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!

What time do you go to sleep the night before to get enough sleep if you're getting up at 6 every morning?

WFH I have a standing desk and walk on a walking treadmill. Plus I run 5x a week and walk dogs daily. Finding this happy balance may or may not have led me to suspect ADHD…😜

I joined a gym near the office. I go twice a week. On those days, I get up at 530am and do the commute super early. The bonus is that the commute is lovely and quiet at that time. I do a full workout in the gym, shower and then go to work.

The gym energises you so you aren't tired at work but on those days, I barely manage to stay awake past 930pm/10pm.

Most days I make lunch and take it with me. Biggest challenge is not eating it before lunch time. I tend to take leftovers from dinner the night before or make a huge salad and portion it up.

Like most pps, I get up early to run or do a strength class before the rest of the house is awake.
It's the only way I can reliably fit it in. Means going to bed at 10 or 10.30, but then I wouldn't be doing anything useful after that time anyway.

I'm in London and when it starts to get lighter I am contemplating ditching the gym and cycling to work. With all the new cycle lanes, there's actually now only a small bit at the end of my commute that isn't on a cycle lane (off the road) and about 3/4km at the start.

The trains are so unreliable and I've had enough of the strikes but I'll wait till the weather is better/it's a bit lighter to try.

I’d been thinking early morning is the only way. But doesn’t it make you tired for the rest of the day??

If anything it energises you.

I go up around this time, into bed for 9:15/9:30 asleep by 10 unless I am out of DC need picking up. Up at 5:20 in the week. 6:30 at the weekend
Run 2-3 times a week. 5 mins of pirates before my shower every morning.

For lunch my secret weapon is broccoli. Fresh/frozen whatever. Just loads of broccoli with whatever else is there.
I find it keeps me full for ages and stops the sudden energy dips.

Pre covid/wfh FT I went to the gym at 8pm a couple of nights a week plus weekends. Now I work at home FT I go for a walk in the morning and go to 3 classes around 6.30-7.30 a week, it’s easy as the kids are now teens so can be left at home. I also exercise in my lunch time if I’m feeling motivated (an approaching beach holiday perhaps!)

I have a pool at my flat. I take 30 min out to swim 20 lengths while WFH or after work and before picking up toddler from nursery. I walk everywhere I can.

@TabithaTittlemouse

😆 strictly morning or evening for us during the week due to work & dc demands.

I run two lunchtimes a week - I wfh - plus I Parkrun on Saturday mornings and do a yoga class on Sunday afternoon to maintain flexibility.

I'm already up at 5.15am to leave at 7 for work (including getting DD up and ready, and a bit of email checking first thing). No way to fit in exercise during the week - I finish at 4.30/5pm and after school club closes at 5.15. Envious of everyone who has the time to fit in gym/exercise etc!

Ok strange question, but is this cooked broccoli or raw??

Peloton whilst H/W is being done in the evening. About 45 mins worth of classes.
Then we ParkRun as a family on Saturdays.

Joined gym close to work and do a class on my lunch break every day

if I can’t go for whatever reason I do a work out video on you tube at home in the evening. Can’t do morning or evening hun sessions cus of nursery run and pick up

I also do a 30 min commute on my bike with my toddler on the back and that’s hard going so that’s a big work out for me 😂😂

Lunch wise, I often do a big batch in the slow cooker for tea and freeze a couple of portions to take to work for lunch, where it gets microwaved. Easier to have a low fat, filling, health lunch e.g.pasta with loads of veggies, bean chilli, veg tagine, soup.

Exercise wise I commute by bike, also lucky enough to have a gym at work which I have recently joined and can use at lunchtime, and have signed up to paddle sport courses in the evening/weekend . That's quite mellow but lo and behold I have developed muscles.

Gym Saturday and Sunday evenings and ideally Wednesday too.
Maximise walking on office days - up and down escalators and walk at lunchtime.

I WFH full time and have two kids... I make sure I do loads of exercise with the kids - swimming, biking etc. I basically don't have time for solo exercise. Me and DH have an occasional lunch time walk.

I do the same with carrot. Grated carrot is really filling in salads. I load it with that and lots of other vegetables like edamame beans. But my problem is managing to leave it in the work fridge till 1 !

Work full time and 2 small kids. The only way I can do it is if I get up super early and do it before everyone else is up/ the rush begins.

In the summer I get up at 5, walk the dog for half an hour, then go to the gym for a 20 mins of weights and a spin class three to four times a week.

At the moment with it being so dark, I get up at 5.30 and get to the gym for 6 and the dog gets a walk in my lunch break. I don't love doing this at all. It's okay in the summer when mornings are light hut absolutely shite when it's cold, dark and foul weather. But if I left it until the evenings I'd be way too tired and it wouldn't happen. The best thing I've heard is that you can't rely on motivation, because that is variable. You just have to make it a non negotiable routine,like brushing your teeth.

I focus on the fact that my mood and energy levels are so much better afterwards and try not to think about the getting up part. Also, I never ever snooze my alarm. As soon as it goes off, I get straight out of bed or I just wouldn't do it. Clothes and kit all laid out the night before so no excuses.

You just have to ask yourself how important it is to you and if you're willing to prioritize and make the time. If you're not, that's totally okay but it's all a choice that we each have. I'm trying to choose health and a rocking body over lie ins!

I have peloton bike and treadmill at home. I do classes when I get home from work anytime between 6-8pm usually. I go to the gym and do weight lifting on my days off or occasional evenings. I am childfree so have more spare time I guess.

Another early morning runner here + 10 mins stretching or resistance while running the bath. I aim to be in bed by 9:30; usually asleep by 10. Lunches: make extra of dinner and take a portion. I am a hungry person and can’t be doing with air for lunch. A proper meal stops me snacking. Also take breakfast - overnight oats - which I eat about10, meetings allowing.

6 am if my husband is here, if he's away I start work early and go to the gym straight after so I'm covered for childcare