Lunchtime workouts, where have you been all my career?

[Anonymous]

I usually workout early in the am or late in the pm at the gym in my apt complex, but it is closed for renovations. Out of desperation I decided to check out my office gym today at lunch. I expected to hate working out in the middle of the day, but It was amazing - not crowded, I got in a decent workout and the energy powered me through what would've been an otherwise sucky afternoon. I hate my job, but I feel like this could be a game changer in terms of making things more tolerable...and probably making me a better, more pleasant colleague too.

I have a lot of streamlining to do in terms of packing my gym bag and showering/makeup to go back to the office. Any tips from lunchtime athletes for a smooth routine? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I hear ya! I've been working out at lunchtime for a while now. It has been especially valuable since I became a mom. I think of it as a bonus: I don't have to use my valuable time (morning/evening) to get my workout done.

As for tips, depending on how much you sweat, you may not have to wash your hair or redo makeup. If you need to refresh your hair you can hit it with the blowdryer or flat iron really quickly.

I keep a gym bag at work stocked with everything I need to head to the gym. I carry a second bag to and from the office with the daily clothes (and my lunch). That way I don't have to lug everything back and forth and I don't have to restock the bag every day. I just transfer the daily clothes from the commute bag to the work bag.

One final tip: have extra everything at your desk. That way if you forget your sports bra, socks, shorts, or whatever you have a backup. This has come in handy on many occasions.

[Anonymous]

How long does it take, all in? (excluding travel time to the gym)

[Anonymous]

Lunchtime workouts are the only way I would ever make it to the gym. My gym bag is always ready to go at work, with extra pairs of socks, sports bras and undies, as those tend to be what I forget to bring in. Running shoes & cycling shoes. An extra water bottle.

I don't bother with makeup on days that I'm going to the gym. I rinse off quickly in the shower, and bring those face cleansing wipes.

This will of course depend on your hair, but with my chin-length fine hair, I can just blow dry around my face and the underside of my hair and go after that--I don't wash my hair at the gym--too much work!

My gym is just a few blocks away from work, so I can go, work out for 40-45 minutes, shower & change, and be back at in a total of 1 hr, 15 minutes. no one notices how long you're gone because they are at lunch, too!

[Anonymous]

I'm in awe of you guys.

[Anonymous]

Face wipes.

[Anonymous]

Bring extra phonytail elastics if you have long hair. E News is on from 12-1, so I always revolve my workout schedule around that show!

[Anonymous]

Ditto what 8:47 said. I have EVERYTHING in my office file cabinet - makeup, face and body moisterizer, soap, shampoo and conditioner, towel, spinning and workout shoes, extra undies, extra set of workout clothes, water bottle, protein powder, hairbands, razers, combs, ipod and earphones . . . and a designated gym bag that stays partially packed.

I generally just bring from home each day my workout outfit for the day, and make sure I have a good pre-workout snack in my lunch (a Fage yogurt, or nut butter w/ an apple, or hardboiled eggs). Right when I get to the office, I throw than into the workout bag w/ the proper shoes and whatever extra shower stuff I'll need (I don't generally wash my hair after a workout, but if I did need to do that, or shave or touch up my makeup). I also will put protein power into my empty water bottle and add that to the bag.

[Anonymous]

I aspire to workout at lunch, but I sweat so much! But OP has inspired me to maybe give it a go on a day when I don't have any meetings in the afternoon and I can do a quick shower and go back to my office with wet hair pulled back and no makeup (my red workout face would mask that for a while anyways!). Would be much better than having to head to the gym after. Have picked up the kids from school, supervised homework, and made dinner! Thanks OP!

[Anonymous]

This is OP - these are great suggestions, thank you all! Love the idea of keeping a bag at work "for the week" and restocking as I go. I went again today and I'm still on cloud nine about this new discovery. And I'm not usually very enthusiastic about workouts.
To the PP who asked how long, I used the treadmill for 40 min, plus about 20 min changing/showering (5 min arrival, 15 post workout) pretty sure I can get the post workout down to ten min though

[Anonymous]

I sweat so badly that my hair is soaked. I would have to wash my hair at every workout. Does anyone who works out at lunch sweat profusely...like they have a medical condition of excessive sweating?

[Anonymous]

Lunchtime workouts are amazing. I go at 11 and try to get done in roughly an hour. I take a super quick shower, change fast, only put on makeup if I have a meeting afterward and put my hair up in a bun or ponytail. (My job doesn't have client contact.)

I run ever other day (for 42-48 minutes) or I do 30 minutes of cardio and about 15 minutes of weight training. I have actually stayed at my job way longer than I should (bored) because the mid-day workout is such a great part of my day, and another boss might not allow it.

[Anonymous]

Another plus is it's much easier to not overheat at lunch.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bring extra phonytail elastics if you have long hair. E News is on from 12-1, so I always revolve my workout schedule around that show!

How the heck do you workout if you're a woman with long hair? You have to shower after you workout and then your long hair is wet. I don't think it's appropriate to head back to work with wet hair and I certainly don't have time to dry my shoulder length hair. Ugh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sweat so badly that my hair is soaked. I would have to wash my hair at every workout. Does anyone who works out at lunch sweat profusely...like they have a medical condition of excessive sweating?

PP 18:27 here. This is me. I have had to overcome my embarrassment of sweating to be able to work out in the gym at my office. My T-shirt is literally soaked after 40 minutes of running on the treadmill. Have you been tested for some type of medical condition? I have just assumed that this is something annoying, but not worrying, beyond the embarrassment.