Work and the workout

I retired in Jul 2007 and have spent a year not working -- absolutely great for working out, I can go anytime I please.  BUT, I am about to start another job (Cost of living in MD too high for my retirement check), and will now find myself out of the house from 6.30AM until 9.15 pm most weekdays...

What do you do to fit a workout into your busy schedule??

How did you retire at such an early age?  Can I have your old job and will it allow me retoractively retire?  Your new hours seem a little high.  I'm guessing part of that time is taking the Metro...

If you want to spend 26 years active duty Air Force -- the job's open.  Of course, I'm not sure hazard pay would be really worth it.

My new hours are because I have another job (Head coach of a small swim team) -- but it doesn't come close to paying a living wage.  Other than the commute, my real hours are 7.30-4.30 and 6-9.  Unfortunately I live 25-35 mins from the day job, and then another 15-20 from the night job -- in opposite directions -- and yeah, I live in the DC/Balt metro area, with all that traffic...

When I was working, I had to leave the house at 6:45a.m., I would get up at 4a.m. to do the firm. Eventually I would go to the gym,(only a 5min. walk), for an hour before heading out. I had a very physically challenging position,however I would try to get in as much activity as possible during work hours. I walked the stairs instead of taking the elevator for example.

Although I didn't technically have a second job, I was very busy in the evening.I simply had to get to bed to make sure I got proper rest so that I would have the energy and motivation to get out of the bed at 4a.m..

Do you know how many hours of sleep you need to average per night to stay sane and functional? I need six for example. So I use that info to plan my wake up and wind down accordingly.

I work at our local YMCA and you would think that I'd work at before, after or even during work but it doesn't happen.  I have 3 children (4 if you count my husband) that need taken here or there.  By the time it's all said and done I don't want to go back to where I work and work out.  Not to mention that it's really hard to workout when your inbox is overflowing and you have a deadline to meet.  I am impressed by those of you willing to get up at 4 a.m.  It's not my time of day. 

How do you put everything and work aside and say I am important and I need this workout?

Wellll.... Ward0374, I don't get up at 4a.m. now. I'm a stay home mom.My kids are almost 3 and 1 year. I now set the alarm for 6a.m..

In short...I LOVE MYSELF.Really, I think I am a fabulous being and I mean that in a "corny" God made me wonderful way.Iwant to live my best life! And I want to be here a long time to see my kids grow up.

However...It took 7 months of not being able to even walk as a work out,(due to an ankle injury), to motivate me to figure it out. I have no way to go to a gym because of caring for my kids. no sitters near me ,no family to help. My husband works long hours that are sometimes sparatic. So as you can see I can come with a gazillion reasons (excuses) why I can't. Being dissabled for such a long time made me more grateful for good health but also inspired me to strive for excellent health. I have to be healthy for me and for my family.

I started thinking , What CAN I do? So I decided to start walking ,with my kids in the double stroller, up the steep hills in my neighborhood. That means pushing about 100 lbs. . I started SLOW as I was so out of shape AND finishing rehab but I would walk a little farther each day until I could walk the whole complex. As my husband saw how commited I was , he started coming home just a little earlier so that I can also walk in the evenings w/o the kids.

I heard that you only have to take 10,000 steps a day to get a decent amount of excercise in each day. I don't count mine. But I started with one and so can you! I hope this helps.

I struggle with fitting in time for me all the time.  I work full time (commute about 3-4 hrs a day), and two kids who are active in sports etc and a hubby who works nights.  Each day brings a new challenge to getting exercise - I bought a treadmill last year so on school nights and the kids are in bed early I can get on it when I watch my tv.  If we are having a late night due to sports and I know I will be too tired to get on the treadmill, I go to the gym at lunch time.  Its a quick trip - usually 40 minutes on the treadmill but I figure its better than nothing.  It was so beautiful out yesterday then instead of goign to the gym I took a long walk at lunch.  I enjoyed being out but not exactly ideal since I work in Manhattan  - between the tourist and the traffic lights slowing me down I didn't emjoy it as much as i thought I would.

I guess the bottom line, is most of us work. So we have to be creative and fit in our exercise whenever we can.  I think if its somethign you really want to do, you will find a way to do it.

I walk during lunch and I also have one of the Mini Easy Cycles at work and home.  You can use it for your legs and arms and it will fit under the desk.  I do most of my exercise in the last hour before going to bed at night. 

Original Post by coach_k:

If you want to spend 26 years active duty Air Force -- the job's open.  Of course, I'm not sure hazard pay would be really worth it.

My new hours are because I have another job (Head coach of a small swim team) -- but it doesn't come close to paying a living wage.  Other than the commute, my real hours are 7.30-4.30 and 6-9.  Unfortunately I live 25-35 mins from the day job, and then another 15-20 from the night job -- in opposite directions -- and yeah, I live in the DC/Balt metro area, with all that traffic...

As far as the job: Tanks but no tanks!  I did my time which was only 6 years in the CG.  I worked in DC for a few years taking the metro from Rockville to the DOE.  I never got used to the commute.....ever.  When I got back to Texas I was so happy to be about to drive my car to work.

I work full-time and I also am a full-time student, wife, and mother.  I also have a house full of dogs, 3 to be exact.  I always find time for me and if I didn't I would not be able to take care of the business that I do within the day.  I am an early riser since I do have a long commute as well.  About 2 hrs a day.  I always make the time in the morning to workout whether it be an hour or just a half hour as long as I do something for me and my health.  It is a matter of having a balanced health integrated into a busy life.

Lisa

Get in the pool with your team!  They will love it & you're getting paid while you get a workout in.  Even treading water.  You already know this, you're a coach

Original Post by caustin1:

Get in the pool with your team!  They will love it & you're getting paid while you get a workout in.  Even treading water.  You already know this, you're a coach

My kids will cheat if I'm in the pool with them ...  they are a national training group, and while I'm pretty good -- I'm not that good -- and you can never let a kid know he/she is better than you   and what is the "getting paid" stuff? 

To begin with, THANK YOU for your service.  I appreciate the sacrifices you made.  My son has been planning to join the Air Force since he was little.  Has applied to the Air Force Academy and all that.  However, he was recently diagnosed as color-blind.  He's really bummed.  He feels like all of his plans just evaporated.

Secondly, I know that long hours and commitments can truly derail an exercise regime.  I tried for years to faithfully exercise in the late evening (which is when I have the time to do it according to the clock), but I was simply too tired from the day.

Although I am NOT a morning person by any stretch of the imagination, I have found that working out first thing in the morning, is the best way for me to ensure that I do it.  Since I must leave my house between 6:30-7:00 am, I'm getting up at 4:30 am.  I spend 1/2 an hour simply staring, eating breakfast, and trying to wake up enough to function,  the next hour working out, which gives me 30-45 minutes to shower and get ready for work.

It's not pretty, it's not fun, but it gets the job done.  Nice thing is, I'm really awake by the time I get to work, and I feel good that I have already checked off a "big" thing on my daily to-do.

Keep tweaking your schedule.