Suggestions, Please.

Hi guys! I've been on CC for a while now and have successfully used it to help me lose ~20lbs. I'm 5'4" and was (April 30th) 130lbs. (I've gone through a vacation, job change and long distance move, so I have no idea what I weigh right now, but the "small clothes" still fit.)

Anyway, I'd like to lose another 5-10lbs. That's not the problem...

My new job is mostly sedentary. I am up at 5:30am and on the road by 6:30...at the job all day and not home again until 6-7pm. By the time I fix supper, eat, and do a few things around the house (like dishes and laundry), it is time for bed. I don't really get a lunch break, so doing something at lunch won't work either.  I don't have time to go to the gym during the week.

I've been parking farther from the bus stop and getting off a stop early to increase my exercise. I also take the 6 flights of stairs up to my lab (and back down at the end of the day) and run up the last 3 flights to the top floor of the building a couple of times during the day to help keep me moving.

I'm thinking about trying to find a gym with a daily-type or limited membership so that I could go only on weekends. Right now on weekends, I'm unpacking the house and doing yard work. I'm hoping to find a place to horseback ride on weekends, too.

I'm looking for tips/tricks to help increase my exercise without taking up a big part of my day (I don't want to have to get up earlier, and my 7 hours of sleep at night is very necessary.). Anyone else in a similar situation?

You don't say if you have a family; do you? I'm going to assume you do not in answering this.

It looks like you have 3-4 hours a night after work. If you used some weekend time to prepare/freeze meals, you could free up some of this time for a workout. Also, if you plan your wardrobe carefully, you should be able to manage to get through the week without doing laundry-more time at night. I have only the same time as you and a family of 3 kids and I workout after work. Weekends are not enough for me (mentally and emotionally as well as physically).

In other words, shift as much housework to the weekends as you can and make time 2-3 nights a week (plus Sat/Sun) to get in that actual workout, even if it is only 30 minutes. That's way healthier than trying to be a "weekend warrior!"

Thanks for the feedback, mkculs.

I don't have kids, but I am married. DH tries to help out, but usually ends up complicating things when it comes to the schedule. I guess I don't know where those 3 hours go...somehow it is always 8:30 or 9 before we've finished supper and cleaned up the kitchen.

Breakfasts and lunches for me are planned out in advance, and I only cook a few nights a week (leftovers and/or salads are typical). (DH takes care of himself for breakfast and lunch.) So that's not really it...

I'm hoping the household chores will lighten up once we finish getting moved in - right now, I'm still unpacking boxes. The laundry situation is more DHs issue...I just end up doing some of it/cleaning up after him. He's a large animal veterinarian, so he comes home dirty most days. I know this takes up some time, but not too much.

I know once I get into the swing of things in the lab, I'll be there until at least 5 or 6 in the evening...which puts me home even later (it's about 1.5hour commute door to door). I'll have to play that by ear...right now I'm writing a fellowship, so it's not really much of an issue.

When you are working out, are you at a gym or home? If I added in travel time to and from the gym, I'd lose another hour. I have a few videos which I am going to try to work into my day...at least that would be ~10-30 minutes depending, and I wouldn't have to drive anywhere.

(edit:  I think I'm going to start seeing what is eating up my time in the evenings and maybe add some "home workouts" in there - any suggestions for exercise videos?)

This may sound stupid but because I am not willing to purchase work out videos, I get all my stuff from youtube.  I really like Billy Blanks Tae bo work outs and his entire cardio work out in online at youtube.  It is split up into 5 sections which makes it easy to do all or only part of the video.  He also has an 8 minute work out that is killer.  Just thought you should know! Just type in tae bo...its awesome!

Good workout videos Billy Blanks Tae -bo my personal choice..if you like something to do at night that doesnt get you all pumped up I would try winsor pilates. Do you have Cablevision? IO cable has free on demand and there is a whole selection of videos to do on there so you don't have to go out and spend money. Hope this helps... 

never thought of going to You Tube for workout videos!  Good idea!

The other night I was watching a movie and instead of sitting on the couch, I was up and moving around - marching in place, jacks, crunches, pushups, lunges, etc.  I did that for 30 minutes (roughly).  It wasn't a "workout", but it was better than nothing until I can get some videos.

I don't have cable, satellite or internet at the house, so I'll have to go rent something or buy something.  I often prefer to buy rather than rent/borrow b/c then I don't have to worry about returning it.  I was thinking I'd check out goodwill to see if they had anything like that - at least if I don't like it, I didn't spend a fortune on it, and I helped out a little, too.  (I picked up some good best sellers the other week for $0.75 a piece!)

I just read your post and thought it was me talking.  We literally have the same schedule.   I live in London and work the SAME hours... with public transport and small family at home it leaves little time for myself/working out.

I also just moved countries/jobs ect!  Too crazy.

Anyways I asked permission from work to be 'late' 2 days a week so I could go into the gym at 6:30am for a session with my personal trainer.  Going to try getting up at 5am on the other days and going for a jog.  I also don't want to do this - but if I figure short term pain for long term gain and then I can work at maintaining..... 

I posted a tread called  "When I don't have to workout is true"  - you should read it - there were lots of great suggestions in there!

Good Luck - if you figure anything out let me know!!!