inconsistency

[Your_Crazy]

Here's a problem I run into all the time and it always sabotages my workouts. I have a busy schedule and it changes alot. I try to keep a workout at the same time each day. The problem is there are always unforseen tasks that make me miss a workout. When that happens it always throughs me into a tail spin. I end up missing out on a workout and have to decide how to get back on track. Whether I miss a bodypart or two, depending how busy I am, or if I try to make it up sometime in the week, if I can find the time. I tend to lose at least one day a week, normally more and there also is cardio during the week. What suggestions does everyone have? Or maybe someswitching I could do.

This Week I had time to do shoulders, legs and Arms. I had to cut each workout short and have done no cardio this week.


Chest
Legs and abs
Back and shoulders
Arms

[threenorns]

if your entire life shifts about, why would you try to force your workout into a regular time slot?

seems to me you'd feel better if you made your workout time as flexible as the rest of your life.

[-AC-]

You situation is similar to mine.

I have considered eliminating this "scheduled" workout idea, instead I would aim to complete a whole cycle of weightlifting and cardio exercises.

For instance, I currently do this:

Mon-Chest/Shoulder
Tues-Cardio/abs
Wed-Legs
Thurs-Cardio
Fri-Back/Biceps/traps
Sat-Cardio/Abs
Sun Rest


Currently, if I missed something like my leg day, it is either shifted to a cardio day or I just don't do it.

Instead, of restricting myself to a 7day cycle, I can use a system that basically gets me through my full routine regardless of how many days it takes before restarting my routine.

[Cort]

Pretty simple. Set a goal to hit X days a week, don't worry about which day it is or at what time. You don't need a gym to do cardio, so that is a good thing.

As far as the weights, just make sure you hit each session some time during the week. Don't worry about any pre-arranged schedule. If you have to go an hour later or push it back a day, it wont matter.

If the day you have to push it back to was for cardio, just do cardio the day that you couldn't make it instead. There really is no excuse for not doing cardio unless you can honestly tell yourself in your heart that you can't find 20 minute to yourself at home to go jog/jump rope/punching bag/whatever works.

[chanecia]

Maybe u should try to do a Full Body workout instead of a split. Therefore the days you do have time, you just spend a little longer time working out. Just make sure you have days in between for recovery.

HTH
NEcia

[-AC-]

Originally Posted by chanecia

Maybe u should try to do a Full Body workout instead of a split. Therefore the days you do have time, you just spend a little longer time working out. Just make sure you have days in between for recovery.

HTH
NEcia

Thought I'd chime in again...

I used to do a 2 day split (upper/lower), I had all kinds of extra time to do cardio and have an extra day off. However, I found that by the end of my workout I was to tired to properly do all of the exercise (good form/adequate volume).

[Your_Crazy]

I'm going to put it on a rotation. That way I hit everything before I start over again. How about some ideas on a split. Or is the one I have alright?

[Klinger]

You likely don't need a day just for arms. They get hit during chest, back and shoulder exercises anyway. That would get you down to a three-day split, which might be more manageable on a hectic schedule. Or do an upper-lower split, alternating every other workout. Then it doesn't matter what day you do it.

[Your_Crazy]

I have broke it into a three day split. Not on porpuse but it has worked out better the last two weeks. I have had five days in the last weekand a half that I would have had to adjust. I dropped arms and try to work them in on other days. Usaully chest gets some tri work and back gets some bi and forearms. :

[midgetcop]

I do pretty much what Cort suggested. I work shiftwork, rotating between days and nights, 12 hour shifts only. I can't workout on work days so I get into the gym on the days I can. I just make sure that I get in a certain amount of workouts a week, and most of the time that means that I have to double up the weights and cardio on the same day.

It's been working well for me so far. :