It's been almost a year since I publicly posted that I was ready to lose weight. And in that time I have managed to ... add "Eat to Live" to my wish list. I've also bought about 10 different books from Amazon but not that one (Lazy 1: Me 0) I've also gained 5-10 lbs depending on the time of the month (ladies, can I get an "Amen"?).
I know a HUGE contributing factor is that I am a desk jockey. When I ran a daycare we got out everyday, even during the rainy season (ok, maybe not, but I know I didn't keep 8 kids cooped up inside my house and I remember washing a lot of towels...) ... I digress, I started gaining weight like mad when I closed my daycare and started working a desk job again. I have a 90-120 minute commute everyday, I work 8-10 hours per day (yay for OT at the moment) and I like my sleep. I don't get enough as it is. My mother thinks I don't eat enough because basically I only eat lunch (which I work through). Too tired for dinner by the time I get home 3 days out of 5.
lisasonrisa: I'm waiting for the weather to cool down a little more - then I can go for lunchtime runs on the track. :)
about an hour ago
JenniferPriest: Normally late afternoon which is not ideal, but better than nothing.
about an hour ago
TankaBar_JasonD: most of the time, I want to get it back to having it a habit instead of working at it everyday.
about an hour ago
wildbill: I get four hours of exercise a day. It's called the GXP clutch push. Only exercises my left leg tho. :(
about an hour ago
lahondaknitter: whenever I can, even little things. I'm walking to a friend's today, she's 1/3 mi. away.
about 41 minutes ago
Conclusion - I either need more time management skills, less sleep, or I am just downright lazy.
So, the question is (since I don't want to face the fact that I am lazy) - how/when do I fit in some decent exercise? Time management gurus, I am asking for help.
Replies tracked by @twickie
10/22 update
I hate scales. I really hate scales. If you want to join me on my saga I've started a tumblr at http://nanners-weight.tumblr.com/ - So far ... I'm starting out 10lbs heavier than I thought I was!
Thanks to @CTK1 who emailed me some info, that, if it isn't going to help me lose weight, has, in the last two days, helped my mood and focus. Which in turn is helping me to stay motivated past talking about it.
And to @Oakmonster for reminding me about stairs. There are 21 flights here. I think I will start with 4. On a day when I am not wearing heels and/or actually remember to bring my sneaks. Yesterday I did 4, all going down, but still better than taking the elevator, right?
I wish I could afford the gym again. Josh has been wanting to go and I would much rather zone out and get 30 minutes in on an elliptical (oh how I hate them - http://www.annetteholland.com/2005/11/im-sweating-my-hair-is-sweating-im.html) or treadmill on a regular basis than try to fit it in randomly throughout the week.
One day at a time, right?
Thanks to @CTK1 who emailed me some info, that, if it isn't going to help me lose weight, has, in the last two days, helped my mood and focus. Which in turn is helping me to stay motivated past talking about it.
And to @Oakmonster for reminding me about stairs. There are 21 flights here. I think I will start with 4. On a day when I am not wearing heels and/or actually remember to bring my sneaks. Yesterday I did 4, all going down, but still better than taking the elevator, right?
I wish I could afford the gym again. Josh has been wanting to go and I would much rather zone out and get 30 minutes in on an elliptical (oh how I hate them - http://www.annetteholland.com/2005/11/im-sweating-my-hair-is-sweating-im.html) or treadmill on a regular basis than try to fit it in randomly throughout the week.
One day at a time, right?
Weekends. That's when I (used to) put in my major workouts. If/when I get to it during the week, it's a truncated 30-45 min workout, unless I do an hour-long class.
ReplyDeleteThe ladies in my office walk up/down the fire escapes everyday for 15 minutes. I get in half hour before my official start time so I used to walk around the office for 15 or so minutes. Keyword: used to. Not need that now that I'm doing Thriller all the time. LOL.
ReplyDeleteNow? I just take the long away around to get to a corner of the office. And I take the stairs when I can.
If you have free weekends, you gotta utilize them. When my son was very little, we did walking with a jogging stroller on the weekends because during the week I was too dang tired.
ReplyDeleteThere are DVDs you could buy used on Amazon. Taebo is pretty good and so is the Biggest Loser collection. I have those but stopped when my knees couldn't do it.
How about gym at lunch? Can a small membership to a nearby gym be squeezed in to the financial plan? It's hard to get up and out at lunch when all you want to do is veg, but it can be worth it.
Or getting some sort of small, collapsible workout equipment like a Bosu ball or a small step machine that you can place in front of the TV at the end of the day, and get in a small work out.
It's about 40% availability and the rest is will to do it, I think. As long as you want to and are willing to do it, you will find a way.
Have a look at feelfit.com (disclaimer, I work for them).
ReplyDeleteIt's an online personal training system that matches exercises to your personal situation.
Perfect for deskjockeys.
I had this problem too. I'm skinny but unfit. I drove to work, sat at my desk all day and drove home - good intentions of walking round the block went out of the window once I got home. I tried going for a walk at lunchtimes, didn't often work. Now I take the train to work and I WALK to the station :) It's only about 15 mins, but that's 30 minutes walking a day, which is better than no walking. I think you need to find something that can be a habit and useful rather than just exercising for the sake of it - unless you LIKE exercising of course!
ReplyDelete@Pinkwaterfairy - I do NOT like exercising for the sake of exercise. I like being active. I love hiking, but don't do it so much anymore. I also used to love bike riding and roller-blading, but again, no time anymore. I used to be skinny, now I'm ... a bit curvier than I think is good looking. All is vanity.
ReplyDeleteI may look into taking the train a few days a week again. My schedule is so unreliable though.
I stopped driving to work 4 days out of 5 and take metro. It doesn't get me all the way to work, I still have to climb up a big f'n hill. So that's one of the ways I get in exercise. Dunno if you can mix in some walking, but perhaps not driving all the way to work can force you to do some walking.
ReplyDeleteAlso, EA Sports Active is absolutely amazing. 20 minutes a day at least and it's a legit workout, way better than that Wii Fit thing.
--GCII
@Paul - I will look into it. Thanks!
ReplyDelete@Kekibird - free weekends? um, what are those? LOL! I miss taking my dogs to dog beach, but my ex has them at the moment and I try to spend weekends with my daughter. Maybe I can change that. My living/work situation is just not all that conducive to an active healthy lifestyle. I have a Wii Fit and have yet to use it, so video exercise doesn't seem to work for me.
ReplyDeleteBudget-wise, I think I am in a similar boat as you. Nothing but the essentials right now.
Man, do I sound whiny or what?
ReplyDelete@pfont - how long are your regular weekend workouts??? 30-45 is about all I would do when I did go to the gym.
ReplyDelete@Oakmonster - thank you for reminding me about stairs!!! Now that I am in TBC, there are stairs I can take. A whole 21 flights (I might do 5 before I collapse). Now ... to not work through lunch, and bring tennis shoes. Doing stairs in high-heeled boots is not appealing.
ReplyDeleteGlenn, I'm out in Lancaster now. I would totally take Metro if I still lived in Long Beach.
ReplyDeleteIs EA Sports active on the Wii?
EA Sports Active is on the Wii. It comes with a resistance band and leg strap so you don't have to buy that stuff. It's insanely good.
ReplyDelete--GCII
I'm one of those guys that gets up at 4:30am to drive from LB (home) to Irvine (work)... luckily the Spectrum's 24 Fitness is pretty awesome. I've tried to do the after work thing, but after battling the 405, a nap or a beer sounds better than an eliptical machine.
ReplyDeleteDisclaimer: I have no children... and can definitely see how that would kill my current schedule.
I am a SAHM, so it's far easier for me to exercise. I do Jazzercise and they have babysitting there, so I can bring them with me. They offer classes 7 days a week with various time options. Classes as early as 5:30 a.m. and as late as 8 or 8:30 p.m. It's cheaper than joining a gym, but the nice part of a lot of gyms is better/longer hours.
ReplyDeleteStop taking elevators. Walk up and down stairs. Park as far away from anywhere you're going and walk as much as you can/as far as you can from your car to your destination. And just walk in general....
I'm not much help! I mostly force myself to workout even when I'm tired. I usually start the workout complaining and bitching, but by the time I'm done I'm SO GLAD I did it and feel better about myself.
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