Do you exercise in your lunch hour?

[rainbowgrimm]

I'm about to start a new job which has a cheap gym about 5mins walk away & am thinking about joining.
If you exercise in your lunch hour can you talk me through what you do including how you look presentable after & when/what you eat? I'm a complete beginner & am looking to get fit & loose some weight.
Thank you

I'm glad you started this thread as I'm looking for suggestions as well.

Is you lunch hour 'protected'? I've never managed to take a full break or at the same time so a gym membership wouldn't work for me but I could pop in every now and again.

Hi Lady, I guess my lunch hour is fairly protected, I have appointments all day so have an hour without any, whether I have other stuff that needs doing in it is a different story. I'd say I get a full hour at least 3 times a week. With my new job I'm cutting my commute from 50 mins to 10 so my plan would be to do any bits I would of done over lunch at the end of the day and still get home earlier.

I too have things to catch up on over the lunch break but I tell myself they can wait till after work. Then I ignore my own advice. There are also meetings at least once a week... I've started going to classes after work but I don't know how this will fit in once the kids are back at school. Good luck. I'll check back here for ideas.

I have done in the past but you need to time it carefully and not take the mick

One girl I work with (junior to the team) does it and takes two hours each time by the time her class is done, she's showered and walked back etc.

She also leaves at 5pm on the dot, and it's getting noticed as she effectively takes a 2hr lunch daily.

So you can/I would do it, but efficiently if you do.

I used to do this - I'd get changed in the work loo and leave quickly, go to a class at the gym (30 mins) then shower and change at the gym before walking back. Re eating - I'd eat a snack about 11:30 so I'd be ok to have a later lunch and then wolf a sandwich on the walk back. It's doable if you're quick!

I do... I do a circuits class once a week and do my own HIIT workout twice a week

Routine is leave my office at about 11:50am and walk to the gym.
Get changed, fill up water bottle, be in the class or gym at midday
If I'm doing a class, it's 45 mins
If I do HIIT, it's a 5 min warm up on the treadmill or cross trainer, then 25-30 mins workout then a 5 min stretch
Jump in the shower, and take my make up off with face wash as well as washing my hair

Get dried and dressed, and rough dry my hair. I pick up lunch from a shop on the way back to the office and eat it at my desk
If I need to put make up back on, I do it about an hour later because I get a very red face

I'm away from my desk for about 1hr 15 mins

2hr lunch break - that really is taking the piss!
I wear a uniform that I can't wear outside the building so I think a quick change into gym kit in the loo than a brisk walk to the gym as a warm up? But then coming back I don't want to put grim gym clothes back on after a shower so I'm going to need a 3rd set of clothes for the 5 mins walk back then get changed again.
I've had DD practicing getting her Pe kit on & off ready for starting school next week, think I might have to do the same!
Good tip on the elevenses snack then eat on way back - thanks.

I'm hoping I can get away without washing my hair, bit of dry shampoo will have to do. Do you have a second makeup bag ready in Your gym bag or are you organised enough to pack it each time?

Gosh that's a headache, with the clothes.
Anyway, keep a bag of post-workout clothes (+shoes) at work. This goes to gym with you, & worn for the 5 minute walk back. Best if you can have workout clothes or at least workout shoes that live fulltime in your work locker (whatever storage space you have).

I keep a mini make up bag at work
When my 'home' make up is about to run out, it becomes my work and travel make up, so it doesn't matter too much if I lose it!

Check with the gym if they do a laundry service for gym clothes. Mine does for £100 a year.
You get a couple of net bags with your name on a dog tag

When you arrive at the gym, they give you your clean clothes in the net bag. When youve finished your work out, you put your sweaty clothes in the net bag and hand it in at reception

Could solve your 3rd set of clothes problem? And means you don't have to carry gym clothes to and from work

If not, a pair of leggings and a tshirt to quickly change into after your shower?

Sparechange - I've never heard of a gym laundry service. Is this in the U.K.?

Yes - central London though, not sure if it's less common outside the city?

I do it most lunchtimes

Do two HIIT sessions a week of 30 minutes. 5 mins to walk there, 20 mins for a shower and change after. 5 mins back.

My gym provides towels, toiletries etc etc though

Then I take 2 longer lunchbreaks a week and do one yoga class and a body pump

An hour for lunch!? Gosh chance would be a fine thing! So no! However, I wish I could!

Not at a gym. I manage a brisk one mile walk every day. Takes 20 mins. It gets a bit repetitive but it does me good.

I do, they run 30 min classes which gives me enough time for a quick cold shower to cool down faster.
Works really well for me, I go 3 times a week

Yes I used to pre kids, I miss lunch time gym sessions. I used to take 1hr15m, always got in early/stayed later to make up time. Class was 45mins, was speedy at changing. I'd tie hair back and clip up fringe, so after shower I'd just need to dry the edges, i'd touch up make up, but I didn't really wear much. Grab lunch on way back or from fridge if I'd bought in my own. After a little while you steamline your routine to be as quick as possible. Helps with the afternoon slump as well, I always felt I had more energy after working out.

I run on my lunch break once or twice a week. Routine is 10 mins to get changed/out the door, 30 min run, 15 mins for a shower/get dressed then 5mins to wolf down a sandwich at my desk. It's tight but my work is pretty flexible which helps.

yes, a couple of times per week. Either a 30 min class or go for a run - we have showers at work. And yes I have a spare cosmetics bag in my gym bag, way easier. I don't always eat lunch then, but I don't really get hungry.

I run once a week (but only work part-time). My full-time colleagues run twice a week. We have no shower so we make do with some wet wipes and a deodorant. Not ideal but it gets it done.

I have brought in a fan for my desk though so I can turn back to a normal colour and not the beetroot that I turn while running in the heat.

I am hoping it'll be less sweaty in the Autumn/Winter!

5 mins change + 5 min warm up walk + 30 min run + 10 min change and stretch = 50 mins. That still leave 10 mins to eat a sandwich which is plenty. Just remember to drink water in the morning!