A lunchtime workout is a great time to work out if you struggle to find the time. If you are a busy mom trying to carve out time to workout, a lunchtime workout might be a great strategy for you!
It works well for me since I still have enough energy during that time of day. By the time I get home, feed my family, make lunches, clean up the kitchen etc.., I don’t feel very energetic anymore and working out falls lower on my to-do list.
Here are 5 of my best tips for a successful lunchtime workout.
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What should you eat before a workout?
Janice from Salads4lunch.com suggests having a small snack such as an apple or a banana 30 minutes before your workout so that you have the energy to put a solid effort into your workout. I usually eat half my lunch (i.e. usually a sandwich or cheese and crackers) 30 minutes to 1 hour before my lunchtime workout, then I eat the rest of my lunch (usually veggies and a sugary treat like cookies) after my workout!
What should you pack in your gym bag?
Pack your gym bag on Sunday evening with 2 or 3 workout outfits. Leave your bag in your car (you can take out your smelly, sweaty items in at the end of the day).
This way, you can’t use the excuse that you forgot to bring your gym bag, running shoes or whatever else would convince you not to workout.
I also have a cosmetic bag that stays in my gym bag all the time. It contains shower gel, deodorant, hair ties, moisturizer and makeup for a touch-up. Don’t forget a towel!
And what if you work out and can’t shower?
I’m blessed to have access to a shower at work, but not everyone has this luxury! So what do you do if you don’t?
Here are some tips from my twin sister Julie and her lunchtime workout buddies. If you don’t have access to a shower, pack a towel and facecloth so you can wipe yourself off. Baby wipes will work well too!
If you have the room, pack a small hairdryer so you can dry your sweaty roots quickly.
But what if only have about 30 minutes to work out?
You don’t have a lot of time to workout during a lunch hour once you figure in time to change into and out of your workout gear and even less if you have to drive to a different location to workout. I suggest you make those 30 or 40 minutes count by doing some high-intensity workouts. If you are running, interval training is a great way to pack a punch in a shorter amount of time! High-intensity training types of workouts also work well for those lunchtime workouts.
What if you don’t have the equipment for your lunchtime workout?
If you don’t have access to equipment for workouts, you’ll need to be creative and flexible.
Not everyone has access to a gym close to work, so hit the pavement and go for a run or a walk instead. If it’s raining or too cold to go outside, do stairs instead. Some days you plan on working out but a meeting goes on longer than expected. Just reschedule it for the following day! Being flexible is key!
Lunchtime workouts are so enjoyable. I feel so energized when I come back after my “lunch”. I also don’t suffer from the 3 O’clock ZZZZs anymore! The other bonus is that it frees my evening to do other important things, like blogging (or laundry if I have to)!
But what about lunchtime workouts if you work from home?
If you are working from home, which is quite common at the moment post-pandemic, then you have a great advantage in setting up a workout routine at home. It’s the perfect opportunity since you are in the comfort of your own home and you have access to a shower.
There are so many apps and or On-Demand services you can stream from home. For free workout options, I love the Nike Training Club app for my iPhone. For on-demand paid service, I’m currently using Beachbody On Demand. I’ve done 21-Day Fix and P90X3 in the past with great success. This time around, I’m loving #mbf program. I’ll talk more details about this soon.
So tell me, are you struggling for more ways to fit in workouts? Here are 7 ways to find time to work out.
If you work out at lunch and have a tip to share, I’d like to hear from you! Leave me a comment below!
Lunch Time is my favorite Time to workout. I couldn’t stick to a morning routine.. You can also find running partners through coworkers. I like your ‘stairs’ tip… When it gets cold here that’s my lunch workout…
Thanks Julie! My work building is only 2 floors so the stairs thing doesn’t work for me, but in Winter, I run at the local gym and they have great stairs and I do those ones!
Working out during work would be a problem for me because I would feel gross the rest of the day thanks to sweat… And I would sweat off my make up and I am totally not the type to take it off and then put it back on again! ha! This motivates me to work out first thing in the morning every day! 😉
Working out in the a.m. before work would be great too! For me, since I have a 2 year old to get ready, a dog to walk and myself to get dressed, there just isn’t enough time in the morning. Lunch time, I’m free of any other obligations! That’s why it works for me. I’m lucky to have access to a shower though! Also, on days I workout, I wear less makeup, that way, I just have less to reapply afterwards! Thanks for stopping by GiGi!
I love these tips. Time is a big concern for many and getting organized is key to staying motivated. As for me anytime is a good time. Thanks for sharing.
I like the idea of working out during lunch hour. I used to go to the gym for about 30 minutes during my lunch but that didn’t seem worth it. This is good info!
Lunch time workout is a great choice for people who doesn’t have time to workout and they are busy for the most parts of the day. Love your recommendations on freshening up if someone doesn’t have shower facility in their workplace.
Great tips.
Everyday I go home and feel quite unmotivated to exercise after work. I really like the idea of getting my exercise done at lunchtime. Thanks for all the tips.
Such wonderful tips. I love to workout in a short time but these are great ideas.HITT is something i need to try.