Last week I blogged about how things are just not the same when I’m so far apart from my regular exercising. Let’s just say training keeps me sane and happy. And we all want that.
Moving to a brand new area (especially when it is cold!) has its challenges. I left my running and biking routes and my gym with two big lap pools. I left unlimited classes my favorite yoga studio.
What I credit with the most missed workouts is the challenge of syncing my workouts with Richard’s crazy work schedule. He tends to leave for work around 4:30 a.m. and get home around 2:00 p.m. If I don’t get my workout in before hot man comes home, there’s a good chance it’s just not happening.
The No-Fail Workout Plan
1. Exercise in the morning. Get your workout before anything else in your day has the chance of stopping it. 
2. Join group classes. My budget is tight so I’ve mapped out all the free yoga classes at local studios and at my local lululemon (they have all sorts of free classes 1-2 times each week). I write all classes on a monthly calendar so I can easily see what’s available to me.
3. Set fitness goals. I’ve written down the distances and time I want to spend on running, biking and yoga for the week. Seeing the bigger picture helps you see the value of one smaller workout.
4. Plan ahead. I always have my off days fall on the busiest of days where I know I’ll be out and about and won’t have time to exercise.
5. Prepare ahead of time. Set out your workout clothes, gear and even a small breakfast. With everything laid out the night before, you’re less likely to skip it.
How do you make sure to fit in your workouts?
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I wake up at the same time everyday and get a light run and pool workout in! It’s nice being in school and always having access to the gym. After sitting in class all day I either bike or run in the afternoon, some people call me crazy, but actually it keeps me sane. My bf lives in ATL and I am in DC so I don’t have much of a distraction there, but I have realized that when he comes to visit it is ok for me to go workout and to bring him along if he wants! Remember you’re worth it!
Woo woo go you!!
I had a similar problem with balancing boyfriend time and workout time. I finally just had to realize that I’m a better version of me when I get to workout and he would appreciate a better version of me. That being said, I always try to workout in the mornings to keep my evenings free for other things or to go to the gym with my boyfriend. I sleep in my workout clothes, plan out my workout schedule with the rest of my week based upon work schedule, training schedule for races, etc. and always remind myself how much better I will feel after a work out.
“I’m a better version of me when I get to workout and he would appreciate a better version of me.”
EXACTLY!!!
I always work out first thing in the morning! If I wait, it hangs over me all day, or I don’t get around to it! When I have a second workout, like Bikram or running, I will write it in pen in my planner – I hate having to cross things out of my planner, so I always make my in-pen activities!
I never thought I would be a morning workout person, but as soon as I got used to it, I loved it! Now if I don’t do it in the morning, its harder to get it done. Plus if I get my run done in the morning the rest of the day seems to go so much better
my darling beautiful smashley, thanks for this post! i have to set out my gear the night before or i always blow off workouts. that and choosing an outfit for work at 5:30 am is never successful. it’s bad enough with daylight.
at first i researched low-cost options to work out in my area, but it turned out membership at my gym [which is amazing and offers everything - even a huuuuge rock climbing wall] was the cheapest and most logical option. so don’t always discount gyms from your research!
I just started working out in the morning and I have to say it is the best thing I’ve done! And let me tell ya, I am NOT a morning person!!! I am that girl that hits “snooze” for like 45 minutes before I notice I’m running late and have to get up! It’s all about what you want and how bad you want it. I always worked out after work (always as in since I started working out over 10 yrs ago) and the past year I noticed my workouts pretty much stopped because I was either exhausted from work or had dinner plans and I just wasn’t happy that I wasn’t working out. This week has been rough getting up because of some puppy issues we’re having but hopefully this weekend I’ll be up at 6am and ret to go!
These are great tips! I always pack everything the night before and work out first thing (5:30 am). Yes, it’s hard to wake up super early at first, but you feel so good the rest of the day, that it’s totally worth it!
SO true. I need to work out when my husband isn’t home, otherwise I just want to spend time with him. Although, sometimes we workout together, or will do a yoga DVD, which is nice. I usually go to the gym straight after work. I bring my clothes with me and change into them before I leave my client’s house, that way there is no excuse! Once in a while I’ll go at 6AM, if my husband is working the early shift. It feels great to go early in the day. Today is a super snowy day here, and we both have the day off. I know the roads are bad, but I’m itching to go and get my sweat fix. I think today’s a day for the yoga DVD, though.
This isn’t so much “fitting it in” as just plain motivation, but I always tell myself that never once have I said after a workout “I’m sorry I did that.” I always feel good afterwards!
I get up at 5.20am every morning and rotate between walking and running. Once I got into the habit I don’t even think about it any more. It is just part of my morning routine.
I love your plan. And need one of my own I can stick to. Taking your advice and I wrote it out. And it will happen in the morning, starting tomorrow! xoxo
Yay! Yes you will!
Working out in the morning definitely helps. Getting up earlier isn’t fun but I know that it’ll be great to not have to worry about it after a long day!
Great post!
I <3 planning so much, so it's fun for me to workout ahead of time when and what I'll do. Then I must do it first thing in the morning, or it just ain't happenin'!
I try to work out first thing in the morning because then it’s already done as I go through my day. I also like that it means I can just shower and get ready for the day when I come back from the gym. I also set out my clothes and get my water ready the night before. A lot of times I’m tired and shuffling around when my alarm goes off and just start getting ready without thinking. So, by the time I realize I’d rather be in bed, I’m pretty much out the door.
Hey Ashley! I have been following your blog for about a year and just noticed you are drinking Spark! I actually just started selling Advocare and reading that you liked it, made me feel even better about the product. How did you get into it?
https://www.advocare.com/110110091
Hey Karin!
I <3 Spark! My friend from work gave me samples and I was hooked. I have my site on the sidebar, too!
I’m struggling right now to fit in my workouts into my hectic life. With my husband gone for the month, I juggle a full time job with our two dogs (and the dogpark!) and handling our website and business. Sometimes I just have to settle for a yoga dvd or long walk with the dogs and that’s okay
Smart girl, using those resources!! I know I’m so spoiled, as a lulu-gal, with free access to a lot of studios/classes..itd be hard to go as often if it came out of my bank account! But you see the big picture, and know where there free stuff is, so it looks like you and that calendar are good to go
I love that I discovered Lululemon. My store started doing free classes in the community instead of doing them in-store, and it’s a great way to discover the great classes out there without breaking the bank. I also buy a lot of Groupons – I don’t think I’ve paid more than $7 for a yoga class since I moved to Boston!
I’ve just started working out in the mornings (just, as in, 4 days ago) and I already see that it is the most practical way for me to exercise. If I wait until after work I’m too tired, or it’s too hot and I have less motivation to get out there.
If I do it early, it’s done and I don’t have to worry about it! It’s a big step for me as I am not a morning person and I hit snooze on my alarm at least 10 times before I get up for work usually, but it’s not so hard once you do it a few times
I get up at 3:50am to get my workout in before I leave for work. If I don’t it just won’t happen. After commuting and working, I come home and make dinner. After cleaning up the kitchen the last thing I want to do is go workout. I have come to LOVE that time of the morning and enjoy my workouts very much. The only part that isnt’ so cool is that I find it hard to sleep past 5am on the weekends too. I just get up, workout and start my day. It does take time to adjust to that schedule. When I started doing that, every week I would set the alarm 15 minutes earlier until I got to the time I needed. Now I find that I wake up 5 minutes before the alarm is set to go off. Another part that isn’t too cool is I can only cycle on the weekends. not too safe around here to do that in the dark.
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