Do you get 90 minutes of exercise every day?

[Taza Tikha]

Have you heard the new dietary/fitness guidelines for women? No longer is 30 minutes of cardio activity 3-4 times a week enough for general health. The government (USDA? I forgot which agency was cited in the news report) has announced that adult women need at least 30 minutes of exercise beyond their daily routines every day just to maintain their weight and decrease their risk of disease. And women who want to lose weight need 90 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity. EVERY DAY.

I realize that logically, this makes sense. Particularly if you take into account that even when watching what they eat, most Americans consume far more than needed. So of course you need to spend the better part of 2 hours each day sweating it out. But practically, this is just bizarre, and a good way to discourage a lot of people. I feel like I'm really accomplishing something if I can get my butt to the gym three times a week, and rarely do I have enough time to stay for much longer than an hour. Occasionally I'll go at some obscene hour on the weekend, when I can hog the machines as long as I want and not have to worry about getting to work/dinner/bed. I can't even imagine how I--or anyone I know--would be able squeeze in two hours every day (if you account for changing, stretching, etc) without it severely restricting other activities in life.

Also, I've found that 45-50 minutes is my threshold before a post-workout high--in which water and a piece of fruit satisfies me--turns into exhaustion and borderline nausea, where I have to consume everything in sight to feel like I won't throw up.

Would you be able to meet these guidelines?

[ywt]

I'm not a woman, so I don't know if the same guidelines apply to men, but...

I tend to pull off 45 minutes of cardio 4 times a week. Plus weight lifting 2 or 3 of those days. I really am proud to be able to keep that schedule.

I imagine I could manage to double my cardio if I passed on the weights, or if I was willing to accomplish nothing with my day other than going to work, going to the gym, and sleeping.

[Kitty]

90 minutes of exercise every single day? No way.

[nikorock28]

Have you heard the new dietary/fitness guidelines for women? No longer is 30 minutes of cardio activity 3-4 times a week enough for general health. The government (USDA? I forgot which agency was cited in the news report) has announced that adult women need at least 30 minutes of exercise beyond their daily routines every day just to maintain their weight and decrease their risk of disease. And women who want to lose weight need 90 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity. EVERY DAY.

I realize that logically, this makes sense. Particularly if you take into account that even when watching what they eat, most Americans consume far more than needed. So of course you need to spend the better part of 2 hours each day sweating it out. But practically, this is just bizarre, and a good way to discourage a lot of people. I feel like I'm really accomplishing something if I can get my butt to the gym three times a week, and rarely do I have enough time to stay for much longer than an hour. Occasionally I'll go at some obscene hour on the weekend, when I can hog the machines as long as I want and not have to worry about getting to work/dinner/bed. I can't even imagine how I--or anyone I know--would be able squeeze in two hours every day (if you account for changing, stretching, etc) without it severely restricting other activities in life.

Also, I've found that 45-50 minutes is my threshold before a post-workout high--in which water and a piece of fruit satisfies me--turns into exhaustion and borderline nausea, where I have to consume everything in sight to feel like I won't throw up.

Would you be able to meet these guidelines?

90 minutes a day seems about right to me. If you work an office job, sit it front of the computer for 8 hrs a day, spend the hour lunch break at your desk, then sit in your car for another hour on the way home, 30 minutes is not going to cut it. People were not designed to sit for such extended periods of time.
In order to get enough exercise nowadays, it has to be a top priority. If it is middle on your list, then you are never going to get around to do it. Just like anything else, you need to sacrifice other things to achieve goals in one area.
Even if you do have an office job, it is possible to exercise for 90 minutes a day. Wake up 30 minutes earlier and take a walk. Walk for 30 minutes on your lunch break. Go to the gym after work. It can be done, but it takes discipline, commitment and sacrifice to achieve success (just like anything else).

[dolphingirl]

90 minutes of cardio a day is so overkill it's not even funny. I could see maybe 90 minutes total, say 30 minutes cardio exercise, 30 minutes strength training and 30 minutes just general moving, since 90% of the population basically sits at a desk all day long but if you are doing 90 minutes of intense exercise every single day you are going to get overtrained in a flash.

I think a better order would be to start doing some 'push-aways'. :rolleyes:

[vxmike]

Ha...I haven't exercised at all since August when I hiked up the Grand Canyon on vacation. Unless you count the other day when I ran home from work instead of walking b/c it was so cold.

Getting fatter but I've decided to just start eating less. Fortunately as a guy there's less societal/social stigma to being out of physical shape.

[nikorock28]

90 minutes of cardio a day is so overkill it's not even funny. I could see maybe 90 minutes total, say 30 minutes cardio exercise, 30 minutes strength training and 30 minutes just general moving, since 90% of the population basically sits at a desk all day long but if you are doing 90 minutes of intense exercise every single day you are going to get overtrained in a flash.

I think a better order would be to start doing some 'push-aways'. :rolleyes:

90 minutes of balls-to-the-walls hardcore intensity is not what they are suggesting. 90 minutes total is what they are after. Please read this link: I think it summarizes well.

http://health.howstuffworks.com/usda-aerobic-exercise-guidelines-ga.htm

[wordsmith]

Since I routinely work more than 8 hours (typically significantly more), and most of it is sedentary...either sitting working on stories or sitting in my car driving to cover stories, 90 minutes a day of devoted exercise is so not happening. Maybe for somebody with a nice, routine, stationary 9-5, but that's really not my life.

[and1grad]

90 mins a day sounds absurd to me.

[allie1105]

I do not do 90 minutes/day 7 days per week, however, with my half marathon training, I do it 4 days/week. The 3 days, I do an hour of lifting. Here is what my long days consist of:

- One day with a long run, currently up to 7 miles. This takes me 1 hour and 2 min, followed by about a half hour of ab work
- Two days with a shorter run, 4-5 miles, which takes me between 35-42min. I follow this up with 45 minutes of Pilates.
- One day where I take a 1 hour spinning class and a 1 1/2 hour yoga class

Also, I do eat the way you described:

Breakfast - Kashi Oatmeal and a banana, coffee w/Fat Free Half and Half
Snack - Yogurt and a granola bar
Lunch - Organic PB and Jelly on Weight Watchers bread
Afternoon snacks - a clementine, pretzels, can of low sodium V8, grapes
Dinner - sometimes a lean cuisine if my husband isn't home, otherwise I make something relatively normal, not a diet meal, but eat small portions
After- dinner snacks - 1 small york peppermint patty (so I don't totally engorge on chocolate, because I love it, 100 calorie right bites (usually the shortbread one) and a mini bag of lowfat popcorn.

I don't eat after 8:30pm, and I eat all day long to keep my metabolism up. It gets boring, so I switch it up! Its not that bad!

[Winter Storm]

Who has 90 minutes of free time every day!

I'm going to be joining a gym soon but I'm looking at spending an hour, at least 3-4 times a week.

[wordsmith]

Who has 90 minutes of free time every day!

This is my thought. If I had 90 minutes of time uninterrupted by work or other obligations, I'd use it to sleep, believe me.

[EmberMae]

I can see how they are right that a person working a sedentary job does need that much exercise; however it is just highly impractical given today's work schedules. I might have 90 minutes of free time a day; however it will be within 2 hours of going to bed and by that time I am totally wiped. If we really want to emphasize health in this country, the major culprit is the work schedules we have which necessitate spending over half our waking hours sitting in a desk and leave us with little time to cook healthy meals, practically requiring convenience foods. It's something I'm really struggling with because the bottom line is under the best circumstances (i.e. I don't have to work late, good traffic), I have 4 hours from the time I get home from work from the time I have to go to bed, and cooking a meal from scratch takes at least 1-2 hours. I need to exercise, I have been gaining weight at a constant clip since taking this job and my pants are getting way too tight.

[wordsmith]

I can see how they are right that a person working a sedentary job does need that much exercise; however it is just highly impractical given today's work schedules.

Totally agree. Obviously, if I have a predominantly desk job that takes up well over a standard 40-hour work week, I probably need to excercise more than most. But there are a lot of things that need to be fit into the few nonworking hours.

[MetFanL]

I think 90 minutes is reasonable... some cardio, some lifting... that'll take at least 90 minutes.

I definitely get this. Actually, I usually get about double this time at the gym. It's completely doable and I maintain a pretty active social life, too.

[SmilesSoSweet]

If I'm actually staying on track, then I can get in 60-90 minutes of working out. But if I can't get that much time in (for whatever reason) I workout no less than 30 minutes.

It's tough, but doable.

[wordsmith]

A half-hour a day for me is doable...sometimes more, but not regularly more.

[and1grad]

Wait, is it 90 mins of exercise total or 90 mins of cardio? I can do the exercise..weights takes an hour alone anyway...but cardio? ONLY if i'm playing basketball.

[BadKitty]

I try to do 1 hour five times a week. It rarely happens. I mix cardio with strenght training.

[MetFanL]

Wait, is it 90 mins of exercise total or 90 mins of cardio? I can do the exercise..weights takes an hour alone anyway...but cardio? ONLY if i'm playing basketball.
No, it's both.

[mishl982]

I'm lucky if I can get more than an hour. I can do 90 if I workout in addition to a class.

[Kitty]

I could totally make it happen, but to be honest..I hate working out and I really don't want to spend that much of my life in a gym. I can't go everyday, either, or I get serious burnout.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I could totally make it happen, but to be honest..I hate working out and I really don't want to spend that much of my life in a gym. I can't go everyday, either, or I get serious burnout.

This is how I feel. I mean I still need to go to the gym, but I don't want the gym to be my life outside of work either!

I work out after work because it's what works best with my schedule. So by the time I get home, eat dinner, and work out, it's like my night's already done. I also try and get to sleep by 10:30 too.

And now that I'm dating someone, I do want to spend a couple nights a week hanging out with him, so that cuts into some of my work out days.

[and1grad]

I think we're kind of overextending the amount of time an hour and a half is. Its not exactly a life-prohibitive amount of time. Altho, EVERYDAY is much.

[dolphingirl]

I think probably if you take a more 'active' approach just to life, like walking whereever possible, getting up to talk to co-workers, all that stuff that you always read about, getting 90 minutes of movement would be that hard. I think they should rephrase the recommendation putting movement in there as opposed to exercise. 90 minutes of planned exercise isn't necessary for most people I don't think so long as your eating habits are controlled - which is a whole other problem with this country.

[Kitty]

I think we're kind of overextending the amount of time an hour and a half is. Its not exactly a life-prohibitive amount of time. Altho, EVERYDAY is much.

It is if you hate the gym!

Like I said, yeah, I could make it happen...but do I want to? No. I'm not overweight, all my tests/labs/medical stuff says I'm healthy, I get a moderate amount of exercise, and I simply do not want to go to the gym everyday and work out that much. If I wanted to lose more weight, or become super toned, or had some other goal in mind - then yeah. But I don't. So i will not be following these guidelines/standards.

But I do agree with you that it's not a huge, insane amount of time..and most people could probably make it happen.

[embrassezla]

I plan on attempting this shortly, once I get a few things out of the way. 1.5hrs of jazzercise everyday to prepare for certification.

[mishl982]

I plan on attempting this shortly, once I get a few things out of the way. 1.5hrs of jazzercise everyday to prepare for certification.
Ooh certified for what? To teach? That sounds cool.

[nikorock28]

I think we're kind of overextending the amount of time an hour and a half is. Its not exactly a life-prohibitive amount of time. Altho, EVERYDAY is much.

I agree. Also, remember that 90 minutes is the suggested time for weight loss. The recommendation for a healthy lifestyle is at least 30 minutes a day... so, I take this to mean between 30-60 minutes a day. I believe this is very doable if you make an effort to walk during lunch, wake up 15 minutes earlier and do a short workout and hit the gym a few times a week. Park further away when you go grocery shopping, take stairs whenever possible and walk the one mile to go eat at Subway during lunch instead of drive. Just look to add in exercise whenever possible.

[AshleyJordan]

No way I can do that. . .I go to the gym about 3x a week but it's seriously out of my way and in this weather it's hard enough to drag myself out to swim. I do, however, walk a ton, like most NYers, and rarely "sit still" at home, so I'm pretty sure I'm getting enough exercise.

[embrassezla]

Ooh certified for what? To teach? That sounds cool.
Yup, so excited!

[wordsmith]

No way I can do that. . .I go to the gym about 3x a week but it's seriously out of my way and in this weather it's hard enough to drag myself out to swim. I do, however, walk a ton, like most NYers, and rarely "sit still" at home, so I'm pretty sure I'm getting enough exercise.

Agreed. The only time I was getting enough was when I lived somewhere where simply getting to and from work involved walking three miles a day. Incorporated into my daily tasks, and it's no problem. But 90 min. of gym time a day, versus just getting in what I can via multitasking? Yeah, not so realistic. Especially when you consider that the nearest gym to me is the YMCA 20 miles away. I can't really count on a gym workout, as that means 40 miles of driving and the time it takes to get there on top of the time it takes to work out; I kind of just have to do it on my own.

[sondra_finchley]

I did 3 hours of cardio 4 days a week, a day off, and two more days of >2 hours of long slow distance workouts for two years. I gained weight, got depressed, and found that none of it was enjoyable anymore, not to mention completely putting my system out of whack for two years.

60 minutes several times a week with getting outside for activities you enjoy doing on the weekends ought to be enough.

[SmilesSoSweet]

I was told to work out 5-6 times a week, but to ALWAYS give yourself at least one day off during the week.

[BadKitty]

I was told to work out 5-6 times a week, but to ALWAYS give yourself at least one day off during the week.

That's what I've been told as well. Also, you're supposed to alternate the muscle group you're working (for example, don't do lower body two consecutive days).

[and1grad]

(for example, don't do lower body two consecutive days).
You can work lower body 2 consecutive days w/o using the same muscle group. Lower/upper body is pretty broad.

[nikorock28]

You should definitely give yourself at least one day off a week from intense exercise. However, this doesn't mean that you can't go walk a few miles that day.

[SmilesSoSweet]

You can work lower body 2 consecutive days w/o using the same muscle group. Lower/upper body is pretty broad.

From what my trainer told me (and I'm sure it varies from person to person) is that when I weight train I shouldn't work out the same muscle two consecutive days in a row. I can, however, decide to do quads and triceps on the same day.

I tend to do all major muscles when I weight train then take a day off and just do cardio the next. It's what work for me.

[nikorock28]

If you just hit a muscle hard, then you should rest until you have completely healed, then hit it again. Full body every other day with cardio in between sounds good. You really just have to experiment until you know how your body operates.

[BadKitty]

You can work lower body 2 consecutive days w/o using the same muscle group. Lower/upper body is pretty broad.

Agreed.

[and1grad]

From what my trainer told me (and I'm sure it varies from person to person) is that when I weight train I shouldn't work out the same muscle two consecutive days in a row.
Thats true, you shouldnt. What I was saying is that you dont have to work all the muscle groups in your legs on the same day. Things like deadlifts, good mornings and leg curls work different muscles in your legs than squats, leg extensions, and leg presses.

[capella]

Do they have recommendations for those who aren't at a desk all day? There is absolutely no way in heck that I could work out for 90 minutes a DAY. That *might* happen 2-3 times a week. But not everyday. I am usually exhausted.

I constantly move at work. It is a rare moment when I am sitting at work. I am always standing, talking, walking, moving from here to there. Circling the room. I wore a pedometer for a while and I walked an average of 3+ miles a day... to the front office and back, all around my classroom, up the hall, to the cafeteria for lunch, here, there and everywhere. I move every second of every work day. I might sit to eat, but even that's not a given and it's likely only for 10 minutes. This all means that I am wiped out when I get home. Physically, mentally and if it was a bad day, emotionally too.

But to then go to the gym for 90 minutes. :eek: No way. I'd love to, but there just isn't time enough in the day for me. I get up around 5:30-6, I leave for work between 7 and 7:30, work from 8-4ish, get home between 4:45 and 5 pm. Then it's dinner, laundry, errands, whatever else, and usually by then it's at least 7 pm. I suppose I could go work out then, but that's my only down time during the day. Plus I don't like to work out that close to bedtime. I am usually getting ready for bed by 9 and in bed chilling out by 9:30. Then I try to have lights out at 10. I need my full 8 hours of sleep a night. *sigh* That's depressing news.

[and1grad]

Do they have recommendations for those who aren't at a desk all day? There is absolutely no way in heck that I could work out for 90 minutes a DAY. That *might* happen 2-3 times a week. But not everyday. I am usually exhausted.

I constantly move at work. It is a rare moment when I am sitting at work. I am always standing, talking, walking, moving from here to there. Circling the room. I wore a pedometer for a while and I walked an average of 3+ miles a day... to the front office and back, all around my classroom, up the hall, to the cafeteria for lunch, here, there and everywhere. I move every second of every work day. I might sit to eat, but even that's not a given and it's likely only for 10 minutes. This all means that I am wiped out when I get home. Physically, mentally and if it was a bad day, emotionally too.

But to then go to the gym for 90 minutes. :eek: No way. I'd love to, but there just isn't time enough in the day for me. I get up around 5:30-6, I leave for work between 7 and 7:30, work from 8-4ish, get home between 4:45 and 5 pm. Then it's dinner, laundry, errands, whatever else, and usually by then it's at least 7 pm. I suppose I could go work out then, but that's my only down time during the day. Plus I don't like to work out that close to bedtime. I am usually getting ready for bed by 9 and in bed chilling out by 9:30. Then I try to have lights out at 10. I need my full 8 hours of sleep a night. *sigh* That's depressing news.
Personally, I think 30 mins would be fine for you. Also, DAMN you go to bed early! :)

[wordsmith]

I sat on a stool a lot, or the front edge of my desk, when I taught. On my feet, I have a tendency to pace, which was distracting.

[capella]

Personally, I think 30 mins would be fine for you. Also, DAMN you go to bed early! :)
LOL! If I don't go to bed at 10 at least (on the way to sleepytime that is) then I am one cranky bitch. It takes a lot of rest to put up with 13 year olds all day. ;)

I sat on a stool a lot, or the front edge of my desk, when I taught. On my feet, I have a tendency to pace, which was distracting.
Yeah, I do pace a lot. I usually have about 5-10 minutes of direct instruction, then some sort of cooperative or independent assignment while I circulate, then we wrap up. That's a lot of pacing. ;)

[nikorock28]

Do they have recommendations for those who aren't at a desk all day? There is absolutely no way in heck that I could work out for 90 minutes a DAY. That *might* happen 2-3 times a week. But not everyday. I am usually exhausted.

I constantly move at work. It is a rare moment when I am sitting at work. I am always standing, talking, walking, moving from here to there. Circling the room. I wore a pedometer for a while and I walked an average of 3+ miles a day... to the front office and back, all around my classroom, up the hall, to the cafeteria for lunch, here, there and everywhere. I move every second of every work day. I might sit to eat, but even that's not a given and it's likely only for 10 minutes. This all means that I am wiped out when I get home. Physically, mentally and if it was a bad day, emotionally too.

But to then go to the gym for 90 minutes. :eek: No way. I'd love to, but there just isn't time enough in the day for me. I get up around 5:30-6, I leave for work between 7 and 7:30, work from 8-4ish, get home between 4:45 and 5 pm. Then it's dinner, laundry, errands, whatever else, and usually by then it's at least 7 pm. I suppose I could go work out then, but that's my only down time during the day. Plus I don't like to work out that close to bedtime. I am usually getting ready for bed by 9 and in bed chilling out by 9:30. Then I try to have lights out at 10. I need my full 8 hours of sleep a night. *sigh* That's depressing news.

Yeah, if you are walking 3+ miles a day already and standing often, then you don't need another full 90 minutes. That would just burn you out. Exercise and general movement is already incorporated into your daily life. If you are a gym member, I would just focus on strength training a few times a week. Perhaps try to get to the gym one or two times a week and then on Sat and Sun. Those would be my suggestions.

[capella]

Yeah, if you are walking 3+ miles a day already and standing often, then you don't need another full 90 minutes. That would just burn you out. Exercise and general movement is already incorporated into your daily life. If you are a gym member, I would just focus on strength training a few times a week. Perhaps try to get to the gym one or two times a week and then on Sat and Sun. Those would be my suggestions.
That's usually what I do. I do tennis for an hour or so on Saturday mornings (just my hubby and me... nothing serious). And I've been hitting the Y twice a week. There is a step class on Wednesday nights I am going to try to get to and then one other day of treadmill, stretching and weights. It still seems like the pudge just likes me too much though. :( How can one move so damn much and still be overweight. I don't get it. That's one of my goals now that I've got spare time in my nights and weekends. I've already been eating better... now to kick up the physical activity. I'm plum tuckered today though.... it was state testing for about 4 hours, which means I stood and paced the cafeteria (I was testing in there not my regular classroom) watching kids take a reading test from 9 to noon. How exciting. :rolleyes:

[mishl982]

Also, DAMN you go to bed early! :)
Most nights I'm ready to sleep by 930 or 10. If I'm up past 1030, I feel like I'm up super late! Except on the weekends, that is.

[wordsmith]

No way can I ever go to bed that early, unless I'm sick.

[MetFanL]

Most nights I'm ready to sleep by 930 or 10. If I'm up past 1030, I feel like I'm up super late! Except on the weekends, that is.
Ditto. But, I'm also up at 4:30am.

[wordsmith]

I get up between 5:30 and 6, but I rarely fall asleep before 1 a.m.

[WorkInProgress]

I get up between 5:30 and 6, but I rarely fall asleep before 1 a.m.

I couldn't do that.

I struggle with less than 8 hours of good sleep on a regular basis. I'm a mess with less than 7 on a regular basis.

One of my friends really only needed 4 hours and was surprised that others need more.

[Winter Storm]

I also need 8 hours of sleep but I don't get to bed before 11 lately. Then I'm up around 7am (late).

[mishl982]

Yea I need 7 or 8 hours to not be Grumpy McGrumperson. At least 5 to function. I also get up at 6 am.

[WorkInProgress]

Yea I need 7 or 8 hours to not be Grumpy McGrumperson. At least 5 to function. I also get up at 6 am.

Yep, 6 am, here. I effing hate 6 am, but I hate 5 something more.

[Winter Storm]

Ditto. But, I'm also up at 4:30am.

How do you get up so early? I can't even get outta bed at 6:30 with the TV on, I'm so out.

And the few times I have gotten up at like 5am (to catch a plane or train), I'm spent by like 8pm. I'm exhausted.

I really need to get up earlier but its such a struggle.

[and1grad]

I have to be extremely exhausted to sleep for more than 6 hours.

[SmilesSoSweet]

Most nights I'm ready to sleep by 930 or 10. If I'm up past 1030, I feel like I'm up super late! Except on the weekends, that is.

Most cases I'm usually in bed by 10:30, but no later than 11. I wake up at 6. Even if I'm at the bf's house, we're usually in bed by 10-10:30 as well. Then I leave around 6 and head back to my place to get ready for work.

[Winter Storm]

Then I leave around 6 and head back to my place to get ready for work.
Why don't you pack your stuff and leave from his place?

[SmilesSoSweet]

Why don't you pack your stuff and leave from his place?

Too much of a hassle. And I only live like ten minutes from him anyway. So it's all good. I also eat breakfast before I leave for work and he never has anything to eat for breakfast.

[mishl982]

Too much of a hassle. And I only live like ten minutes from him anyway. So it's all good. I also eat breakfast before I leave for work and he never has anything to eat for breakfast.
That's how it was with my ex. We lived a few miles apart and my work was in between. I would stay over at his place, then go home and get ready. I also like being in my own space when getting ready and not having to pack everything.

[weary]

I get up between 5:30 and 6, but I rarely fall asleep before 1 a.m.
this is me. except i get up b/w 6 and 6:30. for some reason, i wake up @ 4 a lot though. that sucks.

words, do have fitfull sleep too?

[EmberMae]

I can't function at work if I stay up much past 11. I usually am too tired to do anything by 9 and I'm in bed by 9:30-10:00. Just one more reason why I really struggle with getting enough exercise. My healthy eating and sleeping habits take too much of my time. You can forget me getting up early and exercising, it's just not going to happen. I can barely roll out of bed to get to work on time.

[mxolisi]

I generally get 90 minutes per day, but it's not really hard-core exercise. I live about three miles from my office and I walk to and from work 90 percent of the time. I tend to walk pretty rapidly, to help up my heart rate and get a work-out in at the same time. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour each way, and on the way home it's certainly a workout as it's nearly all uphill. There are days however, when I am lazy (or work until 10 PM and don't want to walk home) and bike to work or take the bus most of the way, so I get less exercise on those days.

On the weekends I run 10 miles or so, and in the summer I kayak. Does walking count as exercise, or am I getting a whole lot less than I think I am?

[weary]

My healthy eating and sleeping habits take too much of my time.
ember, this made me LOL. damn healthy eating and sleeping getting in the way of my busy life! ha ha ha....
(i feel you though! :0 )

[MetFanL]

How do you get up so early? I can't even get outta bed at 6:30 with the TV on, I'm so out.

And the few times I have gotten up at like 5am (to catch a plane or train), I'm spent by like 8pm. I'm exhausted.

I really need to get up earlier but its such a struggle.
It took me a long toime to adjust. But, it's just straight up motivation to get to the gym b/c, if I don't go before work, there is no guarantee I'll get out of here on time to work out afterward.

[weary]

It took me a long toime to adjust. But, it's just straight up motivation to get to the gym b/c, if I don't go before work, there is no guarantee I'll get out of here on time to work out afterward.
i want to be like met when i grow up.

[wordsmith]

this is me. except i get up b/w 6 and 6:30. for some reason, i wake up @ 4 a lot though. that sucks.

words, do have fitfull sleep too?

No, I very, very rarely wake up midway through. I just am pretty conditioned to function on 5-6 hours.

I often don't even get home from covering stuff until after 9 p.m., so if I don't stay up, it's like I'd have no life. I simply cannot come home from work and go to bed.

[MetFanL]

i want to be like met when i grow up.
No, you don't. I'm such aloser. My friend called last night at 9:30 to come over and hang out and I was totally sleeping. :)

[weary]

No, you don't. I'm such aloser. My friend called last night at 9:30 to come over and hang out and I was totally sleeping. :)
ha ha ha. well...i want to hang out with my friend SLEEP more often! she's so noncommital. :rolleyes:

[nikorock28]

I generally get 90 minutes per day, but it's not really hard-core exercise. I live about three miles from my office and I walk to and from work 90 percent of the time. I tend to walk pretty rapidly, to help up my heart rate and get a work-out in at the same time. It takes about 45 minutes to an hour each way, and on the way home it's certainly a workout as it's nearly all uphill. There are days however, when I am lazy (or work until 10 PM and don't want to walk home) and bike to work or take the bus most of the way, so I get less exercise on those days.

On the weekends I run 10 miles or so, and in the summer I kayak. Does walking count as exercise, or am I getting a whole lot less than I think I am?

If you're walking 6 miles a day, then I think you're doing A-ok. Perhaps add some strength training with weights.

[nikorock28]

Another kicker to the sleep/exercise debate is that I have found that I need to sleep MORE after intense strength training exercise. Your body needs to recover from the beating that it took. So, it's not only the added time of exercise, but the added time of sleep that you will need to recover. If you work out but are constantly not getting enough sleep, I think it defeats the purpose.

[Kitty]

Most cases I'm usually in bed by 10:30, but no later than 11. I wake up at 6. Even if I'm at the bf's house, we're usually in bed by 10-10:30 as well. Then I leave around 6 and head back to my place to get ready for work.

HOLD UP...so you're using the term boyfriend!? Has it been taken to that level :eek: :D

[Kitty]

I go to bed at about 11:30 -- but we usually lay there talking for awhile, and I actually sleep at like midnight or so. I get up at 7:15.

[SmilesSoSweet]

HOLD UP...so you're using the term boyfriend!? Has it been taken to that level :eek: :D

Kinda, but to keep things simple on here, I'm just using BF for now. :)

[embrassezla]

Woah, I need more sleep than most on this board. I go to bed around 10pm, wake up at 745, usually pretty exhausted. I don't normally sleep all that well, though. It's a miracle if I sleep through the night without getting up at least once.

[Kitty]

Kinda, but to keep things simple on here, I'm just using BF for now. :)

I see. ;):

[MetFanL]

I was FREAKING b/c I had an overnight guest last night and didn't make it to the gym this morning. However, my boss just told me that i can leave and come back for my 8pm mtg... just enough time to get in a workout!! :)

[dolphingirl]

just curious, for those of you who get up at such early times during the week, does this change much on the weekends? That's my biggest problem, I'm just so used to getting up early, weekends come and I can't sleep in. But then I can't really stay up much later than 10 or 11 either since I'm tired from getting up early. Sometimes I feel like an old granny or something, wanting to go to bed at 11 on a Saturday night.

[wordsmith]

I don't like to sleep in on weekends, it feels like I've wasted one of my few days off.

[dolphingirl]

I don't like to sleep in on weekends, it feels like I've wasted one of my few days off.

Yah! That's exactly my thing too. I like to workout in the morning and seriously if I sleep in I'm not going to be starting my day until past noon...

But what do you tell people who want you to come out till 2-3 in the morning?

[wordsmith]

I usually don't go to sleep until after one even if I'm just home on my own. Two, usually, on the weekends, so if I do go out and it gets later than that, it's not sooo much later than I'm used to.

[MetFanL]

I usually try to get to the gym by like 6 or 7 on the weekends so I don't mess up my sleep cycle too much. If I need a nap later, I'll take one.

[Kitty]

I don't like to sleep in on weekends, it feels like I've wasted one of my few days off.

Same here. I will sleep in, but only until about 9:30...otherwise I feel like I've wasted a day. Plus, I like to get out and start doing stuff before he crowds are in full force.

[Winter Storm]

I don't like to sleep in on weekends, it feels like I've wasted one of my few days off.

I don't actually sleep in on weekends (I'm up with the sun) but I will lay in bed or lounge around til noon, 1 or 2pm. Loves it!

[Taza Tikha]

For those of you who work out in the morning, how long does it take you to get ready for work? I tried this once and it was a massive failure. I am soooo slow in the morning...it takes me at least an hour to get out the door, and that doesn't even include the time it takes to do my hair. I wash and set my hair at night so all I have to do in the morning is shake it out. I have yet to figure out a way to quickly get my hair looking presentable after a workout. I REALLY need to set it so it can dry overnight in smooth curls. The fastest I've ever been able to do it was two hours from shower to showable. Yeah. I already wake up at 5:30 (averaging six hours of sleep). An hour of exercise in the morning, plus the extra grooming time...I might as well not even go to bed the night before.

Hi, my name is Taza, and I'm extremely high-maintenance. And my pants are getting tight.

[and1grad]

I'm actually much faster in the morning after i've worked out. So what would normally take me maybe 30 - 45 mins...I get done in like 20. Its weird but whatever.

[wordsmith]

I'm very LM. I can get ready for work in 20 minutes, 30 if hair washing is required.

[wordsmith]

I'm actually much faster in the morning after i've worked out. So what would normally take me maybe 30 - 45 mins...I get done in like 20. Its weird but whatever.


I found this when I had an a.m. aerobics class that went from 5-6 a.m. When I got home and got ready for work, I was FAR more alert and more fast moving than if I'd just rolled out of bed and was groggy.

[nikorock28]

Yeah, working out in the morning won't cut it for me. I like to take my time working out and going to the gym is pretty much a 2 hr commitment. Also, even though I am a dude, I like to take long showers and take my time shaving, etc.

[bridgetjones]

I get 90 min several times a week but not everyday. I want to work up to an hour a day at least. When I work out it is about 90 min to 2 hours.

I tried to get workouts done in the morning but the habit does not stick. I guess on certain days I can workout in the morning if I have plans right after work. I am a nite owl, I like to do stuff after work and getting 6-7 hours of sleep is important! Sometimes I do not get that much. Weekends I sleep in. I enjoy sleeping :) I workout in the afternoon on weekends.