How Do You Fit Exercise Time in Your Daily Activities?

Hey all,

Just wanting to hear some ideas & advices on how people are fitting exercise in their daily activities. I've been generally on and off exercising but sadly overall haven't been keeping an active lifestyle, which I hope to change. My aim is to just be active and if all goes well hope to drop 10 kgs by end of this year.

Some more of my background.. I work 9-10 hours a day, commuting 25kms each way, with 2 kids. I used to try gym before work, but apart from not able to keep the habit, these days I rather start work early so I can be home early. But after work, I tend to get tired and just couldn't be bothered exercising esp with 2 kids keeping me busy at home still. Plus I'm just not as motivated as others are.

Interested in the idea of nipping out during work hours to a gym nearby for a quick exercise. But would like to hear some advices from trusty people of OzB. TIA!

Comments

  • +1

    Most replies here are boring and require motivation.

    Make it fun

    Play with your kids. Pick them up (If still young). Play tip. Take them for long walks and carry them back. Teach them a ball game. In summer take them to the park after work so you can play on the equipment with them. Swim laps with them after work.

    If they are older take up an active weekend hobby you all like/can do. If you want to do canyoning, start bush walking, move to off trail/scrambling, play in a climbing gym then do some group out doors climbs. Start cheap/low impact and build your kit and impact level as your family's fitness increases. Be safe and learn the safety side to your new hobby too (snakes/heights/soft and slippery edges/ropes/water depth/etc. for this example).


    Motivation

    If you really want to go it alone and use a gym or cycle/walk part way to work, create an exercise goal, like easily ascend a mountain because you want to see a certain view, be able to run a certain distance for an event or be strong enough to lift your wife for standing sex.

    Break that goal up into smaller milestones, like run a certain distance. Once you reach it, increase difficulty by aiming for a faster time, increase distance or run a harder route (up a hill or on soft sand). Change your exercises so you don't get bored. If you're a perv, exercise at the beach or the gym. Use a trail if you want fresh air.

    My example is about running, but you could do the same to your workout with cycling (basically the same but with roads) or lifting (maybe have climbing as a side hobby).


    Reassess your goal

    If you really only want to lose 10kgs, a better goal might be to replace it with muscle (unless 10kg's is a soft target). Living an active life with your friends and family would be a hell of a lot more satisfying, sustainable and interesting than 'living an active life style' by meaningless training at a gym or walking an extra stop though the rain.

    Interesting is important as it keeps you focused and earns you social support. Would you rather talk to a person who's goal is to lose 10kg's or to get fit enough for back country skiing in July? Who would you excitedly ask for more details from? Your friends and family will help with your motivation if you brand your goal in a more socially appealing manner.


    Food

    From what you said you are eating right. Don't be afraid to eat poorly once in a while. The food will taste like crap and keep you on your diet. If you are over served, stop eating when you are full and if questioned don't be afraid to tell people you enjoyed your meal, are now satisfied and don't wish to ruin it by over eating.

    If loosing 10kg's is your only goal the only real way to do it is by eating less than you are now. Replacing part of a meal with water so your stomach is still filled can be an easy way to eat less.


    There is no easy ways to loose weight or get fit. Making it fun, setting a goal you find interesting, branding your goal or just eating less while consuming the same are some of the easier ways to get fit or loose weight.

    • Thanks for taking the time to write this! My short goal is to lose weight and not snore so my wife can finally sleep peacefully and not kick me out every now and then. From experience, my snoring is related to my weight. So that 10 kg is not yet within my BMI, but at that weight I would not snore. After that I guess losing weight to get within my BMI (another 7kg after).. to break it even smaller, I guess I want to have a 3 x a week exercise routine AND to see a decline in my weight

      Btw LOL at standing sex. Never entered my mind. Maybe I should make that a goal. Thanks for the inspiration haha.

      I have not make exercising (or active activities) with my son a priority. Thanks for mentioning that. I'm gonna try priorities that in my weekly activities so that I don't just try do this alone.

      Thanks again for the helpful advise!

      • As you plan on heavy exercise, I suggest you go by waistline, not weight/BMI.

        Above 94cm is of concern.

        Above 102cm is of great concern.

        If you are fit you can be overweight by BMI and still be healthy.

        To loose weight you will need to find other foods to cut (full cream milk > skim, soft drink > water, # of coffees, sugar > stevia, current portion sizes > 3/4 portions with water, etc.).

        Some people swear by fasting or certain diets. Many work, but need as much motivation as the gym. Some can cause serious health problems. Cutting or reducing is often a better long term strategy.

        Good luck!

  • Find an activity/sport you actually enjoy, and it wouldn't be so difficult to add it into your lifestyle. Gym is actually overrated, and is a chore for many people. Physical activity shouldn't feel like a chore. There are many other activities out there.

  • You said youre up at 5:30am and home by 5pm and you spend 3hrs sorting out the kids?

    If you want to make a change you need get your priorities in order. As long as it's not a priority there will never be time as other things will take priority of your time. Where you're starting at, all you need is 20-30mins 4-5 time a week. I've got a kids too, when you get home, let them do their thing and you do you for 30mins. They can wait and trust me they will survive. You need to make you a priority if you want to be the best father you can be. In the plane safety demonstations, what do they tell you? Attend to yourself first then your child or minor. We tend to do the opposite as parents and end up burning out with no time to ourselves. Make you a priority.

    • Yeah part of it I think is me making excuse too I guess, I should've have been able to squeeze in 30 minutes if I really wanted to. But anyway I've signed up to a local gym today. I went to it during lunch time today and was back to office in 45 minutes. I think I'll just do this and be home a bit later. It felt nicer to exercise during the day.. for me anyway.

      But yeah you're spot on. Need to make myself priority.

  • Well, I also work 9-10 hours a day, commuting 70kms each way - 1.5 hours each way, with 2 young kids as well. We have free gym at work. So I normally go around 3pm when there's less people and meetings. Employers should note that you get more productive employees so I see that as billable hours. Showered at gym so one less thing to do when I get home.

    • I eat breakfast at work, it makes me more productive as it gives me energy for the day. I don't count it as billable hours.

      • Well I have seen people brushing at work. What about toilet breaks?

        • Comparing apples to oranges.
          One is a required bodily function, the other is not.
          Toilet breaks take me 13min a day, gym + shower would be 45-60min.

          Posted whilst on the throne.

          • @Vert93: Lol. Me too. I try to use the throne on different floor levels to get my steps up.

  • I fit exercise in by waking up at 530 every day then going to the gym. Wake up early and there's more hours in the day.

    For losing weight, it's all diet. You say it's hard because of the food cooked at home - eat less food dude!

    To start, track your calorie intake for a week using MyFitnessPal or a similar app. You'll get an idea for what you usually eat, and what your calorie intake is. When you are ready, reduce the total amount you eat.

    In reality, if you actively seek to eat food that you think is good, swap that soda for water, resist the daily cake at the work afternoon tea, skip that chocolate when your are tired at work and don't race for that bag of chips when you get home tired and hungry, you'll lose weight.

    • When you sleep? 8 PM? And how about sparkling mineral soda water? Do you coffee?

      • I go to sleep around 10pm, do black coffee.

    • I use to do 2 months of Youfood and strict calorie count. It definitely work but we couldn't afford the price tags esp since its $20 shipping to WA. But at least I've gotten an idea. So I've been cooking at home.

      Been swapping soda with sparkling water, daily coffee with long black, no choc or chips, its just that sometime when my missus cook or buy something bad I can't help but having a bit of her food. And that is my biggest downfall. But i also don't drink enough water so maybe that's why its harder to resist because im craving for more when in reality i just need water. Still working on this.

      • Figure out your maintenance calories and daily intake over a couple of weeks before making any changes. I'm willing to bet that the weekends make up for a lot of extra calories too.

        Don't worry about the diet plans and all that pre-made stuff, better to get there on foods you know and like already.

  • Coming to the party late John, but hope you read this anyway.

    At age 38, with 2 young kids, a busy work life and a bad diet, I was on the verge of being obese. 6 years on at 44, I am the fittest, strongest and healthiest I’ve ever been. How did I do it? I found CrossFit. From CrossFit Iearn about how to eat well and be healthy. Some people say CrossFit is like a cult, because most who do CF are so dedicated to it. A cult that makes you want to be healthy, is it such a bad thing? Honestly, give it a go. It’s not like gym. You will have much less motivation issues with CF. Go try it, I’m sure there is one near your work or home.

    • You sound like an ad, you ever think about working for CrossFit? They have fantastic career progression and excellent base salary.

  • +1

    I put the bin further away from my desk, so when I throw rubbish and my basketball skills are not up to scratch, I have to get up. Win/win. Improve my throwing skills and get some blood running in meh!

  • G'day John,

    Use myfitness pal (or a similar app), it'll keep you accountable and you can literally scan bar codes to look up food, some items you'll have to guess a little (unless measuring food) but it's super helpful.
    It gives you a breakdown of daily and weekly calories and an estimate of how much you'll weight in 5 weeks depending on what you eat that day.
    I've started using it daily and you feel guilty knowing that extra beer or two mean the difference in a couple kg's a month down the track.

    Not sure if you drive or catch public transport to work but either try parking further away or getting off a few stops earlier and walk?
    Take the stairs between floors if that's an option.
    Go for a walk, jog, run at lunch. I'm currently running at least 4 days a week if not in meetings (I started with one walk a week).
    Lots of water at the desk, I drink at least 3 litres at work and am constantly up and down both to refill and drain the tank. Also helps to suppress hunger.

    All the little things add up but as I'm sure most people have said it's mainly diet! Get that in check and the weight will fall off.

    Weight training wise, if there's a gym close to your work or home and is a decent price then consider joining but as you stated my be difficult before/after work especially with kids, just have to find the motivation.

    Have a look online for home workouts if not interested in joining a gym, literally can take 30-60 minutes and there's a variety of exercises/plans that'll help with a proper diet. Body-weight training is amazing, can also use items around the house to increase resistance.
    Could also buy weights to use at home but most of the time these often just sit in the corner and collect dust, I'd advise against it unless you've got the space for a bench, flat bar, a few plates & dumbbells.

    Try get the little ones involved? Not sure how old but could do some home workouts with them, make it a game and see who can do the most pushups/situps/chinups etc. in a week, month?
    Make it a habit to go for a walk or jog on weekends with them even if just around the block.

    Biggest tip, it'll take time! Don't be disheartened when you eat well for 2 weeks and don't see any changes.

    Good luck with it all!

  • It depends on if you want to exercise or just get the results, I do my exercises when I boil the kettle/brush teeth or have to wait for something (push ups, squats, hoedowns) I do a max of 10 minutes each day. The other option is using your brain to imagine your working out (it activates about 90% of the muscle fibers as actually doing it) this could be done if you take public transport, Cas Willow has something called "Exercise in your sleep" you could find something on youtube or just imagine yourself working out. Meditation or stress management is important to as high cortisol can affect weight. As left of field as this may be, it works and is suitable for anyone especially those with injuries, it's all about mindset!

  • Log your calorie intake. You’ll be amazed what writing down what you eat and associated calories does to your mindset. The old management technique ‘what we measure, we improve’

    In terms of exercise, just start. It can be a brisk 30 minute walk in the morning or evening. Get into a habit/routine. You’ll soon feel ‘odd’ when you miss a walk.

    Small, but regular steps. All the best.

  • The same situation with you, 9-10 hours work time, 2 kids after finish work. For me, do housework is my excises

  • Cycling to work is the single biggest change you can make.

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