For those of you who work long hours, how do you find the time to exercise?

I’m usually up each morning at 5:30am and it takes me less than 10 minutes to get in the stretches and few exercises I do. They’re the same ones I’ll do a couple of more times before going to bed. My incentive is to not let my body cross over what I call the “Jello” line, that point where it’s not quite firm and could collapse any minute.

When I worked for someone else, I used to go from work to the gym, work out, then dash home and microwave something from the freezer that I had cooked in bulk earlier in the month.

The exercise actually would renew my energy.

Many eons ago, when I was in college, I would go at 6 am, work out, get that burst of energy, and then go to work.

Exercise? What’s that?

Can you somehow incorporate a walk to/from/lunchtime in there?

I workout at home using personal trainer type tapes. I feel so much better when I am working out on a regular basis.

I moved to within two miles of my office, so I’m out by 6:45a and back by 3:15p. That gives me time to shower and drive the 10 miles to the yoga studio. I don’t eat ‘til after I’m done. I take a 4:30p and a 6:00p class, or a 6:00p and 7:30p class, which gives me 2.5 hrs of sweat. Even with the later classes, I’m home by 9:15p.

As in @Darwin‘s case, I get renewed energy from the workout. I’ve even gone in with a bad headache and come out feeling great.

I have the same problem – I basically force myself to the gym or pool. Once I am there I feel great and feel better for it when I get home. But getting there is the hardest part

I play soccer on Sundays and Mondays, kickball (yes kickball) on Thursdays, and I walk 18 holes of golf on Wednesdays. If you decide to be active after work you won’t have much time for much else.

Jog at lunch. Walk fast between every points a & b. Flex stomach when i think about it

its tough trust me. It is all a motivational and routine type of game. My advice is to eat periodically throughout the day, 6 small meals and snacks here and there, so that way you’ll have enough energy when you get home. On your way home, mentally prepare yourself for a workout, knowing what you want to work, etc. and get ready once you are home. Reward yourself after a good workout by having a late supper. You can also try working out in the morning, whichever you feel you feel more comfortable with.

Stay on the routine. Working out 3 times a week is great, even 2 days a week. Giving your body enough rest is what makes your muscles grow.

stay away from the simple sugar type foods, and a bunch of sugar in general. It will only make you crash, thus less energy. You could always try taking caffeine if you are not over sensitive to it and are able to sleep at night when taking it later in the day. Caffeine is a great supplement for working, allowing you to pump out more repetitions if doing strength training and giving you more endurance. It is beneficial in reducing the muscle soreness you have later after any workout activity as well.

Foods like almonds and other nuts are great because they pack a lot of protein and have a good balance of all important nutrients; including the good fat, (mono, poly) a right amt of sodium, depending on brand, and fiber. I always find that when i drink enough water throughout the day and eat almonds along with all other important food groups, I am full of energy throughout the day and I go to bed early feeling good after a workout, enough to fall asleep quickly

My bike is less formidable and more fun than a gym, especially in good weather. I pedal hard and work out, just does not feel like a pain, thus I continue it, even with a minimum of time.

You can always do simple exercises while at work (you can find a few articles about this on the internet)...probably do some basic yoga stands (but nothing too strange or conspicuous – your boss might think you had a stroke or something. hehehe)...maybe even use your break time for a short walk. What’s important is you keep active. Like they say, “if there’s a will, there’s a way”.

I would recommend finding strategies to feel less exhausted at 6 pm, like never stare at a computer monitor too long and allow your eyes to look into the distance for at least 2 minutes. Take breaks and stand up from your desk. Find ways to improve your self management techniques. Don’t overcommit and learn to say ‘no’ to your boss. Get the priorities right. Set realistic goals. And so forth.

I usually try to exercise from 6:45 to 7:30 pm at least twice during the week. And then there’s the weekend as well.

I’ve got virtually the same schedule as you—out the door by 6:50am, home by 5:45pm. It was tough to squeeze in exercise [especially since I’ve got a four-year-old daughter], but if you commit to a routine, it gets easier. Generally I try to wake up at 5am and either run or do some light stretching and cardio until about 5:45am and then in the evenings when I get home I immediately put on exercise clothes and my husband and I do whatever evening workout we’ve got scheduled for the day for about an hour.

The key reasons I’m able to maintain this routine are [1] I eat a large breakfast, snack at 10:30am, and a good lunch that will stick with me until the evening, [2] I put my exercise clothes on first thing in the morning and evening purely out of habit—it’s hard to crawl back into bed or just plop down on the couch when you’ve got your running shoes on, [3] I’ve figured out a routine that lets me do all of my exercising at or around my house, I’d have a much harder time motivating myself to go to a gym after work or first thing in the morning.

Admittedly, I’m a bit of a fitness fan. I exercise six days out of seven, often twice a day. I try to not work the same group of muscles two days in a row and mostly eat healthy, whole foods to keep my energy levels up. It also helps if you can find a workout buddy, someone who will hold you accountable to your schedule. Pick a routine that seems realistic for you, whether that’s twice a week or five times a week and don’t feel too bad if you miss a day, just jump back into your routine the next day.

Having a spot to workout near your office or home is a good start. @aliisyourfriend is right on spot about getting into a routine. The hardest part is getting started, it takes pure will power, once started you need discipline to maintain, but that is admittedly easier than getting started.

And remember, you’re never too old for bribery. A little star on your calendar for everyday you work out, rewarded with a treat for a full week of stars. It may sound silly, but anything that motivates you to stick with it is good.