Comments on: Using early morning pockets of time

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 20:12:04 +0000

In reply to omdg.

@omdg – we wound up getting a Nordic one – I haven’t started paying for the iFit yet but my son enjoyed the San Francisco run that comes free with it, so maybe we will. Breaking up exercise is totally fine. There is something to endurance but there’s a lot more to doing something, and if the need for a long block is precluding exercising at all, best to just get rid of the excuse…

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 20:10:38 +0000

In reply to Jen.

@Jen – congrats on your new habits! Yep, accountability from friends can totally help. I’m thinking I might aim to do my treadmill runs Tues/Thurs morning, understanding that I won’t get 2x every week (somedays I’ll be the one doing the jazz band run, for instance…). But worth a shot. I am definitely running 3x a week, and working out more times than that, so that’s good…

By: Jen

Jen — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 15:36:50 +0000

Yes, i often do seasonally shift things but also i feel like I am just in another season of life as my kids get bigger and I am attempting a bigger switch. I think i posted this on another of your blog posts but since September i’ve been making an effort to get morning workouts done. For quite a long time I used the 8-9pm timeslot after my kids went to bed really effectively but like you and many others my evening schedule is shifting and it seems like my best opportunity to be consistent now is 6-7am. I need to be home by 7 in order for all the family things to happen. I have run multiple marathons, done an ironman, etc so i i know what it takes to train and be consistent but the morning workout is one that i have dipped in and out of over the years and its never stuck. So this September i leaned into accountability. I have an early bird friend and she picks me up at 6am to swim twice a week. And another friend who is desperate to get back to running who will meet me one morning a week on a dark street corner – even though i think i go slower than she likes – because she won’t go in the cold, dark on her own. So, like Tranquility by Tuesday says ‘3 times a week is a habit’ and that’s happening! I am starting to wake up earlier (and go to bed earlier) so the other days can happen when no one goes with me. I am feeling pretty happy with this! 😀

By: omdg

omdg — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 14:25:29 +0000

In reply to KGC.

I live in an area with no sidewalks but a lovely nature preserve. As long as there is no snow or ice, the nature preserve is basically the ideal running environment. Unfortunately, I live in MI, so snow and ice will be with us soon, and I worry about slipping and falling, or getting hit by a car if I choose to run on the road. I do not love running in 10 degree weather… walking can be pleasant at that temperature, however. Therefore in winter, I’m trying to shift back to weight training and swimming, and just… not quitting exercise entirely, tbh.

By: omdg

omdg — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 14:20:55 +0000

I started using treadmill time to talk to my parents on the phone. It passes the time much more effectively than listening to music or whatever else there is as a distraction. I run sloooooowly, even slower than outside, but on a 1% incline. What kind of treadmill did you get? We have a True (recommended by SHU), but I’ve found it’s not that cushiony and my elderly joints aren’t loving the pounding. I recently ran on a really soft cushy one at the gym and it seemed to make a difference.

I will say I love the idea of fitting your workout in during pieces of the day. Sometimes I get stuck over wanting to do 30 min, but only having 15. I need to keep reminding myself that 15 is better than nothing, and that I should just do it anyway. I don’t think I’ll ever be a morning runner though.

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 18:47:15 +0000

In reply to Wendy J Rose. @Wendy- that is a good idea! Feels motivational...

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 18:46:54 +0000

In reply to Melizz. @Melizz- excellent! Yep, bits and pieces definitely makes things feel more doable.

By: Melizz

Melizz — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:57:53 +0000

I don’t have the energy to run in thé morning yet ^^. Buuut i recently found out that if i split a workout in smaller chunks i get it done . Example : i will do 3 chunks of 12 minutes of a 36 pilates class trough thé day… or thé same with a stréngth training … kind of thé same as your interrupted run dont you think ? Anyway , some mouvement is better than none and that way i was able to follow a « longer class » . So team workout in bits and pièces following along here 🙂

By: Wendy J Rose

Wendy J Rose — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:06:56 +0000

I hate the treadmill too but it does give me the opportunity to listen to audio books that I reserve only for that time. It makes me want to get on to finish the book!

By: Laura Vanderkam

Laura Vanderkam — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 19:49:36 +0000

In reply to KGC. @KGC - I kind of think of myself as all of the above. In winter I do run outside, but probably not as often as in spring/summer/fall. So I am happy to have something else as an option on those days where it is particularly nasty. Running in 30 degree sunny weather is fine. I have cold weather running gear! Running in 15 degree sleet not so much.