[Urban Hipster]

<p>I'm sad to say that I've had to stop running and even exercising for that matter and I'm hard-pressed to find a solution.  I'm hoping I can get some ideas from you all.  I was exercising and trying to run 3 days a week and taking dance lessons 1 day a week.  Now I can't do any of that due to a new job.  My commute has gone from 10 minutes to 45 minutes which doesn't leave me any time on week days to fit in a visit to the gym.  I have a great workout that I put together with the trainer back in July and have yet to really implement it.  I'm concerned because I know that I have lost all the base that I built and have no muscle strength anymore.  I need some suggestions on how to get back into a good routine.  I'm feeling very old and fat lately!</p>

 

[jebba]

<p>That is a quandry. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Do you get lunch breaks?  I run at lunch and then wash up in the bathroom when I'm done.  Or I get up at 5:15 and do a p90x workout in the comfort of my home.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Can you park to someplace near your place of work and then bike the rest of the way?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>AT the very least, walking at lunch and doing pushups throughout the day will help a little bit.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>

 

[Urban Hipster]

<p>Thanks for the suggestions but my lunch break is only 30 minutes if that.  I work for a hospital and if I run late with an appointment I may only have 10 minutes for lunch.  I have been parking about 2 blocks from work so I get a small 10 minute walk from the garage to the office but I still feel so sad that I lost all the work that I had done for so long. On a good note, I have been monitoring my calories and stayed on track since starting the job.  I wasn't that disciplined before but I have to be now out of necessity.  I guess I have that.  <img alt="" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/sad5.gif" title="">  I just don't feel like I have quality time for the gym other than the weekends.  Would doing 2, harder workouts actually carry me through the week? </p>

 

[mrscoby78]

<p>I'm able to run during my lunches (I get an hour).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But during marathon training, I was able to get runs in the evenings as well, during my son's (insert whatever sport here) practices.  OR I can get a swim done...he plays in the pool while I get laps in.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Planning meals is hugely important here.  After all that, its usually 7 - 7:30 when I get home.  The crockpot comes in very handy!</p>

 

[Urban Hipster]

<p>The crock pot does sound like a good idea especially with the colder weather coming.  I just don't view working out as "me time."  It still feels like work to me and I would like to have more time to relax at home.  Right now I spend more time at work than anything else.  Oh well.  Such is life.  I just need to suck it up and do it!</p>

 

[jebba]

<p>You will start to feel like working out is "me time" once you get into a groove.  Now that I have kids, going on a run in my favorite me time.</p>

 

[mrscoby78]

<p>Word.<br><br>
 </p>
<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>jebba</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70258/newbie-needs-help#post_1949405"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>You will start to feel like working out is "me time" once you get into a groove.  Now that I have kids, going on a run in my favorite me time.</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br>

 

[SeaPig]

<p>If you really want to do it there is always early in the morning. Run right out the front door to save time, only one shower needed.</p>
<p>Use your lunch for a cat nap if needed.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Pay yourself first in the morning before anything else gets any time. Not much else going on a 4:00am.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>No excuses just choices.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Good Luck.</p>

 

[Urban Hipster]

<p>4 am!  Dang!  I would like to still be sleeping!  I don't think I could handle all that and still be alert for work.  Exercise always makes me sleepy.  I suppose I would condition to that new routine. </p>

 

[altoids]

<p>You might be surprised at how much an morning run will give you energy (after you get past the suckage of waking up so early....)</p>

 

[spin]

I use a Petzel headlamp and lots of reflective gear to run after kids are sleeping. Also a fluid2 teainer (cyclops) w/ road bike even thru the summer to keep cycling legs... u have to be creative. Good luck!<br>

 

[theia]

<br><br><div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>altoids</strong> <a href="/forum/thread/70258/newbie-needs-help#post_1950093"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-right:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-bottom:0px solid;"></a><br><br><p>You might be surprised at how much an morning run will give you energy (after you get past the suckage of waking up so early....)</p>
</div>
</div>
<br><br><p>This is 100% true.  The first week or two will be awful, but once your body acclimates to early workouts you will love them!  Since you're just getting started again, your workouts will be short... which means you wouldn't have to get up TOO early.   Even 20-30 minutes of running or a run/walk two days a week will do wonders for you, both physically and mentally.  On the other days, do some pushups, squats, lunges, and crunches when you get out of bed; those days, you only have to wake up 10-15 minutes early!  And then on the weekends, you can do a longer workout at the gym since you have more time.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Something is better than nothing.  Start small.  You don't have to jump back into your routine the first day or even the first week or month.  Take baby steps and work your way back into it.</p>

 

[jcumming]

<p>Once you are in good condition daily workouts do not make you tired.</p>

 

[Urban Hipster]

<p>The idea of 4 am does suck in theory.  I just feel generally drained every day.  I have lost weight because I eat better and move more at work.  I do really feel the pull for exercise.  My coworker has done 4 marathons and I feel very jealous since that was what I hoped to do.  I just haven't done anything since August and I hate the guilt.  So, I guess 4 am it is!  Dagnabit! </p>

 

[Rainey]

<p>Maybe I missed it but what are your work hours? Unless you are working 12 hrs plus/day I am sure you can schedule time to work out.</p>

 

[Urban Hipster]

<p>My hours currently suck.  My work hours start at 8:30 am but I have an hour commute to the city.  I usually try to leave the house around 6:45 because of traffic since I can't predict traffic and accidents, etc.  When I leave work I have at least an hour on the way back.  I try to get at least 8 hours of sleep so I go to bed at 9 pm.  I'm also going back to school on-line so I have a lot of reading and projects to fill the 3 hours I have to myself in the evenings.  I certainly know I need to exercise but I have always viewed working out as "work."  It isn't fun or relaxing but a necessary evil so I don't gain weight or have other health complications.  So right now it is a true trade off.  Either I sleep less or sacrifice some of my evening project time for working out.  Neither of which sounds appealing.  I'm actually hoping to find another job that will cut my commute so I can go back to my old routine of exercising right after work.  Before August I was at the gym 4 days/week for at least an hour.  I suppose the whole change has also ruined my perspective.  I can tell right away that when i don't exercise I get mean!  I need some endorphines!</p>

 

[Callalily]

<p>My suggestion is to limit the number of runs per week during the semester, when time is tight.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have a similar schedule. I have a 2.5-3 hour roundtrip commute and I work 8-9 hours and I'm going to grad school, all of which keeps me really busy! I have a break from school for now, so I've gotten back into running. I actually prefer to run at 4-4:30 a.m. .... in the evening, I just feel more sedentary.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My new years resolution is to run 1-2 times a week when I'm in school. I have a treadmill, so I'm planning on jumping on the treadmill for a short run. It may not be much, I just want to keep up my base, rather than stopping. When I get so busy and so stressed, I find that even a short run is a big stress relief. I just hope that I can keep my new year's resolution...we'll see how it goes!!!!</p>