. I've got all weather clothing, great wellies and really good LED lights. This way, I hit my 10k steps and everything else is a bonus on top as I'm very desk based at work.

I mountain bike, race etc so I combine my hobby, seeing friends and keeping fit in one. With my non biking friends we never meet in a cafe, pub etc, we meet for 5 mile ++ walks, which is a) free b) combines a meet with fitness. I used to cycle to work when I lived closer.

I'm in bed by 10 and get up at 5.

I couldn't get to bed that early & it takes me a while to sleep plus I like to read for a bit so I wouldn't get enough sleep.

A bit tmi but when do people fit in sex?

Running. Really easy to fit around everything else. Just open the door and go when you have a free 30 minutes.

Peloton. Bike and weights classes. Makes exercising fun and feasible.

I go to the gym at 6am. My gym is 5 mins from my house so I get up at 5.35am. Not every morning but 2 or 3. It's hard but gets easier when it becomes your routine. I would never make it in the evening so it has to be morning. I book into a class so I'm less likely to turn off the alarm.

The consistency is still very much a work in progress, but on an ideal day I do 15-20mins stretching/Pilates/yoga in the morning before taking dc to nursery, then do a very brisk 30-40 min power walk at lunchtime, rain or shine, then do 15-20 mins online Les mills class after work - abs, pump etc. With a longer online class on at least one weekend day. I wfh full time+, but used to do this routine when working in an office - getting out of the office for a walk at lunchtime was a non negotiable.
Online classes mean you don’t have to waste time travelling to the gym, faffing about changing etc. Those little chunks add up, when I have been doing this consistently for a few weeks the results really show, just working on keeping at it regularly when work is super busy/crises happen etc. Try to embed things one at a time, and don’t worry if progress is slow - that’s how lasting change happens! Good luck!

I work 13 hour shifts but go to the gym for an before work if on days or after work if on nights.
I try to go on my days off but tbh I’m not very organised! If I’m already out I’m more likely to go so my gym kit lives in the car.
I walk a lot on days off .

Lunch is mostly salad/fish/fruit/nuts although some days I can’t be bothered and grab a supermarket sandwich or sushi at lunch time.

Any time 😂

Put kid in bed, ask another family member to listen for him, and go for a walk. Only walk about a mile, but mostly up hill.

Not the fittest fiddle but just trying to make sure I get out of the house at least once a day.

Also taking ozempic injections and am steadily losing weight.

I don’t. I scroll through mn shite- or other stuff. Has to stop!

I weight train. My trainer gives me a workout that can be done at home and others that are for the gym. The gym is about 25 mins drive away and I manage to go once a week late at night (it’s open till 10pm). Then I do weekend workouts at the gym
for longer.

I prioritise it but it has to happen after/during DC’s various evening/weekend activities.

I do circuit classes at 5.45am three days a week. I go to bed at 10 and get up at 5.15 on those days, back packed the night before and gym clothes laid out to throw on.

I never used to be an early riser or go to bed early but I would so much rather exercise before the family wake up/before work. I don’t have time or energy for exercise most evenings.

Great. I do plan to walk over an hour a day (as part of commute), I used to bike a lot, but this is on a dangerous route, so not a good idea.

I’d been thinking early morning is the only way. But doesn’t it make you tired for the rest of the day?? I think I’d need to be getting up about 5.30 like many of you. I tried sooo hard to do this during lock down, even reading (enthusiastic) American books on the subject, but it all seems to go to pot after about 2 weeks. @runlittlemonster getting it hooked into your day seems to be the key.

I think I can also be a bit “all or nothing” and sometimes nothing is easier… your stories here are v encouraging.

also thanks for the lunch tip. Getting the train will be expensive enough, so I don’t want to spend more on pret etc, so any home made lunch ideas much appreciated too! Usually (60% of time!) do pretty well at home, eating a salad and stuff for lunch, but not sure how this will translate to sweaty packed lunches? Thanks again!

I took up running about 18 months ago as I felt it was the most flexible option rather than classes at specific times or something that needs a lot of kit. During the week I go for a jog when my kid is at one of their sports clubs, whereas before I would just sit in the car phone-scrolling or pop home for a quick cuppa and go back out to collect them. I go for my longer run at the weekend when they are at another club. It does mean I have to be pretty hardy about going whatever the weather and I have a head torch for the dark winter evenings.

Oh also, about lunch, I can get quite hungry! In terms of calories, a big pret baguette and a hot chocolate would be about right, if they were not so expensive! So any ideas on things that keep you going at work, also appreciated. I think o basically need a big overhaul 😜

I’m an early riser but I don’t like working out in the morning before work - I get really sweaty and need a full shower and hair wash to feel nice fain and it all takes so much time when I have to leave home at 7am. I do something every evening after work, either a run, cycle outdoors, peleton, swim, session at the gym, CrossFit class or even just a long walk with the dog.. it depends on the weather and I try to do something different each day of the week if I can. It’s good to take an hour for yourself!

I work out at 5am. Otherwise the day runs away with me and I don't want it eating into the evening.

I do about 20 mins of stretching while coffee is brewing each morning. I have a rowing machine so do 35-60mins when I get home from work. Weekends i am on the water at 7am and some by 10am