Thread: How Do Fit a Daily Workout Regime into Life?

Or do you? I was doing well about a year ago with daily stretches and ab work I did every morning and then got seriously stressed out with family matt ers and it all collapsed, along with my midriff muscles. ..cr.:..cr.:..cr.:

Now, director is focussing on a variety of situps and well, I'm so out of shape in that area I can barely get through them all. *Obviously* I need to build up strength, but getting up 1/2 hour earlier to do it in morning is NOT HAPPENING.

Late night doesn't work for me either, and I work a 40 hour week. I really, really, want to improve core strength and get my midriff tone back and diet alone won't do that.

Any ideas on how to get back into routine? Should I not try for every morning but try for 2x a week (besides 3 classes) then increase as I get stronger? Or should I just post a VERY unflattering picture and let that be the first thing I see in am?

I would workout two times a week like u were saying and build up. I used to be able to run a lot but I am out of shape....very out of shape. Now I am goin up to the track at my high school and walking laps for 30 minutes and then goin to the weight lifting room to do some other things to tone up. I also do one of my belly dance videos at night if I am not to tired or sore which I usually am not cause I have gained more energy alone from just starting to eat healthy. Just do what u can to start out and build your way up!

teach and coach!

Try my plan for some basic activity...

Step 1: Get a dog
Step 2: Walk dog
Step 3: Run with dog (I stop at step 2... I only run when chased)

Once in the morning and once in the evening. Might not do much for specific strengthening and such, but it gets ya moving, outside in the fresh air, and is a great de-stresser.

Now... where'd I put that leash?

..really, same with "diet".
make it all part of your life style.
i am sure if i had not educated myself in the '60's about food, and i did not teach and coach, i would be a big girl !

stretch while picking up after dog !

Originally Posted by darkangel7631

I would workout two times a week like u were saying and build up. I used to be able to run a lot but I am out of shape....very out of shape. Now I am goin up to the track at my high school and walking laps for 30 minutes and then goin to the weight lifting room to do some other things to tone up. I also do one of my belly dance videos at night if I am not to tired or sore which I usually am not cause I have gained more energy alone from just starting to eat healthy. Just do what u can to start out and build your way up!

Thanks, how about this idea: I"ll *force* myself to do a workout Wed. at 6 a.m. by taking my coffee downstairs to dance room. That's 1 time during week when I really have to *fight* to get out of bed.. Then, on Saturdays when I usually have a dance partner I coach, I'll go down 1/2 hour early to stretch and do ab work before she arrives (she's usually about 10 minutes late which means I'll have 40 minutes. I know unless I start "E-Z" I will not be able to get an every morning regime to "stick" -just too daunting, tiring, etc. I am also making myself walk around the block at lunch - surprising how much that helps overall body mechanics, since my job is soooooo sedentary.

I also think I'm sorta sleep deprived, lately becuase of stress of death in family, although not unexpectedly, put the finishing touch of high-level stress on a year of stressful family situations, medical and even legal. Whew! Now I want to build myself back up but have fallen into a ditch every morning. Anyhoo, I"m thinking I need to try and get to bed earlier than 10:30 or sometimes 11:30 p.m. when I'm up at 6 - I've always done better with 8 full hours of sleep and I'm not getting that just because soooooo much to do. Last ngiht was almost midnight and I'm feelin' it today - just plain tired, is all.

I'm thinking if I stick to this schedule and start feeling stronger, better, and hopefully more toned, I can make the workouts longer. ,r:; I can't imagine ever being able to get up earlier than 6 a.m. every workday morning - that is daunting no matter how organized I am about getting dressed for work, etc...c:: Hubby and I commute to S.F. to work five days a week and I've been so tired at end of day I fall asleep in car on the way home.,f:: Clearly, I'm exhausted AND out of shape, AND house is a mess - ack - I hve to remind myself every day "do not panic, it will get better"!.w.:

Hi Nisima,

I used to be in the same kind of rut. The key for me was to start with small steps that build momentum, until you get to a point where the workout is not an effort but a part of your everyday life. If it helps any, try sparkpeople.com. It's free and it helped me tremendously (lost 30 lbs, only 30 more to go!).

Good luck,

Kem.

No *forcing*! That's a guarantee to failure. First, pick something you know you will like to do and start off with two or three times a week. There are plenty of strength/circuit/cardio routines that can be done in 20-30 minutes with full commitment. Consider something like power yoga or pilates with some resistance equipment that you wouldn't mind sticking into a later part of yr day.

You may not need to do more than 3x a week for a while until you get your schedule sorted and you start to look forward to it.

Similar to Mihri:

Step 1: Get a cat.
Step 2: Go for walks with cat.

Ohhh! What a beautiful kitty!

I like a nice DVD in the morning. Roll out of bed, get coffee, hit a button, voila! Discipline in a box!

Shira I love that photo! I'm glad you posted a larger one so we could get a better look it! :0)

How do you fit it into daily life? No excuses, you just do it.

I find it interesting that it is easier to respond to external circumstances in doing something daily (like going to a job that may or may not be enjoyable) than it is to self-motivate oneself to do something as essential to well-being as exercising. Not judging, just observing what I had done in the past as well.

I did Body For Life and I actually enjoyed the routine of working out just 20 minutes everyday, 6 days a week, either cardio or weight training. 20 minutes was no bigger a commitment and that's all I had the energy for anyways.

You can do it!

I also have a very sedentary job, but try to exercise at lunch almost every week day. If I possibly can, I go to the gym that is just 2 blocks away. If I can't manage that, I walk outside or up and down the hallway. I'll close my door and do crunches or stretches.

I've found that if I don't do this, it makes my day seem twice as long.

Best of luck and hang in there!

I believe in starting small.

If all you want to do is some midriff-toning, like situps or crunches, you're talking about less than 5 minutes. More like 2 minutes. Maybe even less. Do you regularly watch TV? If so, just hop onto the floor during a commercial break and do some crunches until the commercials are over.

I find it's like unloading the dishwasher or brushing your teeth before bed when you're tired -- it's best to just remind yourself that it's only a minute or two and get 'er done.

AND just like tidying up the kitchen, once you get started, you'll find that once you get going, it's easy to keep going...just roll onto your side and do a couple of leg lifts...

Originally Posted by Azhia

How do you fit it into daily life? No excuses, you just do it.

I find it interesting that it is easier to respond to external circumstances in doing something daily (like going to a job that may or may not be enjoyable) than it is to self-motivate oneself to do something as essential to well-being as exercising.

This is a good point! And when it comes to working in longer sessions, you're right you just do it. Same as you fit in taking a shower, going to the grocery store, paying the bills, running the vacuum -- you just treat it as something that's not negotiable.

When you're ready for longer workouts, though, I'd stick with 3X a week and start out with just 20 minutes. They don't have to be in a row, by the way. That can be a 10 minute brisk walk at lunch and 10 minutes of weights/calesthenics/whatever before work -- you're done by noon!

Originally Posted by jchance

I also have a very sedentary job, but try to exercise at lunch almost every week day. If I possibly can, I go to the gym that is just 2 blocks away. If I can't manage that, I walk outside or up and down the hallway. I'll close my door and do crunches or stretches.

I've found that if I don't do this, it makes my day seem twice as long.

Best of luck and hang in there!

I have a similar routine -- use my lunch hour for working out at nearby gym, then eat lunch at my desk. An added benefit is that since I don't have time to go out for lunch like many of my co-workers do, I bring my lunch from home every day, which is much lighter and healthier than most of the restaurant choices.

And I agree -- far from being a chore that exhausts me, it makes my day easier!

I think the key is to find some way to build a workout routine that's easy to stick to because it's convenient. I do go to dance classes and also out for social dancing in the evenings, but since these are for enjoyment as well as physical training, it doesn't require much discipline for me to go (unless I'm really tired!). But if my gym workouts meant going home, assembling gym gear, trying to collect my energy, and actually going out to go the gym (which isn't close enough to my house to make it easy), it would quickly stop happening.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I believe in starting small.

If all you want to do is some midriff-toning, like situps or crunches, you're talking about less than 5 minutes. More like 2 minutes. Maybe even less. Do you regularly watch TV? If so, just hop onto the floor during a commercial break and do some crunches until the commercials are over.

I find it's like unloading the dishwasher or brushing your teeth before bed when you're tired -- it's best to just remind yourself that it's only a minute or two and get 'er done.

AND just like tidying up the kitchen, once you get started, you'll find that once you get going, it's easy to keep going...just roll onto your side and do a couple of leg lifts...

I'm not a regular TV watcher - it's all I can do to get through dinner, dishes, class and shower, and fall into bed! Plus, there is still some "family matters stress" and phone calls at night, etc. and visits to ailing parents, etc. that I'm finding are eating up the weekends, weeknights and sapping me emotionally. I'm feeling like I want to CARVE out some "alone" time for me, and that wish is so strong I can almost taste it! So, I'm going to consider getting up early in the morning my little "escape" because I have the house to myself then and that's really the ONLY time it's available in my household.

If you are hearing a bit o' "stressed out" edginess, yup, I am and I seriously need to re-charge .w.:,f::.w.: A few days of vacation wasn't enough, because the stress is just "waiting" when I got home.

I would walk my doggies, but unfortunately they are now too old and stiff, even with glucosamine pills vet prescribed, so the enjoyable walks in park across street are sadly a thing of the past, unless I carry them!!!!..c::

So I'm gonna start with two escapes a week, Wed. am. and Sunday am and build from there. I have to start somehow, somewhere and it has to be with no phones, no relatives, NO INTERRUPTIONS ,m::so I can my stretch and toning to gorgeous bd music in there.

I'll update after a week and let you all know how I'm doing - thanks for the support - helps to know it isn't just me that thinks it is hard to get started and there's no magic to make it easy - JUST DO IT! (Wanna t-shirt that says that)...l;,

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I believe in starting small.

If all you want to do is some midriff-toning, like situps or crunches, you're talking about less than 5 minutes. More like 2 minutes. Maybe even less. Do you regularly watch TV? If so, just hop onto the floor during a commercial break and do some crunches until the commercials are over.

I find it's like unloading the dishwasher or brushing your teeth before bed when you're tired -- it's best to just remind yourself that it's only a minute or two and get 'er done.

AND just like tidying up the kitchen, once you get started, you'll find that once you get going, it's easy to keep going...just roll onto your side and do a couple of leg lifts...

I leave my weights and my yoga mat right there beside the tv , so if i am sitting watching tv , the mat and weight are staring back at me and i just do
a little while watching news at night or whatever program, it is a matter of 15 minutes.

I find 15-20 minutes workouts i do regularly, but i just cant make it to the gym , I have to take the bus , then bus back and i dont really have that 3 hours often. so doint a little at home everyday works really well for me .

That sounds like a good plan. I hope carving out some alone time and recharging your own batteries helps you get through it all, Nisima!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

This is a good point! And when it comes to working in longer sessions, you're right you just do it. Same as you fit in taking a shower, going to the grocery store, paying the bills, running the vacuum -- you just treat it as something that's not negotiable.

You know it's funny, I spend time trying to illiminate these 'non negotiables' from my life. I have my groceries delivered (I order online, it takes 5 or 10 mins). I don't have carpet, so I sweep every now & again. All my bills come off direct debit, I haven't actively paid a bill in years. Perhaps this is a way to get extra time back to do those gym visits. I'm also a big fan of FlyLady.net: Your personal online coach to help you gain control of your house and home and use this methodology for other things.

I am another one who exercises during my lunch hour. There is no way that I could ever wake up early to do it before work and if you get it done during the day, then your evenings are free to do what you please.

I agree that it also keeps me eating healthier since I end up packing my lunch to eat at my desk and it really does make a day at the office go quicker. The days just draaaaaaaag when I don't get to go to the gym.

Although this is not strictly related to working out, it *will* help you with the concept of building a routine with anything in your life.

FlyLady.net: Your personal online coach to help you gain control of your house and home

It'll help you to use babysteps to get your house in order, feel a little more in control, and find a place to fit in your workout. She can have a bit of a "rah rah" feel, but sometimes I *need* a cheerleader lol.