When do you find time to exercise?
Discussion
skibum said:
Any way you can streamline your morning routine? An hour to get up, cleaned, fed and out seems a long time to me. If you woke up 30 mins earlier at 5:30, chucked on some shorts, tshirt and trainers, you could be out the door in 5 mins, 30 min run, back in for 6.15am at the latest, leaving 45 mins to get refreshed and fed and out the door by 7am as usual.
Personally I do my exercise in the evenings as soon as I get in (6:30/7:00pm) otherwise I get stuck to the couch. Although I don't have the childcare constraints that you do.
Thats what i do, its about 5 minutes from out of bed to out the door, shower at gym and eat breakfast on the drive to work. Prepare everything the night before and your good to go! Personally I do my exercise in the evenings as soon as I get in (6:30/7:00pm) otherwise I get stuck to the couch. Although I don't have the childcare constraints that you do.
Weekday evenings i'm at the gym any time between 4:30 and 7:30 for about 2 hours, then the same every weekend morning when i'm not busy.
I find it very easy though as I start work fairly early and so finish early, I also have no kids etc so my only other worry once i've finished work is walking the dogs and what i'm having for tea!
I find it very easy though as I start work fairly early and so finish early, I also have no kids etc so my only other worry once i've finished work is walking the dogs and what i'm having for tea!
I get the train at either. 05:10 or 05:50, returning on the 16:39 or 17:12. With two small kids that means a Tuesday bike shop ride or solo evening ride 2-3 hours, maybe another on Thursday and then two rides on the weekend. Depending upon kids waking hours and weather I have been known to fit in a 2 hr ride before 7 on the weekend or wait until a window appears. Cannot really plan rides with other people.
Have to have the kit and motivation to grab the opportunity to exercise when they appear.
Have to have the kit and motivation to grab the opportunity to exercise when they appear.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday evenings in my garage gym. I keep a lot of food at work so will eat at 5pm if I'm training at 7. I'm much more likely to make excuses if I've not eaten. If I've got my kids I play, put them to bed, read stories, eat and then train after whatever jobs have been done round the house. Sometimes I don't hit the iron till 10/11pm but I usually make sure I get it done.
A lot depends on your location. I used to work in London and started walking instead of using bus or tube. Perspiration can be an issue during the summer though. Even at home I will now walk to the supermarket, about 20 mins each way, instead of driving. The additional time is only about 10 mins accounting traffic and parking.
Sammo123 said:
Hoofy said:
Squats whilst cuddling a baby. Baby will love it. Your legs will hate it, though.
I probably do about 60-70 squats while holding her every evening!
I managed some light exercise today. My mrs went out with her mum and aunt and cousins and I had to go and collect my motorbike from my mums so I walked there. 2.4 miles took me 37 minutes. Felt fine afterwards but my knees and back are killing me now!
I managed some light exercise today. My mrs went out with her mum and aunt and cousins and I had to go and collect my motorbike from my mums so I walked there. 2.4 miles took me 37 minutes. Felt fine afterwards but my knees and back are killing me now!
The only way I get to fit in cycling is to get up early and do it before work. My alarm goes off 4:40 and i'm on my bike 20 minutes later. I find it much harder to gather any sort of motivational mojo for going out after work - it just never happens. Weekends pretty much the same now. After a few weeks it just becomes the normal routine.
Cycle before work, or cycle to work, or take a run lunchtime, go for a walk/run/ride/skateboard in the evening, its a tough thing to fit in sometimes. Luckily Mrs PB likes exercise too, so understands the need, and as long as she can also get her fix, will support me going for a spin at odd times.
As others have said, use the child as an excuse! I taught my daughters to ride from the age of 2, and bought skateboards and scooters when the eldest was 3, and we use them. Get a trampoline, take your daughter for walks without a pram - you'll end up carrying her, I've lost count of the times I got up the next day with aching shoulders without going to the gym.
I'm not suggesting its easy. When my first as born, both me and my wife did marathons - mtb for me, running for her. We had a bit of reality check when we realised we couldn't both go for a 4-hour jaunt on Sat and Sun mornings. But we did find ways to make it work as best we can. Just take every opportunity you can.
As others have said, use the child as an excuse! I taught my daughters to ride from the age of 2, and bought skateboards and scooters when the eldest was 3, and we use them. Get a trampoline, take your daughter for walks without a pram - you'll end up carrying her, I've lost count of the times I got up the next day with aching shoulders without going to the gym.
I'm not suggesting its easy. When my first as born, both me and my wife did marathons - mtb for me, running for her. We had a bit of reality check when we realised we couldn't both go for a 4-hour jaunt on Sat and Sun mornings. But we did find ways to make it work as best we can. Just take every opportunity you can.
vx220 said:
We don't have a shower at home, so I do something at absolute max effort while the bath runs! Maybe just 5mins a day, but feel and look better for it!
Also, if stuck for time, stairs are your friends! Run upstairs as quietly as possible (thus minimizing damage to joints and relationships!) before you shower, or in the adverts when watching tvvx220 said:
We don't have a shower at home, so I do something at absolute max effort while the bath runs! Maybe just 5mins a day, but feel and look better for it!
Also, if stuck for time, stairs are your friends! Run upstairs as quietly as possible (thus minimizing damage to joints and relationships!) before you shower, or in the adverts when watching tvGassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff