How to Squeeze in a Lunchtime Workout

Hi there!  How was your weekend?  Hope you did something fun or relaxing!  We took it easy over here at Bendall casa but we did manage to make it out to brunch and a tennis lesson!  We also watched The Wolf of Wall Street.  Have you seen that movie?  It was interesting but really long!  It was amazing to see the lifestyle of stockbrokers on Wall St. 20 years ago.  Crazy times!  I worked at FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) when I was in law school and now I can see why they have so many rules regulating broker behavior!

Anywho, since I started blogging about my lunchtime yoga sessions, I’ve had a lot of questions about squeezing in workouts during the day.  I only go once a week but I look forward to it so much and it really helps me relax in the middle of the week.  Taking the time to leave my office in the middle of the day can be a challenge, but I’ve put together a few tips on how anyone can squeeze in that lunchtime workout leaving you more time at home to enjoy yourself or catch up with your DVR!

1.) Pick a class or gym close to your work.  My yoga studio is just under a ten minute walk from my office.  Ideally I would love it to be a little closer, but I consider the walk time as part of my workout because I book it there and back and it helps me stretch my legs!  I timed the distance before signing up for my first class so I knew exactly how long it would take and I wouldn’t be late for my first class.

2.)  Choose a workout you can easily fit into your day.  I chose a yoga class because I knew I wouldn’t need to shower after my workout.  Any sweaty cardio session wouldn’t work for me because I don’t have time to shower but I could also easily do pilates, barre or some weights.

3.) Be prepared.  I always make sure I have lunch and snacks ready to go on my yoga day so I don’t have to worry about picking up lunch in addition to my class.

4.) Calculate how much time you can spend.  My yoga class is an hour long but because of the additional commuting time, I can’t stay for the full hour.  No worries!  I called the studio and they told me it was fine.  I set my mat up in the back and I told the teacher before class started that I have to leave early.  

5.) Commit!  It is so easy to get sucked into work and make excuses not to leave.  Schedule your class into your calendar and block it out so no one can schedule meetings with you.  Then make that commitment to go.  It’s your lunch, you should use it!

6.) Dress the part.  This is the biggest time-saving key for me.  I put together this little tutorial to show you how to be dressed and ready to go for a lunch-time workout.  It saves time changing in the locker room and makes the whole process so much easier!

First, start with some basics.  I usually choose neutral color tank top and legggings, either capri or full-length.  This is what I wear during class and it’s also the base layer of my outfit for the day.

Now, it’s time to layer on some “real” clothing.  I love sweater dresses and riding boots.  I throw my boots on over my leggings (you can’t even tell the capris are not full-length once you have the boots on!) and then a sweater dress over the tank top.  When I get to class, all I have to do is take off the dress and my shoes and I’m ready to go!

Another option, for layering is an oxford shirt, a long sweater and a scarf.  This one is a little bit more difficult because of the buttons, but you could always swap in a top with no buttons if that is easier!

Readers, do you sneak in lunchtime workouts?  How do you make it easier to get your workout in whatever time of day?  Do you think walking during lunch counts as a workout?