How do you find the time with a busy schedule?

[MrRob]

I wakeup at 6:30 and leave for work at 7:00. After my 1.5 hour commute I work from 8:30 until 6:00. I get home around 7:00 and I am exhausted. I eat dinner then I usually fall asleep aroud 11:00.

Working out in the morning is not an option since I live on the second floor in a condo and running on a treadmill and lifting and dropping weights is not going to be good.

I was working out at night at home but have been finding that I have no energy to lift or run.

My diet has probably something to due with my feeling tired all the time but don't know what to do? I get home and want to workout but I am way too tired to lift or run.

Any ideas?

[cursor]

Get up at 5:30, exercise for 45 minutes, then leave for work by 7:00. Go to bed at 10:00 PM instead of 11:00. Sounds simple to me.

[MrRob]

Working out in the morning is not an option since I live on the second floor in a condo and running on a treadmill and lifting and dropping weights is not going to be good. My neighbors downstairs will kill me.

Another thing is I wake up tired in the morning as well. This is another reason why I am more tired at the end of the day.

How can I get more energy and not feel exhausted all the time? I know I need to get my blodd tested but that will be another month or so before I get a day off.

[sooner_ed]

Could be a combination of diet and an out of whack blood sugar, which you won't know until you go get a blood lab. There are more than enough exercises you can do without making noise. You can do push-ups, crunches, barbell curls...you can use dumbbells instead of a bar. Aside from bad weather, would there be any reason why you could not run outside? I have a family and I used to lift in the mornings while they were asleep. Working out quietly can be done quite easily. Look for ways to make it happen instead of why you couldn't or shouldn't. A proper diet goes a heck of a long way in helping you have energy. Just make sure to get a good nights sleep, preferrably 8 hours. I find that I tend to get around seven hours a night before I'm wide awake. But most definitely, proper diet and enough sleep will go a long ways toward helping you feel better. And get to exercising!!! You will be pleasantly surprised at the results.

[MrRob]

I don't sleep well. I usually toss and turn all night. As for the diet I still trying to learn what to do about that.

I have a bench and dumbells for equipment.

I live in NY and it is cold outside and dark to run early in the morning.

There is a way, just have to find it.

[cursor]

While I don't know about the treadmill problem, I can't imagine why you can't lift weights in the morning (I never drop my weights). My routines are virtually silent (except for heavy and patterned breathing, of course). As far as energy in the AM is concerned ... just get up and do it. Activity generates enthusiasm and will make you feel physically and mentally powerful. Additionally, a great workout in the morning will put your butt in gear for the day's activities and leave you tired in the PM (so you cann properly sleep). BTW, if you're having any alcohol in the evening (and you have trouble sleeping), then simply break the habit.

[MrRob]

Alcohol is only on the weekends.

The treadmill makes allot of noise never mind my fat self bouncing on it over my neighbors heads.

If I move the bench to the living room and lift in the morning it still doesn't help the Cardio problem which I should probably do MORE of then lifting to Loose fat weight.

Trying to look for answers. I know I am making allot of excuses but I have no strenght to lift. I get through a set and I am whiped out. Especially in the morning when I can barely walk.

I am a mess. I need energy and a motivator. I don't know how many of you do this. I hate being fat and unhealthy.

[cursor]

It has become about as regular as brushing my teeth (although more fun). Something is better than nothing. If you can only manage the strength for a single set of three exercises (or whatever your limit), that's going to have to be good enough. By doing at least that much, you're 1) developing an important habit, and 2) burning/generating some energy that will benefit your body and move you in the right direction. Given time, I'm sure that you'll be able to increase your effort.

[MrRob]

Isn' cardio more important for weight loss then lifting. My number 1 goal is to loose weight. If I maintain my muscle or gain then its a plus. I have read that peopls state that more muscle mass then the more calories are burned throughout the day. Ican see this but there has to be allot of increased muscle mass to make to make a difference that way. It would probably take years of lifting to get muscle mass to loose weight instead of cardio. right?

[cursor]

Try doing a whole body workout, three times a week (alternating days), using slightly lighter weights, but with virtually no wait between exercises. Run through a cycle of exercises that take you about 30 minutes to do. It can be quiet ... and quite effective for fat loss.

[wm009]

Isn' cardio more important for weight loss then lifting.

In my opinion, no.

[sooner_ed]

Originally Posted by MrRob

Isn' cardio more important for weight loss then lifting. My number 1 goal is to loose weight. If I maintain my muscle or gain then its a plus. I have read that peopls state that more muscle mass then the more calories are burned throughout the day. Ican see this but there has to be allot of increased muscle mass to make to make a difference that way. It would probably take years of lifting to get muscle mass to loose weight instead of cardio. right?

On March 1st, I began an exercise program that consisted of lifting in the mornings and running in the evenings. I lost 55 pounds in 5 months. Weightlifting made the difference. It builds muscle and muscle burns fat. There does not have to be a lot of increased muscle mass to make a difference. It is a process. You must have a proper diet first. Combine that with a weightlifting and running program 6 days a week, resting on the 7th, and the pounds will literally fall off. You must do this:

1. Eat properly and maintain a caloric deficit.
2. Weightlift
3. Run

The heavier you are, the faster the weight falls off. As you get closer to your ideal weight, it slows down.
At this point, I have heard a lot of excuses. I'm not trying to be mean, but you must stop making excuses and find a way to make it work. As Cursor said, weightlifting is pretty much a silent way to exercise. No need to drop weights. As I said in an earlier response to your post, I have weightlifted in the mornings while my family has been asleep and I never woke them up. I understand the fact that it gets cold in New York. Bundle up and go for a run. Or if your treadmill makes that much noise, do it in the evenings before everyone goes to bed. You can make it work. You just need to be dedicated to finding a way to make it work.

[Gilogy]

MrRob -- you seam to have lots of excuses and are searching for a short cut that does not exist.

I have a similar schedule as you. I commute from NJ to NY everyday. I get up at 6:15 AM, I get home about 7:00 PM. Now I am not a morning person so the ideal time for me to workout is as soon as I get home from work and before dinner. The key was to JUST DO IT. It's a slow steady process, but consistency will bring results. Earlier this year I was 245 lbs, I am now 174 lbs. and still pushing towards my (new) goal. Many ailments that I had (including poor sleep) are gone.

You have what you need to do this. The only thing stopping you from success is you!

Originally Posted by MrRob

Isn' cardio more important for weight loss then lifting. My number 1 goal is to loose weight.

For optimum results you need a combination of Cardio and Resistance Training. Add in some better eating habits (start with what you already know) and you will soon see results. JUST DO IT. :

[MrRob]

I just feel exhausted at night when I get home. I have no strength to lift. That is probably to poor diet as you can see in the diet/nutrition forum thread I started. Just after a month of seeing no improvements it is discouraging even more and I get more depressed which probably leads to lack of energy more.
When I see that some people have lost 10 lbs in 2 monthsa and I habe lost none. I feel worse and even feel more sore and misreable with muscle soreness.

[wm009]

I found when I switched from 3 meals a day to 5-8 smaller meals, I didn't have lows. Like the most famous one at 3pm. Had the same energy level all day long.