Time management?

[Toomnyhats]

I don't know how some of you do all you do!

I want to start some type of regular exercise but when would I do it?

I work full-time. Come home from work, make supper, sit for a few min and/or do household chores, bedtime. Weekends are just as bad - household chores catch-up time plus family.

Any suggestions for when I could sneak in some exercise? I'm not very good at getting up early, the whole fatigue thing.

[meeegun]

is it possible to work it into your daily routine somehow? for instance, you could try commuting by bike to work if work isn't too far or up any huge hills. i commuted this way for over two years and found it was easy to keep up on exercise when it was built into my regular routine. i also really loved riding in the morning. best cup of coffee ever i've never been any good at making a special trip to the gym for exercise and have yet to find a way to keep going. if you have a dog that needs walking, you can try jogging with them to get in the exercise too.

[onlyairfare]

If you find a solution to this problem, many of us are eagerly awaiting your answer!

I used to get up early and work out every morning before work; swimming was the best for me. But the past few years, the fatigue has gotten to me and it is all I can do to get to work and put in my "8 hour" day. Which is really 9 or 10 hours and never any time for lunch so I come home exhausted.

I am exactly where you are, Toomnyhats - we need help.

[muse_7]

Do you watch TV? I do weight work while watching TV, some extremely ugly lunges, a couple of yoga poses, etc. When I let my dogs out (downstairs, I have a walk-out basement) I use my elliptical on no power to get 100 steps in several times a day.

I have PPMS and frankly am sedentary most of the day. Time isn't an issue but fatigue is. But total loss of mobility is an amazing motivation to do something. I have lost a lot of muscle, I can't afford to lose more.

[Tinkerbell65]

Have you thought at all about letting some of the housework go? Do all of those tasks really need to be done all the time, or is it that you feel they are things that HAVE to be done. Maybe re-prioritize and make exercise more important than housework. Delegate some of those things to other family members. Let go of what's not really that important.

I know, I know- easier said than done, but I'm really working on the same thing. My husband/kids may not do the things the same way or as well as I think I do them, but does it really matter? My health is more important than the dust bunnies under the bed that bug me but no one else really sees.

[Lexie]

I think sometimes we try to forget we have ms which is good! BUT sometimes we have to realize that we have to make choices because of MS. I try to think of it as just aging. I am almost 62 and realize I can't do all I did when I was 50. Some days it takes all my energy just to work and right now that is more important than a clean house. I'm to the point that I have to eliminate a few things in my life and not add more. Hope this makes sense. I do try to walk a few minutes on my lunch time. Good Luck!

[Toomnyhats]

You're my new BFF Tinkerbell!! Problem is I do let too much housework go. It's only DH & I so no kids to help. DH has a 2nd job that takes up many hours so his help is limited.

Muse, I watch too much TV. I've been thinking of moving the coffee table to give me floor space in front of the TV so I can use some of the stack of exercise DVDs I have. Guess maybe I should just do it ...

Meeegun, for me the problem with riding a bike to work (other than I don't own a bike) is the heat. I probably be OK in mornings but not by the end of the day. I want a dog to take me for walks, but the cats have firmly planted their paws on this topic

My neighbor & I used to walk in the early mornings but she fell & broke her ankle. Healed. Chopped her toe off. Healed. Had surgery on ankle. Healed. And by then we were both out of the habit! She has learned to enjoy sleeping past 5:30 (don't blame her for that!) & I don't feel safe walking by myself. Not that we are in a bad area, but like many others here I randomly fall ...

[cosake]

Doesn't housework count as exercise ??!! I'm pretty sure that it does.

Other than that, you should see about some chair yoga exercises while you watch TV.

We had a session at the last MS conference I went to and they handed out a paper with some of the exercises on it.
I was pleasantly surprised with how fun it was, how much work it actually was, and it is good for arms, legs, shoulders, neck, etc. I just need to make myself start doing them !

Another idea would be if you have an indoor mall close by and see if they have a walking club. It would be a great way to get some exercise and maybe even make a few new friends. You could buddy up with someone in the club to walk with so you wouldn't be alone. And by making a "date" to walk with someone else, you are less likely to skip doing it.

Good luck - I think this is something alot of us struggle with.

[Seasha]

I agree with cosake that housework is considered exercise!! pushing vacuum, stretching, reaching, bending, stooping - it's all exercise in my book!

Do you have enough time during your lunch break to get out and walk? If too hot, walk around inside? If you sit at work, get up from time to time and really stretch. You can stretch while sitting too - arm and legs, back, neck.

And maybe you can afford to get some hired help around the house (maybe once a month or every other month) which would free up your weekends for more active exercises??

Good luck!

[meeegun]

also, there is a video that is called sit and be fit. it was created primarily for elderly people at risk for falls but its actually a pretty good (yet gentle) workout. if you can find a copy it might be worth a try.

[Kraheera]

If you do housework, that can work. I do a lot of laundry with two young kids, and you'd be amazed at how much work it is to lug laundry baskets around.

I also have to chase a 2 year old around. Between cleaning the house, doing laundry, kids, and just moving around all day, I'm lucky I've maintained my weight considering how much I've lost my appetite.

I also have an MS Yoga dvd that was free, and it gets used on the weekends when I refuse to do actual housework.

[cosake]

I think grocery shopping counts as exercise too ! I get quite a workout pushing the cart, walking around, lifting the drinks and things, stretching to reach things on the shelf, and then lifting it all again to put it on the belt, and lifting it again to put it in the car. Family takes it out of car and puts things away for me.