That's when I decided to pick up the second gym membership. I have a Planet Fitness gym membership for just $10 a month, that is 35 miles away from my home, but only a mile from my office. (And in case you were wondering, Yes, they have squat racks. Don't believe everything you read on the internet - except this, you can believe this.) This is how I discovered my new love of lunchtime workouts.
How wonderful it is to get to sleep in, not have to fight the crowds after work, but still get in a short workout? There are definitely pros and cons of the lunch date with a treadmill.
Benefits of a Lunchtime Workout
1. The lunchtime workout breaks up the work day. I look forward getting out of the office and going to the gym.
2. If I work out at lunch then I have to eat my lunch afterwards at my desk while working. This forces me to bring my lunch from home, because there simply is not enough time to work out and go pick up lunch. I save money by not eating out.
3. Food I bring from home is usually more healthful than food I would buy from a restaurant.
4. I get to blow off steam from my morning. This helps me reduce and better manage stress. I often go back to the office feeling re-energized.
5. I get to take a mental break from my day. Of the vast TV selections (sarcasm) shown at the gym during my lunch hour, I usually can choose between soap operas, Spanish soap operas, (Lo siento. No hablo Espanol. Gracias.) TMZ, and American Dad. I usually don't think a thing about my problems of the day. I think the mindless TV actually helps me to decompress. (I sometimes listen to music too.)
6. My workouts don't take away any time that I would normally spend with my husband. (Morning workouts don't either, as he is sleeping at that hour.)
7. I have found that lunchtime workouts are the gateway drug to getting back in the habit of early morning workouts. Establishing the habit is the first step.
Look at all those benefits of a lunchtime workout! Great, right? There is one reason not to do it that just reeks of a bad idea.
The obvious and often unspoken disadvantage of the lunchtime workout is that I only have an hour for lunch. It takes me five minutes to drive to the gym, five minutes to change into my workout clothes, 35 minutes to do my workout, about 10 minutes to get redressed for work, and five minutes to drive back. There's my hour. What is missing? Just a little thing called a shower. I know, you are thinking about how gross I am.
I dry off, cover myself in scented lotion and perfume, get dressed, apply deodorant, touch up my makeup and comb my hair.
Do you ever have a lunch date with a treadmill? Is the no-time-for-a-shower thing a deal breaker?
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Keep Running,
Lea
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I'm not a scented lotion/perfume kinda person, have you had any success with wet wipes?
ReplyDeleteI've never tried it but fabulous idea!!! Thanks!!!!
DeleteI just love taking long walks mid-day! It's a great way to just clear your head!!! In terms of intense exercise... I have to do it solely in the morning because I get too tired to go ALL OUT HARD CORE come mid-day!
ReplyDeletethat's how I feel about after work...just too drained!!
DeleteI would love do a lunchtime workout! Being a teacher it doesn't work out for me but if I had the option I would try to do it!
ReplyDeleteKaren @karenlovestorun
lunch
ReplyDeletecrack of dawn
late night
IM SOO THE WOMAN WHO JUST SQUEEEZES it in when I can ;-)
I am an early morning workout person. If it's not done by 10am, it's not happening. Great that you can go at lunch time!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE when I am on an early morning kick - haven't been able to make it happen lately!
DeleteGreat list. I like to get in my weights during lunch - and when it's cool enough, sometimes a run around the neighborhood as well. I love the added boost of energy, knowing that the workout is done, and the break from work.
ReplyDeleteI used to work for a company where everyone worked out at lunch. It was awesome! Since then though, I have to do my workout in the morning or it doesn't get done!
ReplyDelete