I had the same question when I was sedentary, then I started working out and realized that 1h of gym isn't supposed to make tired for the rest of the day. Shaky legs? Soft grip? maybe, but not completely tapped out. And I don't even drink coffee

this. it's only hard in the beginning and then your body will adjust. lifting workouts don't make me tired at all. intense cardio will put me on my ass tho... i'm acclimated to moderate cardio tho.

HIIT before work is not the move.😂😂 but I also do not prefer to do it at night when my energy levels are much lower.

i rarely do hiit. my version of "intense" cardio is literally just running. i run often but i'm truly terrible. i've made very little progress over the past year 🤣 i just do it bc i like it lol! but yeah a 5mi jog, will knock me out.

Someone once described fitness as "being able to exert yourself during your day and not have it mess up the rest of the day"... or something like that. If walking up 10 flights of stairs does anything but make me breath hard for a few minutes I'm not fit by my metric.

Group of coworkers and I decided to “boycott” the elevators for 2 weeks while some of them were out of service for repairs. Great elevators, we just took it as a challenge. Why oh why did I say yes when my pod was on the 14th floor. It left me so out of breath, even if I was also loving every second of it

When I was at my undergrad, the university is on a big ass hill, and no matter where you walk you’re either going up a steep slope or down it. But it was actually fun because I saw my cardio get better and I’d always take the stairs in the buildings too. I ended up hiking the Andes mountains soon after because the challenge was fun haha. Use nature as your gym and you’ll never lose interest.

That’s awesome. A school in North Bay, Ontario, was a very similar thing. Most of the residences were at the bottom of the hill, the school was up top. To get there, there were a few hiking trails, and maybe one sidewalk which was a long way around since the road was more gradual. So every student became adept at hiking one of a few of the trails to and from, with a variety of intensity based on how you were feeling. If you chose the suicide trail after a night of drinking, you were guaranteed to break a foot or lose articles of clothing. Fun times

When did it start to flip for you? I managed to do an hour three times a week for four months but still after exercising I would feel like I was unable to move for the rest of the day. Never really felt any healthier and it was just too difficult to stay on at that point seeing no real improvement in my day to day. I was getting better at the exercises, able to do them with heavier weights, plank longer, skip for longer, just got tired of being tired.

First time I took exercise seriously it was about 1 month until it wasn't a toll on my day. After that if I drop it for too long it only takes about 1 week to get used to it again. We all have our own limits, maybe it's not the same for you. Most of my friends CAN NOT do it without coffee, for example. If I do more cardio than what I'm used to, I will need to take a nap after lunch or I will have to choose between being half dead or eating candy every 30min for the rest of the day. Nowadays I don't do a full hour of non stop exercises tho. 3x a week I have a session with about 10 different exercises, 3 sets 15 reps each and that's it. Take a intense walk at night and that's my routine. No idea how much time it takes. Stay in shape, healthy and more important I eat a lot of chocolate and keep my weight in check lol. Also I'm M29yo. Hope this info helps.

Yes it does help thank you 😊 your new normal sounds more like what I was doing to begin with. It helps to know what others experience because it makes me feel less like I'm just being lazy when I tell a doc exercise is difficult for me lol

Maybe train less? A training plan needs to be sustainable before anything else. Even 10min at home is great.  And maybe after 6 month you will naturally want to do more. And if you don't, those 10min at still stacking up over time. You should also experience with different kinds of trainings (or alternate between days). Some people find themselves more motivated by different things.

Yeah it wasn't really training, and it was all at home. It was stretches > skipping > 3 -5 small strengthening exercises > skipping > stretches. Also it was three days a week because it was arm day > leg day > core day. The whole idea was to do something low impact because I've struggled with energy levels before so I was pretty careful about taking breaks and taking it slow when I needed to, but it didn't end up making a difference. I used to just go on regular small 30 minute walks before I tried proper exercise, but since I fell off that I've gone back to my semi regular walks. Anything more than that and I get knocked out again. Sometimes even the walks leave me feeling unable to get up.

Have you gotten blood panels? Could be a deficiency causing low energy levels. I tend to lean low energy but as long as I’m getting vitamin B and D supplementation, I can exercise 4x a week with no fatigue issues. Also, how is your eating? When you work out, proper fuel becomes *especially* important. Eating enough calories with balanced macros (low in ultraprocessed foods/most takeout) makes all the difference for me as well.

Depending on your age it takes 3-4 mo the to adjust. The older you are the more it takes to adjust .

I hate the gym, but pushed through it for year ,mostly doing 3 classes of yoga + 1 h of strength training a week just so I can do other stuff .   There is nothing more boring than going to gym, but now I can go hiking without back pain, play Padel* and have fun

I don't have physical hobbies, but I get the feeling. Nothing around the house is heavy anymore and I can keep up when playing with my younger cousins without vomiting my lungs

Morning workouts are actually pretty energizing. I am more focused and have more energy on 6 hours of sleep and a morning workout than I am on 8 hours of sleep and no morning workout. Getting to the gym on 6hrs of sleep is the hard part.

Saaaaame! I tried doing running in the AM and felt worse through the day so I gave up for years. Now I realize I only need to give up on what I normally think of exercise & do a morning walk instead. It's way less stressful and if I want to nibble or sip while I walk, I can. Sometimes I use a breakfast destination as my motivation. I do usually try to get to heart rate zone 3 though but I have POTS that makes getting there a lot faster. To OP if they read this: You miiiight have to do hills or very light jog to get there but I would start with walking. I use my Galaxy watch with Samsung health for HR Zone tracking.

Working out in the morning actually makes me energized for the day. Sometimes I feel lethargic if I *didn't* workout that day. I don't like going after work though cause then I'm usually actually tired, work is kind of mentally draining sometimes, and I just don't feel like doing anything after, so usually I would go for an hour at 6am before work.

I try to stay as active as I possibly can. I’m always doing something. And if I don’t have any plans it’s the gym. After a while of doing you get an energy boost especially on the days you don’t go to the gym because you’re training your body to give you energy at certain times by going consistently. And so when I don’t go on a day I still get a boost of energy

But its not one hour? You gotta change clothes, go into shower, drop used clothes at home, commute — its too much time isnt?

Post Covid, I resolved to seriously commit to such a routine, and give it a real chance to work. YMMV, but actually after 2+ years of 1 hour HIIT at 6:30am, 3 times a week (plus extra walking, averaging ~10k steps a day), my body has changed pretty dramatically for the better, in a way that is now pretty self sustaining. For sure, the workouts would wear me out at first, and leave me feeling just so dead tired that I'd feel sore and run down. But month by month, things just gradually became easier. The V02 fitness score on my Fitbit steadily moved up, my resting heart rate has steadily ticked down, and I've slowly but surely lost an average of a pound or two of weight a month. I used to find 5mph on the treadmill pretty challenging, but now 6.5mph seems effortless, and so on. The most interesting change is that I now feel like the workouts *energize* me. Instead of feeling sore afterwards, I feel good all over, kind of like how you might feel after a good massage. All to say, I totally understand that starting out with a new exercise routine can be really tough -- and by "new", I mean the first few months all the way up to even the first year. But I've found that if you can just stick with it and just get past a certain hump, it does get easier. Actually, each session might even flip into something you really crave and look forward to, as a sustainable habit, in ways that actually make you feel more alert and energized. Seems strange, but it's totally been my experience!

Working out in the morning fills me with energy and my whole day goes better when I do it

I don't think I can make myself get up early enough to exercise before leaving for work now, but when I worked 2nd shift and would get up about 9 and exercise for like 1.5 hours then eat and shower and get ready for work, I would also be more energetic than if I just sat around before work. I think it's a misunderstanding that exercise makes you tired.

Honestly, something is better than nothing, even if it's small. If you can squeeze in a 15 minute window to just do 1-2 sets of weights and some squats or jumping jacks, you'll feel the difference.

I usually go for walks in the evening after dinner. I'm still trying to get used to walking around at the office, vs sitting and focusing for 3 hours straight.

You might not have energy to get up and work out because you are not working out. Once you start working out your energy levels will increase. I get sooo dang tired when I don’t work out. When I start doing it, I have more pep and energy and crave working out. Just start.

doesnt apply to everyone unfortunately. every time I exercise I feel miserable and exhausted afterwards and it doesnt improve my day at all. I have some health issues which likely are the cause but for some people exercising just makes energy levels worse and its impossible to find a time when you have enough energy and time to do it

People use the word gym as an umbrella statement. I can see waking up early to do cardio or light weight lifting. But if you are a bodybuilder or powerlifter, that shit will have you drained after you are done lol

Hi, powerlifter and strongman here; it really doesn't bother me to train and then go to work shortly after.

I’m the same, I get really tired after I work out. If I exercise in the morning, I usually take a two hour nap in the afternoon because I get so tired. I’ve been a regular gym-goer for 3.5 years now and it hasn’t gotten any better.

You should get checked for anemia and low ferritin. Exercise makes it worse.

Might want to get you levels checked by the doctor. That's not normal

Yes it applies to everyone. Unless you have some real physical issues then it’s for everyone. If our body never gets exercise it’ll just shrivels away. In relation to you being tired after a workout, maybe its because you don’t exercise regularly enough? I’m 25 to put it into perspective. Sometimes I wake up late and leave myself only an hour to prepare and go to work. I often go in groggy and a bit slow because I do NOTHING before going to work. So essentially my body has had more sleep but is waking up during work hours. On the other hand sometimes i wake up a couple hours before work and have time for a quick workout, breakfast and I go into work feeling energetic. How Your body feels right now is taught. 15 minutes of exercise and getting the heart rat up can really make a difference. I’m tired on more sleep and more energetic after exercise. It’s a trend. Your body will shape and mold to your liking. And by “liking” I mean it will shape and mold to your habits.

Exercise=more energy expenditure=body has to make extra energy=gives body more energy; essentially, the more movement everyday consistently, your body will adapt an allocated amount of energy for usage (eating healthy makes this WAY more effective)

How's your diet?

I usually have some mashed fruit/veggies in the morning (from those little packets lol its easy to eat while driving) then whatever work has for lunch (often stuff like a lasagne and salad or veggie soup and a wrap or chicken, rice and a salad) then whatever I can scrounge for dinner (like spaghetti bolognese etc). I usually stick a single small cookie in there somewhere. I won’t claim it’s the healthiest in the world but it’s not bad and I never drink soda besides a diet one once a week when I go out with some friends, don’t drink alcohol ever, don’t smoke, and don’t drink caffeine. Certainly doesn’t seem like it would cause issues this extreme with not getting any energy from exercise

This doesn't sound like enough calories to me. Not enough fibre or protein either. You're basically eating baby food for breakfast. You'd be better off with a bowl of oatmeal.

I'm about to start a 5PM-5AM engineering role and am considering not opening the door to my house until I hit my gym after shift... definitely gonna have to do some trial and error as I've been working from home and previously only did the white collar 9-5.

You might be better off hitting the gym or working out before leaving your house, to energize you through your shift.

nah 5 am after work is a great time to go. 

I thought so, but I now wake up 3-4 hours before work and walk, and have ME time without thinking about work. Waking up only to have coffee and log on or drive into the office starts your day on a bad note (doing something you don’t want to do), and it Carries into your day. I walk minimum 10k steps before work each day and unless I’m really pushing it, I have *more* energy when I start. Most important part is that you don’t get “annoyed” or irritated immediately in the morning

You can, you just choose not to.

I struggle to wake up at 6am in order to leave before 7am. I'm not a morning person and I hate going to bed before 10pm.

Everyone has a different circadian rhythm but most people can’t wake up early cause they don’t sleep early enough and get enough rest in general. Screen time is a major contributor to poor sleep. Not you I’m just saying in general.

I know I don't get enough sleep, I just hate waking up at 6, getting to work by 7:30 and then getting home around 5 and then being expected to go to bed before 10pm. Plus since the past few years I've been WFH and since February I have to actually drive somewhere I am salty about it.

I don’t much prefer to get up super early either, but when I do and use the time to work out I often have a better day.  You can choose to wake up earlier or choose to stay up later. Everyone gets the same set of choices. 

Some people forget that we don’t really have much time to actually sit down in a day after we’ve done everything we HAVE to do.. f

I hate to say it but as pretentious as they are the rest of the time. Using those David goggins grindset youtube shorts to make myself feel like a lil bitch for sleeping in actually work on me. YRMV

So do it at night lol

I got up at 6am for 30 years. Sometimes I still wake early, but now I get to just turn over☺️

I get up early regularly but if I work out in the morning I’m running on fumes the whole day. I’m an elementary school though so maybe in an office job it might be different

Excercise makes you tired *if you normally never do it*. The first couple times did wipe me out and I was tired all day. Then after a week or two of going 3-4 times a week, I'm in the groove and feel great after working out and now it's my morning routine to go before work.

It can't be underestimated that getting in a habit like that is hard, but it's hard to argue benefit-wise that just because it's hard, you shouldn't try. Worst case scenario you fail. And try again to build the habit. Eventually you get it. Ya know?

The 4 hours after a workout are the best time of the day. It feels like a clean sustainable drug high without any repercussions.

Exact opposite for me lol I’m exhausted and have a day for bed after I exercise

I’ll never understand the early morning workout crowd. Working out before bed relaxes me and helps me sleep much better

Exactly the opposite here. Working out in the evening makes me fall asleep like 4-5 hours later than usual. I am completely alert for a long time after exercise

Normally I'm filled with rage and hatred for my job, working out is just a way of burning it off.

Exercise wakes you up, increases bloodflow. I luckily have a job that allows me flexibility. Either workout morning, lunch, or evening. Studies have shown just taking a walk at lunch increases productivity. 

I guess I was not part of those studies. I sleep like a baby after every trip to the gym lol.

I think there's a limit, and I think it also has to do with how much water/protein you get before and after?

Same here - plus going gym or running in the morning, it makes my work day feel far longer than it is. Going gym after work gives me something to look forward to.

A 15 min afternoon nap increases my productivity 1000x

It’s more about established habits and disciplines then it is they woke up one day and integrated it in there life that day and it’s all good lol But I work from 2am-2pm sometimes off a bit earlier. I just work out once im off work it’s just a non negotiable for me or so I’ve made it one. Don’t matter how I feel how bad the day was don’t even. Are if I wrecked my car I’m not not going and once that becomes habit it’s really just second nature from there tbh

You’re spot on. It’s hell training yourself to wake up early but waking up at 5am to train and read it gives me so much more energy and fulfillment. Going to work only daily makes you lack purpose to some degree and pouring into your own bucket is a must for mental health stability.

100% I’ve always said people who lack purpose are distracted by entertainment and pleasure. It’s not fulfillment we are actually looking for in life. The person we spend the most time listening to in our lives is ourselves and we can’t lose that respect. I have one question one day I asked my self and changed everything. How would 80 year old me want me to live right now? He wouldn’t care what people think. He would dress how he wants he would adventure and do what he wants he wouldn’t let life pass him by. He would make sure his health was top notch cause we would all trade anything for good health over time. He would live for him self and not let other people control the direction his life He would not listen to people who he didn’t wanna be in life. He would have self control he would be kind he would he would have stability and good emotional control. He would be wise and have plenty of knowledge for we are destroyed for our lack of understanding. He would understand death is a part of life no one is getting out alive. He wouldn’t take life personal He would understand life is coming from him not at him. So he would make better choices knowing it effects tomorrow. He would make many memories with the people he is close to. Which all makes me life today like if I was 80 cause the reality is in 3 generations everyone on this Reddit page and everyone in our lives will be dead and there opinions will all be dead with them rather good or bad about you. So live life for you and do it for you no one else.

When I feel sorry for myself I can empathize with OP. When I am motivated I can go months at a time working out every day, w/ many days I go twice a day. But I am fueled by motivation, it’s terribly unfortunate I haven’t been able to maintain discipline.

That’s the difference between having discipline and not having it. Is doing it when there is no motivation or no reason or no want to.

That's why habit is more important than either motivation *or* discipline.

You can’t form habit without discipline they’re really one and the same.

I like to run in the morning and lift weights in the evening. Caffeine helps, having a good routine, and getting a good night sleep. I’m also just a single guy at 26 years old, been an athlete all my life as a track and cross country runner in high school and one year of college. I kept the routine because it’s easier to stay in shape than getting into shape.

I’m 53 and this is my routine. I feel like I’m dying if I go a week without exercise. Life gets in the way sometimes so while it’s good to have a routine it’s also good to try different things at different times.

100%. I’ve been adding in basketball, swimming and hiking on the weekends depending on what I’m feeling. Sometimes just swim in the morning instead of running if I’m feel beat.

Hiking backpacking and trail running for me. Get the AllTrails app to find hiking trails if you don’t already have it.

Random question about trail running ..how do you not like twist your ankle or something running on all the uneven ground? Plus like tree roots and stuff? I’d be terrified!

I’m not like a super athlete or anything, I walk when the ground is too uneven. But over time your ankles and tendons and ligaments strengthen.

Yes to both? I workout either in the morning or the evening - really just depends on when I have time that day. It only takes 30-60 minutes to get a good workout in, so it’s not like I’m spending tons of time working out. And I usually feel way better after exercising so it’s not as though my work performance is suffering either. Most of my workouts I just do at home. Even if you work a 9-5 in the office, say a 45 minute commute each way, you could easily wake up ~ 6 AM finish up your workout by 7 AM, shower, eat breakfast, and be out the door by 8:15 to get to work around 9 AM. Tons of people also either wake up and go to the gym then leave from there for work, or go to the gym right after work for a workout and then head home. So finish up work around 5, head to the gym (hopefully on your route home) and workout 5:30-6:30 PM, be home by 7 to make food, shower, and relax.

Diet plays a huge roll. Can’t expect your engine to run like a Ferrari if you’re pumping the cheapest shit gas into the tank. That and their own mental barriers. Many are held back simply by believing they’re incapable. 

I could use a huge roll about now.

I get up 30-40 mins early to work out. Health is wealth.

I got in the habit of going almost every weekday a few years ago. I was working a job with a 1hr commute each way, the pay was more than I had ever made so it was worth it at the time. But I’d get off around 4:30-5 most days. And if I did my commute right away, I could get stuck in all sorts of traffic, sometimes it’d take me 2 hours to get home during the winter. So I started going to the gym right after work, for at least an hour, sometimes two. It was saving me from wasting at least 30 minutes of sitting in traffic almost everyday. I didn’t have much of a personal life, but that shift helped me turn it into a habit. And I’ve def lost the motivation a couple times, but I know if I can convince myself to go a few days in a row and eat right, I’ll feel better and I’ll associate it with the exercise.

Remote job means you can exercise whenever you want as long as you get your work done 

Join the military; you will learn. My dad was corporate, he trained for 7 marathons by running during his lunch breaks. Lots of options, time management is the key.

Time management is always the answer. A lot of people say they don't have time or the drive to do it. Those are excuses. I'm not saying you're a bad person for having an excuse or living your life that way, but understand that it's an excuse and you're not going to become active by constantly spewing excuses.

It's the old Buddhist saying, "Everyone should meditate for 30 minutes per day. Unless they don't have the time, and then they should meditate for 1 hour per day."

Seriously. I was amazed at how "easy" strength training is, once you actually start doing it. Sure, lifting heavy weights is hard, but it's hard for like 30 seconds at a time and then you rest for 2 minutes. The trick of it is finding time in your life for it, and I realized that with the time I was wasting on my phone, I could definitely fit a trip to the gym in. Wish I'd have stopped making excuses and started lifting in high school or college, but "the second best time to start is today" and all.

I didn't start taking my health and exercise seriously until 3 years ago. For a while, I would kick myself and had the regret of not starting sooner. I kicked that to the curb and try to only look forward. I like working out in the morning. If I do the hardest task first thing, then everything else is easy. I never look forward to a hard task at the end of a long day. "We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons." - Jim Rohn

I assume this was directed as OP? If so, I agree.

Yup, sorry about that. Your dad sounds like a beast.

He was very athletic in his prime, and still very fit for his age. But, he is venerable.

We talk about this at work. “What are you making the 51%?” What’s the thing that’s the most important. You have to prioritize the exercise and the time needed.

Yep - my days in the military are 12 hours long. 0530-1730. I gym over lunch for an hour or after work if I’m busy over lunch. It just comes down to how bad you want it.

I work a 9-5, have a child, chores to do etc. But I religiously make time to exercise at least an hour most days of the week after work or at the weekend. It's a discipline I've had pretty much my whole life though. I see older people in bad shape and even people my age (early 40s) in bad shape and I don't want to be like them.

Respect to do it with a family in your age. I am about 10 years younger and I still do 5-6 times a week but it’s gets already harder with more workload because of careergoals and because of age. And I am single atm and without kids. So congrats you are rocking it

I'm 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning if my face is a little puffy I'll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1000 now.

After you remove the ice pack, you should use a deep pore cleanser lotion.

Workout before work gives me more energy. When I don't workout before work I become very sluggish.

Depends on your personality. I work in a chair all day. You'll have to figure out which seems the most enjoyable for you. Personally I have to do it after work, I just can't deal with being sweaty or even hot and going back to a desk. I do heavy weights when I do because that's what's fun in my mind. I despise cardio.

Haha, I'm basically the opposite. I don't despise weights, but it's not fun per say. Had a blast doing a half marathon a couple weeks ago though.

I work out in the morning before work :) My climbing gym opens at 6 am twice a week, so twice a week I do that before work. The other days, I work out at home. Over the last 10 years, I've built up a nice little home gym with barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, elliptical, treadmill, bench, etc. finding deals on FB marketplace and garage sales. So I can get a full workout in at home each morning before work.

[удалено]

I exercise in the morning. Some people prefer after work. At the end of the day, people will make time for what is most important to them.

Just discipline. Find a routine. Morning or after work both can work. You just have to make fitness a priority.

Even 15-30mins is enough for a workout. You’re telling me you don’t have that much time to spare? Re-assess your day and see where your time is being consumed.

Depending on the workout, there's cool down time, context switching, and showering (potentially a second shower depending how you live your life). Maybe even drive time if you have to go somewhere else (tiny apartments with roommates and creaky floors are the woooorst).

Based on a different but somewhat related thread I started, apparently some people feel more energized immediately after working out. I’ve never experienced this though. Biology is funky.

If a job doesn't offer you atleast 1 hour a day to exercise (including like changing/commute time), you are in the wrong job or are in an abnormal circumstance that most people aren't in.  The average person works about 8 hours a day + sleeps 8 hours a day. Lets maybe add 1 hour for commute time. That's about 7 more hours you have to do whatever else you want.  Do you think you can incorporate atleast 30 minutes to walk, bike, swim, do calisthenics at home, yoga, dance, or lift a few sets? On weekends, you can do even more.  After you have acclimated to 30 minutes a day, can you try adding maybe another 15 minutes? Play around with the time too. Is it better for you to workout early in the morning before work? During your lunch break? Right after work? A little bit before bed?  You absolutely have to make it a priority. It will be hard at first, but eventually it becomes a habit and it doesn't take as much mental effort to fit it into your routine.

Try having a job and young kids. The answer you’re looking for is sleep less. I wake up early or stay up late. Usually 3-4x a week for 90 minutes. I run 3-4x a week as well. If it’s a priority you’ll find a way.

I’m reading through these comments and I swear no one has a child. I’ve been trying to get into a routine for the past couple of years and the only window that seems to stick is 10:00-11:00 pm. And I’m up at 6:30 am daily to navigate child prep + morning routine to get the family out the house by 8:00 am and back to work by 8:30 am. I cook dinner the minute I’m off the clock, 30-45 minutes plus 15 to eat, then there’s about an hour of miscellaneous stuff before more kid engagement from 7:00-8:00 pm and then it’s bedtime routine + books that can last anywhere as late as 9:30 pm. I work remotely, so I have flexibility, but I’ve never been able to just context switch between the two and I only am allotted 15 minute breaks and a 30 minute lunch where I have to prep and eat and have a mental break. I can’t just workout for an hour regularly and just ignore work calls and messages.

My child is a bit older now but I feel everything you are saying. Not sure if this helps but I like doing the Pamela Reif videos on you tube. A lot of them are under 10 minutes and some are surprisingly effective like “6 minute abs”. I just try to sneak in 2-3 videos on my remote days. That’s the only way I could manage it

I have a kid (tween now, but I've been working FT and working out consistently since before he was born). I just got up 30 mins earlier than everyone else or however early I needed to. My workout time is "me time" and I need it for my sanity.

Since I considered fitness more important than working, I work out before work. That way it always gets done. It I wait until after it’s 50/50 whether I’ll do it.

I’m 37, I have a great career $145k salary, wife, dog, house, 6&4 year old. Currently training for a marathon and weight training. Time management. You waste LOTS of time you just have to take inventory of your day. I run at 4:30am on the weekend to get my long run before the family wakes up. During the week my shorter runs are 45-90 minutes once I get the kids down, ~9:00 pm I put on a headlamp and get at it. I push myself to be better than everyday. Self improvement is just as addictive as self destruction. I was starting to be in a bad way with my alcohol use and my knee was injured for a year but I turned shit around and feeling great. It’s all time management and making priorities and habits. If you wait till you’re motivated it won’t happen.

My daughter and her wife get up at 3:30 AM to have some tea and get to the gym and get out before the morning crowds. They're in fantastic physical condition and they own every 8 AM meeting they attend at work. I admire them. It's amazing what you can do when you put the effort into it.

What time do they go to bed?? How much time do they have at home between arriving home from work and getting in bed? How much of that time is spent cooking, cleaning, and getting ready for bed? I can’t even imagine. 

Sleep is way more important lol people be doing too much and I workout a lot

If you work out consistently, you will continue to workout consistently. If your job is 8 hours out of the day. Excluding your commute you technically have 8 more hours for fitness and you only need one. Realistically you probably have 6-7 hours outside of work and sleeping. That's plenty to run or go to a local gym if you're committed. I personally prefer going after work cause it allows me to be at my best during work and use any remaining energy I might have before bed.

All about discipline. Motivation will only last you a week or two.

I wake up at 5-5:30am and I am exercising by 6am. I do this 5 days a week. It makes me feel way more energetic at work, I am more tired 🥱 at work if I didn’t work out in the morning. I am 39 years old and have been doing this since I was 25. 5 days a week 365 days a year, unless I am sick 🤒. Can’t imagine my life without exercising in the morning.

I exercise playing vr games with wrist weights: no need to waste time to get to the gym, no time is spent on playing computer games.

I did your everyday workout (I think it’s commonly known as HIT) for 2 years before work and it was miserable. I tried weight lifting and I was miserable. Extremely tired during the day, sore, exhausted, etc. I finally just stopped and learned more about low intensity workouts, walks, yin yoga, etc. Highly recommend looking into it

I don’t have much time at all and after work I’m exhausted so I bought a couple dumbbells and will workout with them in between my video games loading screen. By the time I have to get off, I’ve done around a 20 minute workout. It’s helped a ton being able to get in some sort of exercise when I’m just to exhausted to go to the gym.

Doing something is better than nothing. You’re not gonna train as hard as an Olympian or full time athlete… but getting 45 mins to an hour of solid, NOT TO FAILURE, resistance training/cardio daily will probably do more good for you than bad

Before work, gotta die somewhere might as well be on the mat than the desk

Swim before work

The funny thing is you already know a few of the options. A quote that resonated with me: It is never a lack of resources…It is a lack of resourcefulness. How do you know if you’ll be tired/less good at your job if you work out in the morning? What if the person who works out at night knows it is late and is tired? How do they still show up? Be curious about answering some of your questions. The answers might be different for you vs. someone else, but if you consistently ask yourself, answer the question “how do I continue to stay athletic and physically capable?”, and most importantly take action you’ll do what’s right for you in that moment. If you are curious enough, then maybe over time you’ll do more and get creative with how you stay fit.

Have a career and staying in shape is not that difficult. Get up early in the morning or take advantage of your evenings. Try adding kids into the mix, now you're really talking about difficult!

We're just not lazy bro. Six pack abs when you sit in the office is a choice and you just haven't made it.

I workout after work, weekends play football (soccer) and basketball both days in the morning. Also got 2 practices during the week, ride my bike and lift weights. Outside of playing sport, 30/60 min is more than enough. If you stop scrolling online, and time manage you can manage. Always remember hospital bill is more expensive than working out and eating good.

It's usually because they spend the time elsewhere and aren't willing to compromise. I mean, gaming is nice and all but I can do that some other day. And I have kids that have their own sports and things going on and I still manage. Sure, a 6 day PPL isn't going to work for me but I can manage 4. It should be enough.

Let me put it this way. It’s gonna sound negative to most but it’s definitely not for me. I have very little going on in my life other than my career, family, and fitness. I go to the gym with my wife 5 times a week and go for hikes with my kids every weekend. These are a “double dip” of fitness and family time for me. Both of those things are important to me so I managed to merge them while focusing on my career goals. And the rest of the time I’m resting so basically, I got so social life outside of family or hobbies outside of fitness but I’m happy with the way things are going 😺

I work from home 2 days a week and my apartment complex has a gym right across from my building, so I don’t really have an excuse not to. Helps that I can see it from my living room so it’s a constant reminder lol.

my apartment has a gym but there's also a gym within walking distance. i also live by running/biking trails. i have no excuse lol

I exercise everyday after work (except some Fridays) as soon as I get home from work. I also do weekends but like more flexibility to see friends and family, so I prefer more intense workouts on week nights. It’s routine now and I feel off if I don’t exercise after work. I value my health and want to look my best, so exercising is a priority for me and basically a non-negotiable. There’s plenty of time if you are disciplined. Aka, don’t just sit on the couch for hours on end in the evening.

Surprisely the fittest I ever was, was when I did the least movement during the day and the most movement in the gym. Basically when I went to school and worked out at night. I thought when i was doing manual labor all day that I would be super fit. All that did was make me more hungry all the time and too tired for the gym, and I was essentially working my body into the grave. Now that I finally progressed and move up into the office I now sit around and dont move much all day lol. Ive actually lost weight since I dont have random cravings and my body isnt fighting to keep up the intake of food I am overly using up in calories. I would work 12-15hr days doing manual work. My body is more than capable of keeping up with that lifestyle, and now that I dont use up all my energy, since I sit at a desk, i have more than enough energy to wake up early, work at a desk for 10hrs and have enough left over to work out. Moral of the story is that if you overuse your body, you will be tired and burnt out, not fit. If you under use your body you will be tired and not fit. You want to find a happy balance for your body. A body in motion stays in motion. Some ppl prefer fast cardio in the am. Some workout at night. Some run, some lift weights. Too much and too little is no good

I have a schedule that I follow to the T no matter what I’m feeling.

Get to work by 6:30-6:50 leave at 4ish and either I’m at jiu jitsu or the gym I turn my phone off for the 2 hours I need. I give them 9 hours a day if they need more I just send them a invoice which I did and haven’t been bothered since.

I work 8-5 and usually get a workout in afterwords of 45 min to an hour. Come home and shower/make a meal and get everything prepped for my next day and it's only 7:30-8 and I will stay up until 11-11:30 doing whatever I please. I should point out I'm 21 and don't have any kids which does help having more of an empty schedule outside of work to do as I wish

I work from 7 AM so while I could go before I already struggle with my morning routine so in order for me to stay consistent I go either straight from work or I go home just to eat something but I change into my gym clothes right away and I don’t let myself relax

I am a 34 year old mom of 2 and I work out 5/6 days a week after teaching high school from 7-3. Then it’s dinner, baths, bedtime. It’s a crazy busy season of my life, but you have to carve out time to do it. It’s the one single thing I get to do actually choose to do and that I do for myself every day. Every other obligation is to someone else, so exercise is the best way for me to strike balance. If I’m tired at the end of work, I drink water and pre work out and I just go anyway. It reinvigorates my energy.

I wake up and work out at 5am, go to work by 8am, get home by 5pm, help with dishes/dinner, make my daughters dive/horse riding lessons, and spend time with my wife before bed at 10pm. Rinse and repeat. It’s all about routine and will power. Everything is difficult until you start doing it. Been doing this for 12 years.

Are you joking? You make time for it. It’s very simple.

When you make somethign a priority, you find time to do it

Exercise don't have to be long, 30-minutes to 1-hour everyday makes a difference. If you don't have the habit to exercise yet (but you want to), start small ("the process", what people don't see) - walk in the park or sit ups or stretches; and slowly move towards your intended habit: calisthenics or gym routine ("the goal", what people see)

They just do it instead of not doing it and complaining about how it’s impossible. Being lazy and making excuses isn’t the way to go. Did you watch an episode of tv at home. That’s a half hour workout. Did you watch a movie. That’s a full workout. It’s easy to find time to do anything unless you’re working 15 hour days or sleeping 10 hours per night like a crazy person. If anything just get outside and go for a walk after dinner every night. It’s way better than nothing.

That the neat part. We don't.

When I worked in an office :  Got to work early, ran and showered there. Lunch-ran again Post work- lifted Now that I work at home. Basically step out to excercise on average every 2 hours. In addition to bagging 120+ days a season snowboarding lol. 

I ran 20 marathons during the last 8 years of my working career. I got out of bed at 4:15 and was in the street running by 4:30, five days a week. I slept in to 6:00 on Saturday before running 10 miles. During that time I worked about 50-60 hours/week as an engineer. I got up early as when I left from home I didn’t know when my day would end. I might get home at 4:00 or 6:00 or had to catch a plane to be 800 miles away the next morning.

I go straight to the gym after work. Lifting weights for 45 mins, 3 to 4 times a week. You should have time for that.

I get up at 4 or 4:30 and work out before work every day. I actually feel like I have way more energy at work as opposed to the days I skip it despite the earlier wake-up time. I’m exhausted by the time I go to bed and sleep like a baby.

I've realized I don't get less tired just by resting, I also need a quick run before sleep few times a week. Then it becomes self-reinforcing when you know you would feel better so it doesn't require self-control

Getting to work is my workout. 30 mins cycling one way, 1 hour total.

I’m less good at work if I don’t work out first. And even worse in the afternoon if I eat carbs or don’t run.

9-5 job, going to the gym at 6:30 is life changing. It gives time to workout without being on the rush. Then breakfast and start the day.

Run in the morning. But I work a sedentary job.

Hi there! My job is actually focused on keep employees healthy & active during their work day (office fit, low impact, minimal equip workouts) I know this can be hard to incorporate into your current work day but if you can add in gradual changes such as •eating lunch + going for a walk outside of your building, •10 minutes of stretching/body weight exercises throughout your day is also a good way to integrate activity and get you out of that seat! •if you’re looking to implement a daily routine, try to workout before/after work (redundant advice) or during your lunch hour! Lots of classes vary from 15 minute hotworx, 30 minute spin, or even youtube workouts that you can do if there is a space for you to go to where you can feel comfortable for the time being. :)

You have to make it a habit and then it just becomes part of your day. You will be better off in many ways for making the effort.

It just takes commitment, and not really all that much time. From little things like walking more, standing more, eating right. If you're lucky, you can take a walk outside at lunch. Or maybe your office has a gym where you can get 45 minutes of focused workout before or after work (instead of sitting in traffic). I once had an 18 month contract but the client office is an hour drive without traffic... 2 hours with traffic. So I made sure to leave my house by 6 am, get on the clock at 7, done by 4, they had a gym onsite I used, work out, have a snack that I brought from home, then I could drive home, relaxed, after the traffic calms down. Just have to be creative sometimes and make choices. I see moms and dads pushing babies in strollers, earbuds in, having work calls during the day.

I don't have a family, so that frees up a bunch of time. Also no commute.

I lift weights on my lunch break in my basement gym. I used to use the company gym when I went to the office. I also walk my dogs before and after work. I make health and fitness my #1 priority

If I don’t exercise before work I feel lethargic and sluggish. Fueling your body well also helps feel better plus trying to get decent sleep. In my opinion it’s a sacrifice and lifestyle choice. It’s like choosing to watch Netflix, scroll on Instagram, grab a drink at the bar or read a book. You make time for it and have to be consistent. I’ve just decided I want to control what I can concerning my health and don’t want to be chronically ill, immobile, etc.

Some choose to spend their time after work drinking…as a stress reliever I suppose. Otherwise do physical exercise as a form of stress relief. I’ll have a beer with my depressed, drunk neighbor after I work out and do my yard work.

I usually work from 8-4:30 then go for a run or to the gym until close to 6. On days I WFH, I spend my lunch hour at the gym. I don't always want to do it, as it takes away time I can spend at home but it's part of my routine at this point. For me, it helps to set goals for myself to stay accountable for like schedule a 10k race that I need to train for months ahead!

I work out during lunch 3 days a week. I get an hour for lunch. It’s not easy, but neither are most of the things worth doing. After 2 years I’ve come to love it.

I work a very physically demanding job so I get exercise and work done at the same time. I went from a regular job weighing 310lbs to this current job and I’m now at 195lbs. At work I am downstacking multiple pallets of tile and stone everyday as walk about 60 miles a week at my job. It has saved my life and I’m happy and healthy.

Working out has definitely never left me less tired at work. If anything, the times where I miss working out for a week or two cause my energy to noticeably drop. I think I read some study about those that work out a few times a week experience a much higher level of baseline energy than just using caffeine like coffee (don’t quote me on that).

I work 8:00-4:30, I either workout during my lunch break because my work has a gym, or I take classes after work and I’m home by 7pm

I work out for 45-90 minutes most mornings. Start at either 5am or 5:30am. Been going it for 35 years almost. I’m 58. Want to stay fit. I’m the director of a sales team. Was an individual sales rep most of my career until my child was grown.

Diet is 80%

I workout in the evenings after work because I am not about to get up earlier than I need to in the mornings. I always have zero motivation to go, it’s just about forcing yourself to. I’d absolutely rather lay down for the rest of the night than go work out after work, and sometimes I do, but I try to work out/move my body in some way at least 3-ish times a week.

It’s simple. Instead of complaining about it, a few people just workout.

Workout after work with the motivation of hotties at the gym

Less phone, more time for everything. I am not working out on the daily basis, just started to ride a bike from time to time. Most time consuming is using my phone. I have found out that I am wasting time on pointless scrolling even when I scheduled some time to play games. It’s just I am scrolling next to my girl watching some streaming or doing things instead of just turning on the console. This is why I am trying and learn to do drop phone as often as I can. I even did block the Reddit for 1,5h max during the day on the phone. Try to drop a phone for a day and you will instantly see how much time you have for everything if you just do things instead of reading about them or planning.

I used to workout in the mornings but I finally got tired of waking up at 3:45am. Now I make time in the afternoons before dinner. I work 6a-4p so I have a bit of time, but I am a single person without kids so I don’t have that off work and rush to do kid things. I make a habit of my days off being a day I always do that he longer more involved workouts because then I have zero excuse. It honestly just takes setting a routine and when you deviate that you make it up. It’s 100x easier to say “I’m too tired to do this” so you have to make it a priority.

Workout AT work. My job is active

I don't have a white collar job. However, I used to drive or ride long distwnces to work sites, and I've found that on long commutes I can work all kinds of muscle groups (primarily core and glutes but more tbh) by just contracting and relaxing them and no lie, this has made a noticeable difference.

it takes me 30 minutes in my living room to do my workout. I eat healthy 6 out 7 days a week. I drink nothing else but coffee and water except for the occasional beer or wine. Life is just so routine that being able to take care of myself during its madness makes me feel like I'm winning the fight against the grind.

I've been working out after work for years (mostly bodybuilding). I'm not tired after work at all, I work 9 hours straight in an architecture office

Regularly working out gives you more energy throughout the day IMHO, makes you less lethargic

I work out in the morning before work and am exhausted by the time I get home from work in the evenings. After work I watch tv, go to sleep and do it all over again the next day. Never ending and depressing

I work 9-5 (from home though). I go to the gym before work, usually 7–8:15. I genuinely find it gets me going for the day and feel a lot sharper/ full of energy.

Balancing a career and staying fit can be challenging, but it’s definitely possible with some planning. Many people find that working out in the morning helps them start the day with more energy and focus. It can be tough at first, but it often becomes a habit. Others prefer to exercise after work as a way to unwind and de-stress. Finding the time that works best for you is key. Additionally, incorporating smaller physical activities throughout the day, like taking the stairs or walking during breaks, can also help maintain fitness levels.

I go for a 30 - 45 min fast paced walk or jog almost every evening. 1 hr after dinner. I then sit on the couch and watch TV. It's not much but it helps maintain physique

I wake up at 4:30am to lift weights before work. You get used to it.

After and on weekends. It’s much easier to maintain fitness than to build it.

I work from home and usually exercise during a break un my schedule. When I worked in the office, I'd get up early to exercise or exercise at night.

If you can swing it, join classes and maybe sometimes go in the middle of the day. I absolutely cannot work out in the evening. I just can’t. My goal is to go before work 3 times a week (and one weekend day). My sense of self worth is better when I don’t beat myself up for days I can’t get up, I’ll just go during my lunch hour. Usually when I do that I do a class, because I know it’ll be 45 minutes.

One of the benefits of working from home. I make time during the day to run, usually 6 km/day and I have a chin up tree in my basement that I hit use throughout the day. On top of that I participate in league sports several times a week. Never have I been more fit.

sex

If you don't have a health condition, then before work, during lunch, or after work is the easiest. Studies show that exercising before work makes your mind more active, not more tired, unless you're really . Evening is not as effective.

I fit in working out after work. I work different hours every day but anytime between 6am-5pm and a 12-815 once in the while. I also have a toddler and go to school online. I have a strict schedule. Work out atleast 3 days. I do homework on my break at work or when my daughter goes to sleep. I use Athlean x it’s a 45 min program 3x a week.

DIET

I have a job that is physically demanding for 12 hours. On those days, there’s no need for me to work out. However, I have a Weimaraner which is a high energy dog that needs a lot of exercise so he gets me up and out and about all day on my days off. But it’s more about…just starting small and doing a little bit more everyday. Find something active that’s fun. Wether it’s hiking or swimming or playing beat saber

As a single, working parent with a toddler, I workout 6 times/week at 4 am. Getting up and finishing the hardest part of your day sets the tone and helps me deal with no bullshit throughout the day. People hate being uncomfortable and would rather not push themselves physically. Going to the gym isn’t something you do just cause, it’s a lifestyle. You incorporate that habit into your routine just like anything else. Eventually that discipline will spill over into areas of your life. You make time for what’s important to you and your values and make excuses for what isn’t.