Sneaking in exercise

[pegkerr]

My weight has been creeping back up, and I'm out of the normal and into the slightly over weight range. Very frustrating. It has been so hard, with holiday madness and the cold dark mornings to fit in my workout. At my office building, there is a gym with machines (treadmill, elliptical, etc.) that building tenants can use. I have decided to use my mid-morning and mid-afternoon breaks (fifteen minutes each) as an opportunity to go down and use the treadmill. I just went down, walked hard for twelve minutes and a slower rate for cool down for two minutes, and the machine says I went almost a mile and burned 65 calories. I talked with another secretary who I know is also trying to lose weight, and we agreed to try to make it a standing date: two mini workouts twice a day.

How are you trying to shoe-horn exercise into your busy life?

I haven't added up my mileage lately, although I'm still keeping track of it, even though I've already reached Mount Doom. I have decided I'm going to set a new goal: getting back to Bag End, and maybe even all the way to the Grey Havens. I'll add up the mileage since Mount Doom sometime this weekend and issue periodic reports.

Comments

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

I shoehorn exercise in largely by working at home and having a dog who knows that it's Time To Go For A Walk. She gets very annoying. :)

[always-up-trees.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm a student so I make my own schedule in between classes. I hit the gym to alleviate the boredom of parking in front of a computer writing papers and such. I jsut try to do 30 mins at a time, which is enough.

[rain-girl-ak.livejournal.com]

I'm a single mother with a full time job. I fit in my workout by getting up an hour earlier and treadmilling in the morning. If I'm feeling particularly energetic (or angry) I walk again after my daughter goes to bed.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

How are you trying to shoe-horn exercise into your busy life?

I'm carrying an increasingly heavy weight with me everywhere I go. However, I'm not sure that I recommend this as a fitness plan, as my actual physical fitness appears to be decreasing.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's one way, obviously, except my husband and I have ruled your technique out from now on! :(

[scott-lynch.livejournal.com]

I'm back to doing what I did before-- letting my weight-lifting routine synergistically support my cardiovascular routine. By the time I'm done with a weight routine, I'm stretched and warmed up and sweating, and my heartrate is up, and it's extremely convenient to step out into the cold and walk for an hour or so. No crampy warm-up times; maximum benefit from the walk. And it's efficient, too-- no need to prep twice and shower twice afterward; it just turns two short workouts into one long, relatively pleasant workout.

[scott-lynch.livejournal.com]

Forgot to mention-- don't do this the other way around, if you're inclined. Always lift weights and then do full-body cardio exercise. The weightlifting suffers if you reverse the order.

[carenejeans.livejournal.com]

Get an exercise bike, and park it in front of the TV. Well, this *used* to work, except I now have no time for TV... but if I DO watch TV, I watch it from the bicycle.

Also, I walk to the commute train -- this is especially good in the mornings because I can never seem to leave on time and have to trot to make my train. *g* But I walk to places whenever possible.

Speaking of which, I need to *oof* get up from this computer and take a walking break...

[anoisblue.livejournal.com]

Good for you!! I use my breaks at work, too. One lap around our parking lot is 1/10th of a mile. I try to get 3 miles in a night on my 3 breaks. Last night I got 3 miles in on my first break (20 mins) and lunch (40 mins) so then I used my last 20 min break to walk stairs. I managed 10 flights of 27 steps. Excellent work out and it keeps me awake over night.

[knitmeapony.livejournal.com]

A pilates DVD, and Dance Dance Revolution, honestly. It seems silly but in the basic versions of the game there's a counter so you can see how many calories you've burned. It's wicked fun AND stress relief AND can be done with friends.

actually, it's your last post

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

Peg, I discussed the Delia situation with Louie, and she recommends that you talk to Washburn Child Guidance -- one of their three offices is near 24th and Nicollet -- and she also recommends a therapist named Deb Klemmensen. (The last name is almost certainly not spelled like that -- I'm guessing.) You may want to call us and discuss this with Louie, if you'd like. On exercise -- on days where it's even remotely warm enough, I run around the block; in your and my neighborhood, this feels safe, and it's helped me melt off 23 pounds or so in the last six months.

Nate Bucklin

Re: actually, it's your last post

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I actually called that clinic when we were initially looking for a counselor for Delia, but we ended up going with a different counselor. We were happy with the counselor we did have, although her sessions were terminated awhile ago.

[winterbadger]

I was using my lunch hour at work to get half an hour of exercise (weight-lifting or elliptical trainer), then I switched worksites and I haven't done the paperwork on using the gym at the new site.

[fairmer.livejournal.com]

I drive right past a big park with lots of walking trails on my way home. I stop there, weather and light permitting.

Shoehorn??

[porphyrin.livejournal.com]

I take the stairs, up and down, at work.

This varies my mileage considerably.

When I am not on a call rotation, I get up at the same time I would if I was expected in the hospital at 7 AM, and I use that time to walk on our treadmill.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

The only time I can be consistent is to get up in time for the five-thirty Gilad each day on the boob tube (Fit Channel). Nobody interrupts me then!

[carbonel]

I'm not sure I could possibly manage it if my life were as busy as yours. As it is, I exercise six days a week (jogging three days, elliptical three days) by having bit the bullet and paid for a health club membership. After six months of six-day-a-week exercise, it's almost habit. But I don't have a) children, b) a commute, or c) a writing habit. I'm in awe of what you manage.

Oh, and the biggest thing for me is something you've already acquired -- a partner. It helps immensely to know that I'll have to tell Pat if I slacked off, or get to brag to her if I added another half-mile to my distance. Even if we aren't jogging together, we're working out at the same time three days a week, and I really look forward to the coffee and chat sessions afterwards.

[(Anonymous)]

We don't have a car (this is a very realistic way to live if you happen to live in downtown Toronto). Walking to the subway with my daughter, up and down stairs at our station and at the station for her school; walking to the post office; walking to church; cycling to the supermarket, etc etc.

Admittedly all these things become less appealing in winter, and I do get less exercise in the very cold months, though I have a pretty high tolerance for cold. And of course it's not really helpful if you live in an area with poor public transit and decentralized services.

I'm not so concerned about my weight, but I do worry that I get no aerobic exercise. Lots of walking, but it doesn't raise my heart rate very much. Today I lifted nine heavy boxes of books and carried them one at a time up a flight of stairs, and that certainly got my heart rate up, but it's not a regular occurrence.

When I was young and single I got a vast amount of exercise by dancing in clubs all night long every night, but that's REALLY not an option in my life these days.

maggie h

[volkhvoi.livejournal.com]

I need an excuse to walk, or I have no staying power, so I took up walking my neighbour's dog, which worked fine until we moved recently. Now I've taken up fencing with my husband in the driveway out back. It no doubt bemuses the neighbours.

[knitmeapony.livejournal.com]

Hey!

I just discovered I have sparring gear and a gi from when I was in martial arts. It's just taking up space in my closet -- if you can spring for shipping I'll be glad to send it to you and see if it fits you or the girls. I'm guessing I was a size 12 at the time, if that gives you size ideas. It's all practically new, in great shape with no cracks, just a little smooshed from being in the box!

Drop me an email to knitmeapony@gmail.com with your address, and I'll let you know how much the shipping will cost! Should be cheap as it's light.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

It's awfully nice of you to offer, and I would have taken the equipment off your hands, BUT our dojo requires that we get sparring equipment through them (although they do have used equipment that they give away for free. We got at least half of the girls' equipment already that way.

So, thanks so much, but I won't be able to take advantage of your kind offer. Hope you find another good home for 'em!