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BobFlex · 11-Oct-07, 07:19 PM

Hey guys,

I have been busy with school and work for the past couple of weeks and I've noticed that I haven't had any real time to work out. Yes I'll do the couple of sets of curls, or the push ups, but I haven't had any time to work out like I want to. It's been a little here and a little there, and I feel I'm back sliding. My diet hasn't changed, it's just that I'm not getting the amout of exercise I'm used to. Any thoughts or ideas?

**MAURER** · 11-Oct-07, 11:04 PM

what does your schedule look like? if you really look at it carefully, you may find you have some time, especially if you're not picky about times or if you can make some sacrifices. I personally have used the busy excuse plenty of times to talk myself out of going to the gym when im unmotivated. but, for me atleast, it really is just an excuse. also consider that an effective workout doesn't need to take that much time. if you limit your breaks, and stick to compound exercises, you can really get some quality work done. you have to focus on putting maximum intensity into the entire workout as soon as you step in the gym, but you can do it. another thing you can do if you really don't have time to hit the gym is to do a workout while watching tv..... actually this is just a trap... if you're watching tv you should be at the gym. lol.

BobFlex · 13-Oct-07, 10:11 AM

Well here's my schedule

I wake up a 6 to get ready for school
Get out of school at 2:30
If I have something to do after school I don't get out until 4:00
Come home and do my homework (which doesn't take 2 mins to do either)
If I have to work that day I work from 5 to 9:30
If I have tutoring that day it is from 5 to 7
If I have community service that day it is from 4 to 8
Then around 8 it's dinner time (I can't work out at night, it makes me too worked up then I can't go to sleep)
Then I got to sleep.

I see I have a little time to do something, but it's the fact that I would never have any rest that gets me. I do though have somedays where I don't work and don't have anything to do after school, and I work out, but it's only 2 days out of the week that's like that.

**.V.** · 13-Oct-07, 11:35 AM

So do a short, heavy 2 day a week, full body routine. That will still get ya some results and is better than doing nothing. All you gotta have is squat, dead, bench, and row...everything else is really just for the mirror muscles or the beach muscles anyway.

**LiftGirl** · 15-Oct-07, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by .V.

All you gotta have is squat, dead, bench, and row...everything else is really just for the mirror muscles or the beach muscles anyway.

My mirror and beach muscles look good with only these 5 lifts!

16-Oct-07, 04:35 AM

I agree LG, those 5 do make some nice "mirror and beach" muscles! Of course, I only counted 4 so we should add presses (I am partial to the overhead kind).

**Doc2029** · 16-Oct-07, 06:50 AM

I think Liftgirl does a workout consiting of squats, bench press, deadlifts, Over Head Press, cable row. Very close to what .V. does and what I am doing. Instead of a 5X5 I am doing a modification of his workout right now, same lifts but I am doing 3 sets (not counting 1 warm up set.) of 6 to 8 reps once I can do 8 reps and it isn't hard I bump the weight. But my last set I add 5 to 10 pounds.

**Lady C** · 16-Oct-07, 08:44 AM

I say get up at 5am and do your workout before your day begins. If that is too hard then you don't want it bad enough. 2 days cardio, 2 days weights leaves you plenty of time for other stuff.

**LiftGirl** · 16-Oct-07, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronMan

I agree LG, those 5 do make some nice "mirror and beach" muscles! Of course, I only counted 4 so we should add presses (I am partial to the overhead kind).

LOL, I can count, I swear!

**LiftGirl** · 16-Oct-07, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orkydoc

I think Liftgirl does a workout consiting of squats, bench press, deadlifts, Over Head Press, cable row.

Right, except I do T-rows instead of cable rows. I like them better.

16-Oct-07, 12:49 PM

100% word-for-word what Lady C said!

Merrida · 18-Oct-07, 05:11 PM

You have to SCHEDULE it into your day, just like you would a doctor's appointment. We always find the hour or two to go to the dentist, the doctor, run our errands,....I work with people who travel around the world, so not only are they busy but they have to deal with jet lag and massive time zone adjustments. But I've had people fly in from China or Italy and train with me within 24-48 hours of their arrival home.

The point is they make the time by blocking it off in advance in their schedule.

**Firehawk** · 18-Oct-07, 06:09 PM

There is always time to work out. That's an excuse. There's always 30min to an hour a day to work out. If this means getting up an hour earlier or going to bed an hour later, then so be it. Sorry for being direct, but that's how it is.

Merrida · 18-Oct-07, 06:26 PM

If you really feel like we're ganging up on you or we don't understand your situation fully, let me take a gentler approach with you: Why not do 10 minutes of body weight exercises when you wake up in the morning before your day gets started. Now ten minutes isn't a lot of time, I'm sure you can fit that in.

Is it ideal? No. Will it work? It may,....because maybe you (your body) just needs to remember what it feels like to work out again and feel strong and agile. Even if you do stretching, or Pilates movements combined with some stair climbing, push ups, crunches, body weight squats.

The problem may be,....yeah, you are busy and think the only solution is a one hour workout,...or nothing. And you're opting for nothing.

Change gears, and take small steps as if you were just starting out as a total newbie. Ten minutes 7 days a week,....that's at least 70 minutes of exercise each week you're not getting now. Maybe that's more realistic for your mind-set right now.

This may not be a popular reply,....but maybe it's a reply you can use to help you just get your body moving again and FEEL it getting activated.

Then try for 15 minutes, and so forth, upping the ante in small increments. Who knows,....maybe it'll jump start your motivation.

I used to make a deal with myself that every time I had to use the facilities (at home or in a private setting, of course) or go to the refrigerator,.....that I would do 20 squats, and 20 pushups (pushups reserved for home "facilities" obviously!)....but you get the idea...by the end of the day, add up your squats and pushups.....

Start small, and stick with it.

18-Oct-07, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merrida

Change gears, and take small steps as if you were just starting out as a total newbie.

Great advice, Merrida, that's exactly what I did when I moved from running as a chosen workout to lifting. All I did was 3 sets of bench press 3 times per week. It was simple, quick, and that made it easy to hit every scheduled workout. Within a few months I was feeling ready to take on more and before I knew it I was in the gym 6 days a week and loving it.

Go slow and build a routine. It beats doing nothing by a long shot.