To be struggling to get high impact exercise into my week

[TheEverdelightfulsamantha]

I think i am - I have loads of excuses if you want them (I had covid, husband works away a lot, primary kids who can’t be left home alone, a bugger of a commute, very sweaty, fear of death on a bike etc etc) but I need a kick up the butt - inspire me with all the ways you get decent exercise in your schedule!

I do 20 min HIIT videos that I find online for free. I get up a bit earlier and do them before work. I cannot stand anything longer and instead of an excuse my thinking is ‘it’s just 20 minutes you can do this’

@pollykitty can you share a link to some that you like?

I think the problem is that some of your 'excuses' are valid reasons - husband away, kids that can't be left, long commute... that's does make it tricky.

I either go running before work (6am) or the gym after work (6pm) but my kids are older so don't need me around. We can also eat dinner at 8pm which we definitely could not do when they were younger!

I'd try 20 min HIIT workouts - I do HASFIT videos on YouTube. Some of them are a few years old now but they're good and there's a range videos to chose from.

Otherwise the 30 Day Shred - again, only 20 mins so doable before/after work.

I do the HIIT workouts on the Joe Wicks app. During the week, I get up at 5am to get them done while DH and DS are still asleep. I can't do stuff after work. We don't usually get home before 7pm because DS has training.
It's way easier in the summer months...

Does your workplace have a shower facility? I workout on my lunch breaks mainly!

YouTube is packed with short HIIT workouts. Do a 15/20 minute one, with a warm up and cool down and you'll be done in 30/35 mins. Start with Joe Wicks 10 min mobility warm up, Joe Wicks and Fitness blender have got loads for the actual workout, then do some stretching afterwards. On days you can't be arsed, just do a 10 min abs or 10 min legs.

Les mills app. Other similar options are available!

Heather Watson is good. Growingannas too. Joe Wicks has loads for free on YouTube. Try some weights too.

It is really difficult when you can’t leave your kids unattended. I am a single parent and basically didn’t exercise at all in the first 10 years of my DD’s life.

Theres loads of HIIT stuff available on the internet as a PP has said.

Are your kids too young to be left unattended while you run? I run before work 3-4 times a week because I struggle to find time after that point. Works beautifully for me.

These HIIT dance videos by EMKFit are really good fun, usually have me laughing at myself because I have zero coordination and get you sweating

https://youtube.com/@emkfit

Another fan of YouTube HIIT workouts here!

I do:

Joe Wicks
Olivia Lawson/Lift with Liv
Oliver Sjostrom/NoBadAddiction
FitByMik

There is always something new being added on one of these channels and I have old favourites that I go back to time and time again.

Equipment wise I have a mat, a pair of 1kg and 3kg dumbells.

I'm fitter, stronger, much more toned and my coordination has massively improved!

Oh I liove fitbymik. Her short arm workouts are great.

I agree with the HIIT videos. I've used Joe Wicks. I've also run with kids on bikes, run junior parkrun with the kids ( depending on age, they can be quite fast!), run around field/playground whilst kids played, swimming whilst they have swimming lessons.

I've got into a good routine where I do a few bodyweight and abs exercises as soon as I get up (thanks Six Pack Revolution) and a bit of yoga before bedtime. Not every day but most days. I use the WithU app to do some HIIT, running and rowing workouts (about 3 in all per week, 10-30 mins). What works best for me is doing it after 7pm or at the weekend.

Sure, I hate bouncing or jumping too …
This one is so much harder than it looks

this one is good too

And love madfit

I used to run while my kids cycled alongside me, would that be an option?

Parkrun on a saturday morning, sometimes 6 year old does it with me while husband in charge of the younger one.

family gym membership- one takes the kids to the gyms pool while the other does a class/lengths of the pool and the. swap so each adult gets a workout in

I sometimes cycle to work, if its bit chucking it down and the temperatures cooler, about 6 miles.

If its not chucking it down *

What kind of lunch breaks do you have that affords you time to shower and work out?!😂

You guys are wonderful - links v useful! In awe of the 5am starts.

running with the kids on bikes might work - maybe not on weekdays but weekends…

On the basis of all that YANBU you have a lot on !!

Have you got other people that could babsysit while you did soemthing some evening?

I love team sports. Basically the training not and games have become a lot of
my social life . Husband works shifts so sometimes I have to get family im to help out.

when I’m in the office I try and go for a walk (know this isn’t high intensity but better than sitting on my bum).

have also had an exercise bike at home before that helped and can sit and watch tv at same time 👌

I run on the spot in my kitchen after my daughter goes to bed and after I've caught up on work. This does mean 11pm, which wouldn't work for everyone, but I vastly prefer it to getting up early. In this weather it's also cooler (plus I have a fan facing me). I listen to podcasts and sometimes an app called Zombies Run. This way I get in 2 -3 hours of running per week.

Another vote for Oliver . He is my absolute favourite