Anonymous wrote:I'm the 8:47 poster. I go to the gym about 2 hours before my scheduled departure time. The gym is less crowded then and when I get back I only have an hour of work left. It works great for me and decreases the time I have at my desk post-workout (in case I don't look my best afterwards). It makes my day go much faster.

I have to go to the gym a different time every day, depending on my meetings.

Anonymous wrote:I'm in awe of you guys.

I'd be 200 pounds if I couldn't workout at lunch.

Anonymous wrote: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!

I swear by the midday workout. I leave my bag at work, so don't have to lug curling iron, shampoo, etc. to work daily. Enjoy your new found energy!

I have worked out at lunch for 15 years now (ehgads I'm old). A few tips

- Keep one of those travel shower bags (has compartments and can hang it up near shower or in locker) and put everything you need in it to redo - soap, lotion, makeup, brush, deodorant, etc.

- I keep a pair of sneakers at work, so I only have to bring fresh clothes every day.

- I keep clothing accessories, make-up and jewelry to a minimum, to make it easy to undress and redress (this was my style anyways). I figure its better to look good from being healthy and in shape than to look good from tons of makeup and accessories.

- I usually wear earrings that can be worn working out, but if not, I put that and any other jewelry in my shoe (the shoe I am leaving in the locker room). So I don't lose it or forget it (I have forgotten, but remember as my foot hits it).

- I have had numerous hairstyles, from pixie to very long hair -to everywhere in between. If you have a good cut, it can bounce back after getting sweaty. You don't have to wash and dry. You just dry any sweat on low with a hair dryer. I don't understand when people say they HAVE to wash their hair. You don't. And if you do, find a new stylist.

- I don't know how else to say this, but move quickly in the locker room. So many woman who try this and say it can't be done just dawdle in there. Just take off the workout clothes and throw them in your bag. A shower can be done in 60 seconds. Dry off another 60 seconds. Clothes and make up in a few minutes.

- Do take the time to nicely hang up and/or fold your work clothes, so they don't get wrinkled.

I work out at lunch and shower every single time. When I run, I get very sweaty, but even if I'm doing something else, I wouldn't feel comfortable not showering - would worry that I would smell. I don't blow-dry my hair to save time.

If I worked out at lunch, I would prefer more gentle workouts. Save the heavy sweating for the weekends or after work.

On the hair, I have very thick shoulder length hair and also sweat a lot. I shower and wash/dry my hair every morning. When I workout at lunch, I put my hair in a pony and wear a wide, absorbent sweat band around my head that seems to help a lot. I take a very quick shower when I'm done to rinse my body and face and also to stop the sweating. I don't wash my hair, and I have it wrapped in a towel while I shower (to absorb more sweat and keep the water off it). Once I'm dressed, I quickly hit the visible areas of my sweaty hair with a blow dryer to dry and smooth (my naturally wavy/frizzy hair also goes crazy when it is sweaty) and I have a very quick make-up routine (BB cream, mascara, lipstick; blush not needed after a workout). I can do all of this, including getting re-dressed in about 12 minutes as long as I have my clothes, brushes, make-up etc. well organized and ready to go. If I had to wash and dry my hair, it would take 40-45.

My tips - echoing those above
- I bring my workout clothes for the week in on Fridays and leave my clothes in my file cabinets - I'd never remember to do it on a Monday
- I sweat a lot -- I run a pretty quick 5.5 miles, but find that I only need to wash my hair every other day -
- My entire workout takes 1 hour
- I do weights on the days I don't wash my hair, those days, I take a cooler shower and refresh my hair with a hair dryer
- I don't do weights on my hair washing days (sounds OCD, I know) - I use the time for the hair washing

I'm the PP and I sweat a LOT. Completely soaked after a workout. When my hair was long I used to rinse it and put it in a low chignon -- looked fine. Now that it's short I just rinse, add product and go. I wash and condition two or three times per week, but it doesn't take long. No more blow drying -- and now my hair is much healthier! I had to decide: body or hair? I chose body and turns out I like the hair!

Love the lunchtime workouts. Here are my suggestions:

- When it's super cold, I may skip my morning shower because two warm showers a day can be really drying.

- I pack my gym bag the night before and have a makeup bag and toiletries bag that stay in my gym bag, along with a brush and whatever else I need.

- I keep a bag with an extra pair of shorts, a T-shirt, socks and shoes in my office in case I forget something).

- Put that workout in your calendar and guard it jealously! I rarely do lunches out and try and avoid lunch meetings whenever possible. I don't explain why, I just ask for a different time or say I have a conflict.

- Make sure you pack a healthy lunch with a bit of protein because you will be starving an hour after your workout. And drink lots of water.

- Establish a quick and minimal makeup and hair routine. My hair's short and doesn't require blow drying, and I've got my makeup down to 5 minutes: powder foundation, eyebrows, a little mascara and lipstick. Done.

Good luck!

I'm the 8:47 poster. I go to the gym about 2 hours before my scheduled departure time. The gym is less crowded then and when I get back I only have an hour of work left. It works great for me and decreases the time I have at my desk post-workout (in case I don't look my best afterwards). It makes my day go much faster.

Oh I don't give a hoot about sweating when I work out. I am just interested to know if other sweat majorly while they work out at lunch and if so do you shower and go back to work with wet hair and no makeup? How does that work? I feel like I wouldn't have time to shower, wash hair, blow dry, and reapply makeup.