When do you do your exercise?

[Littlemiss74]

I want and need to improve my fitness. I’m struggling with my mental health and am perimenopausal and am hoping that exercise will help.
I joined a gym a month ago and have so far only managed a few classes. There always seems to be something else that needs doing, so I think I’ll
just do that first and then I’m too tired to go.
When do you fit your exercise into your life and make it a priority rather than the last thing after everything else?

I do mine mid morning, but I’m moving to a new role next week in my company and suspect I’m going to habe to try to find the motivation in the evening, groan,

I work it into my existing schedule otherwise I'd never do it. So I joined a gym near work and go for a quick swim in my lunch break, because I'm already out of the house. I also go when I'm out dropping a child at a club nearby, rather than go home for an hour.
I've had a week off work and not been once, despite good intentions, so clearly this is the only way I can manage it!

I'm a runner - I put my kit out the night before, get up early and go

Mentally "book in" the exercise time like you would a doctors appt or other meeting.

Why not exercise at home?

Have a look at this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/exercise/4303370-Anyone-else-doing-Caroline-Girvans-EPIC-programme?msgid=109311752

I work out at 8 am, at least 5 days a week.

I used to go to the gym a couple of times a week, but never truly got into it. After I discovered fitness videos on YouTube I never looked back.

My go-to online trainers (in order of difficulty) are:

Lucy Wyndham Read
Rebecca Louise
Anna Renderer of Popsugar Fitness
Ranier Pollard
Jake du Pree
And - the pinnacle of achievement - Caroline Girvan.

Have fun!

I do a class once a week so I have to be there at that time.
Very often I can’t be arsed, but once I get going I’m glad I went.

First or last thing, as need to factor in shower, getting ready for work etc. I bought a treadmill so I don't have to leave the house or brush my teeth. Just get it done.

As I’m wfh FT I exercise at lunchtime, it’s massively better than when I used to have to exercise at around 8pm. Longer term I will be going to the office rarely so hope to continue. I have longer lunches and work a bit later.

When I was at a gym I'd go straight from work and then first thing at the weekend. Try and get a Monday in, as that's your first one in the bag.

Eat that frog. I like running first thing. Like doing yoga/Pilates first thing too. Sets me up for the day. I hope to get a dishwasher and use that time at the day to do weights instead of washing dishes.

I run with a friend. When I've arranged to meet her I know I'll do it, as I won't want to let her down.

I either do it morning or evening but I cycle at home watching something on the tablet. If I had to organise myself to get up and go somewhere for a certain time, especially if I had to book it I wouldn't. This way too if I am not feeling up to it I can just do ten or twenty mins a day instead of my usual 30-40. Going to a gym would I imagine be an hour and a half or longer by the time I get there, go to the class, come home, shower, get changed. I know the gym works for some people but it wouldn't for me. I generally manage about 3-4hrs a week, simply because it is there, easy, quick and I catch up on some TV.

Either first thing in the morning (not so much lately as I can't be bothered getting up early) or at about 9pm. Then I have a shower and go to bed.

I find it really difficult. I exercise with friends once a week which is good, swim while my DC are having lessons and fit extra walking in by leaving early for school pick up etc.

The problem for me is I don't enjoy it enough to do it under my own steam.
So many days I've got up put my gear on and found myself wearing it all day because I never got round to doing exercise. Even doing YouTube classes in the front room is far too easily avoidable.

I think after the summer holidays I'm going to find a personal trainer.

Later evening, normally between 8 and 9. I prioritise it over most other things otherwise I just wouldn't do it. I like the way it makes me look and feel and find it helps amazingly with my mental health.
I decided during the first lockdown that I would rather be fit and healthy than have a pristine house.

I find I need to kill the little thought that says there is stuff to do. Of course there is, there is always something you have to do. But it can wait until you are back

You need to prioritise exercise like every other thing you have to do. It should be more important than most things: it's your health

I’m in my 50’s and hate exercise …but I’ve found the following works

• 3 mile fast walk or run very first thing ie 10 minutes after waking up. I look forward to the walks as I put an audio book on and go. It takes about 50 minutes and burns 200+ calories. If I’m running I wake up about 15 minutes in ! . It’s so lovely to have it all done before breakfast
• if I’m doing a running club session I meet up with others in the evening, I look forward to the social aspect snd don’t think about the exercise too much.
• I also plan in 30 minute sessions for an online class , basically I’ll finish work, put on my kit and do it. I find that I’m more likely to stop procrastinating if I’ve got to fit it in to a limited time slot ie a lunch break, or 30 minutes before a tv programme I want to watch

Basically plan it in, accept you’re going to do it and get kit ready so you don’t start to faff looking for it. If you know you’ll disappear into youtube, just don’t allow yourself to pick up your phone !

usually before dinner.
I need an empty stomach before a run. at least 2 hours, ideally 3 after my last food.

First thing when I get up, so 6AM.

Weirdly I've never been much into exercise or even a morning person, but I decided about 5 years to set myself a challenge to do it for 30 days. First week felt like I was going to die. By the last weeks I had noticed so much of a difference I just kept going and haven't stopped.

A key thing for me was discovering exercise apps. I have a few weights at home plus an exercise mat and that's all I need. I currently use Jillian Michaels My Fitness which I find to be brilliant, you can customise what areas you exercise, for how long, and even swap out individual exercises. Or you can do one of her many programmes, there are plenty on there from beginner level to more advanced. Love just being able to roll out of bed and exercise for 30 mins and be done, it cuts out all the time involved in going to/from the gym, waiting for equipment etc.

Depends on your routine and lifestyle as well as finding when you exercise best.

Now I exercise in the morning after school and nursery drop off. It's boosts my energy and fits into my free time so works well for me.

However pre children I exercised in the early evening. That worked with my job but also I exercised best then. Now I am use to early starts every morning my body has changed and early exercise is best.

My DH however loves to work out late at night! I could never do what he does! We are all wired differently.

You need to figure out when you can do it and what works for you physically and fits into your lifestyle and then make it your priority at that time.

Usually straight after work so going to the gym has somehow been harder when working from home (even though it’s really close) than going on the drive home from the office. I’ve been a few times at lunchtime while WFH which is a nice bonus as it frees up the evening and I tend to swim later 8-10pm because the pool is much quieter. I’m not good at exercise first thing in the morning, I need breakfast to function!

First thing in the morning, otherwise I don't do it because life or work get in the way.
Today, for example, I was up at 6.15, out for 6.30 and back from my run by 7.30am, which means I've still got the rest of the day ahead without the nagging feeling that I haven't had my run yet!

6am. It takes some getting used to and you really need to prioritise but it’s so worth it!

I take my dogs out in the morning so I prefer afternoon/early evening for classes etc.
I often go with my partner or friends.
I go most days for an hour.
I find if I mix it up I don't get bored so I do a rota of swimming, gym, yoga, aerobics etc
I also do lots of occasional activities like golf, ten pin bowling, pool, horse riding, tennis etc. I only do each of these a few times a year because I like variety.

I have a list of things I want to get done in a day in priority order, and I do them in that order. Exercise is at the top of the list. I run at 6 or 6:30; the days I’m not running I do Pilates/yoga. Going out to gym too hard and takes too long.

And: I’m post menopause and until 2 years ago had never run in my life. I did C25K VERY slowly and now love my runs.