To ask when you fit in exercise?

[Liskee]

I'm on a weight loss programme, 4 stone down and 4 to go. Now is the time to start exercising and building it into my week so that is becomes normal, and a part of my life just like my new way of eating is.

But when?! I have a DH and 2 DC. We leave the house at 7.30 every morning. I think every night I could get up at 6am and do a YouTube video before DH and DC get up. But I haven't committed to setting the alarm yet! Is it good to exercise first thing? Is it harmful?

I'm normally home around 5.30pm and have dinner ready for about 6pm. The DC are in bed and the 'prep for the next day' jobs are normally done for around 8-8.30pm. I normally go to bed at around 10pm so there's a window there, which is usually used for tv, social media, online shopping, pressing jobs about the house and general sitting still.

Weekends are very DC/family focused but I think I could fit a regular class in on a Saturday morning.

So how do people fit in some kind of formal body changing exercise? How do you make it part of your routine? Please!!

First of all congratulations on your progress so far.
I'm not speaking from a scientific point of view, only from my own experience , I would say get that alarm set ! Early morning exercise always sets me up for the rest of the day. It also makes me more mindful of what I'm eating as I dont want to "waste my effort" if you get what I mean.
Commit to one morning for the first few weeks and find something that you enjoy. Then increase it. I dont know where you live but is it possible to get outside for 30mins as the mornings are getting lighter.
Also try and increase your NEAT opportunities during the day.
And consider using weights as lifting is something all women should be doing

I do it first thing in the morning, so it’s done and if your day gets away from you it’s good to know you did that one thing for yourself in the morning. If you do HIIT or similar, your body will keep burning calories at a slightly higher rate all day. It’s hard to get into the habit st first, but will become second nature! Well done on your progress so far.

It varies. I sit with my diary at the start of the week and plot out when I'm going to run, go to a class, or take a rest day, using the kids schedule, dh's schedule, and the weather forecast. It's much easier now my littlest is at nursery but up until January this did basically involve getting up at 6.30, kit on immediately and running in the cold, dark, ice, rain.

Exercising first thing isn't harmful!!

It's the only way I can fit it in and judging by how full my classes and the pool are I think it's pretty normal.

Yes, you can work out in the morning if that when you have time, it works better for a lot of people. I do my stuff after work, as that suits me best.

Agree on lifting weights/resistance training, it's an excellent option, and if you're limited on time, you'll likely see a better return from that than just doing cardio (though doing both if you have the time to is best).

The best thing about exercising in the morning is you have no time to prevaricate, and you're done for the day before you have breakfast.
If I wait til the evening you can guarantee that by then I've found a reason why I can't do it. By just getting up and getting on with it you take procrastination out of the equation.
Have a small strong coffee first and off you go.

Well done on the weight loss that is epic!

I run home / school collection for work, I have 25 mins between finishing work and collecting my children so can just get changed and run 3k.

I go for a long run on a Sunday’s morning, get up early ish run and back for breakfast.

I excerise in the sports centre whilst my children are gymnastics class, generally squeeze in 45 min gym session whilst they are in a hour class.

I exercise for half an hour ever day, after DD goes to bed and DH comes home. So anywhere between 7-8.30pm.

Well done on the changes so far!

Exercise first thing in the morning is great! When I started, the only time I could fit anything in was early morning and it worked really well.

When your Dc are old enough (or on days when someone else takes them) use the time that wouid otherwise have been spent on the school run doing C25K, plus Saturday mornings (at Parkrun). I never thought I would be able to run, but did it that way and it transformed my life.

The DC can take part in Parkrun too, and you don't have to run. Walking is genuinely fine, as is a walk/run mix, then will gradually become more 'run' - if you stick with C25K, you could be running the whole thing by Easter, as it's a 9 week programme, half and hour 3 x a week from utter sofa-bound beginner.

Well done on your weight loss so far. I Tey to do morning too, but I'm lucky that I can run the school run with the kids on their bikes a couple of times a week. I also swim in the evenings, 9pm. I read during the week (sorry can't remember where) that hiit routines are the most effective of you're short on time. Body weight exercises are great if you don't have access to a gym and don't want to invest in equipment until you know what you like to do. I did 30 day shred (it's on YouTube) a couple of years back and it was really good to kick start my weight loss. Oh, and where possible work exercise into other activities, eg, I'm meeting a friend for dinner later, so I'll walk there (3.5km, so 30ish mins) and probably home again. I took the kids on a nature walk though a forest last weekend so we all got some fresh air and exercise (and a picnic). Most of all, try to do some exercise you at least slightly enjoy once or twice a week, as it makes the rest a bit easier.

My week looks a lot like yours. I currently do no exercise during the week, I can't even walk the stairs at work, it's elevator only!

I'm planning on starting spinning at least 1 eve per week (class starts at 7pm) then walks and cycling once the lighter nights finally arrive.

I run at night, after DS is in bed, but I also do a fair bit of walking during my average working day when I travel in to campus. I live rurally, and don't drive, so I walk about half a mile to the bus stop and a mile from the city centre to campus at the other end, and the same again on the way home. I average 15-16000 steps on a working day, judging by my phone's fitness app.

These are great replies, I'm really grateful for you all responding! Mornings it is! I think it's genuinely the only time I have free to myself that's guaranteed!

The cupboard is full of exercise DVDs and I have access to YouTube on the tv, so no excuses. Here's to dropping the next 4 stone helped along with morning exercise!

What time does DH get home of an evening? Can he look after the DC's dinner and getting them into bed on two allocated nights a week? (Obviously if he's home in time he can, but will he?)
Other than that, it's early mornings that I prefer to late evenings. And having already achieved something before the school run is a great feeling.
That's why I like the sport I'm doing at the moment - I'm part of a crew so have to get to certain training slots, 7pm on Tues & Thurs and 7am on a Sat. DH and family are being fantastic in supporting me to do that. Plus youtube kettlebells sessions in the evening.

A youtube recommendation from me is kettlebells workout with bodyfit by amy - she's a 'typical' american fitness coach but has really good workouts with anything from ten minutes to 45 minutes.

I would do one morning, one evening and one weekend option. In fact I do. One early start you can deal with and also one 7.30 or 8pm exercise with jobs after.
We also don't prioritise eating so much in the week now we exercise which means we eat fewer heavy meals

I run, 5 times a week. During the week I go either in my lunch break or more often straight after I get home from work (usually head out 7 ish). On the evenings I go running, DH does bedtime (DCs are 7&9 so not difficult), and I’m normally back to say goodnight.

At weekends I go both days, usually early in the morning with the dog. I usually run just over 20 miles in total a week, which for an average woman burns 2000kcal.

I’m not a natural runner, but I have realised that it is by far the most time effective way to get fit and burn calories.

Good luck!

Can DH do some of the mornings and/or evenings? Can you exercise at lunchtime? Can he do some of the bedtimes and next day prep?

Hi OP,

Well done on your amazing loss so far!!

I, personally, am not a morning person. Never have been. So morning exercises and me never work 😂

I fit it in when DS is asleep as he's too young at the moment for me to workout when he's around. He'd be trying to pick up the weights and all sorts 😂

I don't workout everyday either. I have 3 rest days so there's plenty of time for other things too in the evenings 😊

So if you find that mornings aren't working, Try and fit it in that evening slot and see how you go 😄😄

Can you walk more than you do at present? Then as you say Saturday class, it must be possible to get out one evening a week. Go on a family walk/ bike ride at the weekend, DC should be able to walk as many miles as their age, it does take work though .

I’m not a natural runner, but I have realised that it is by far the most time effective way to get fit and burn calories.

It really is.

You can run any time, anywhere with no set up or travel time.

I get up at 5:30 am and go to the gym with a friend form 6-7, get home and have a shower before DH and DD wake up four times a week.
My health is too precious to not exercise.

I incorporate it into my working day by walking into work but I only live about 5K from the office so it is very doable and takes about 45-50 mins which depending on traffic, sometimes beats the bloody bus. I then walk about half way home as it is definitely harder after a full days work.

Best of Luck OP.

For me I do a combination and it’s because I hate doing my hair and can’t straighten my hair every day without ruining it!
So I get up early one morning, do 30 day shred or similar HIIT workout, shower, wash and dry my hair and go to work. The next day I shower, without washing my hair, go to work and do it in the evening. The following morning I do it and then wash and dry my hair!

It sounds silly but getting up early and doing it every morning didn’t work for me because of the additional getting ready time.

HIIT workouts can be over and done in 25 mins so you’re pretty much half way through before you notice.

There’s also a beginner shred which is a good intro to HIIT and easier than straight into 30 day.

Well done so far and I hope you find what works for you

I used to go for my morning run at 5am before I moved house. My gym opens really early so I go in at 6am while DH gets kids ready.