Grad student suffering to find time to work out...suggestions please

[Calvino06]

Currently a grad student. Knocking out 600 hours of internship till December. Part time job, and working on my thesis this semester. Needless to say, finding time to get in the gym is rough. If I'm lucky I can get in sat and sunday morning for about hour and half each day. I recently just got certified for PT, and don't want to look sloppy when I start training. Any suggestions on the days I can get in (workout plans push/pull days etc.) or similar stories that have helped. I know it sounds like I'm being lazy, but before you judge, wish you could live a week in my shoes to know what I'm going through.

Oh yeah protein: phase 8
PWO (if i use it):Assault/C4
Aminos: AminoBuild

Diet: rough, try sticking to chicken & rice, but late night coffee is a must and snacks.

[Renegadegod]

I know your feel. Do you have access to a home gym? When I had exams (8 of them), I worked out at home with adjustable dumbbells. Just did reps of sets while cooking, etc. Reviewing. I hope it turns out well for you though!

For now, I'm doing Madcows. It's 3 days a week, sessions are about an hour.

[Calvino06]

thanx buddy

I know your feel. Do you have access to a home gym? When I had exams (8 of them), I worked out at home with adjustable dumbbells. Just did reps of sets while cooking, etc. Reviewing. I hope it turns out well for you though!

For now, I'm doing Madcows. It's 3 days a week, sessions are about an hour.

[Renegadegod]

No problem. What are you studying?

[7rmr]

Do an upper on saturday, and lower on sunday.

Not optimal obviously. But just focus on major lifts and try and preserve your gains until your schedule frees up a bit.

[eclipze926]

Currently a grad student. Knocking out 600 hours of internship till December. Part time job, and working on my thesis this semester. Needless to say, finding time to get in the gym is rough. If I'm lucky I can get in sat and sunday morning for about hour and half each day. I recently just got certified for PT, and don't want to look sloppy when I start training. Any suggestions on the days I can get in (workout plans push/pull days etc.) or similar stories that have helped. I know it sounds like I'm being lazy, but before you judge, wish you could live a week in my shoes to know what I'm going through.

Oh yeah protein: phase 8
PWO (if i use it):Assault/C4
Aminos: AminoBuild

Diet: rough, try sticking to chicken & rice, but late night coffee is a must and snacks.

Adjustable dumbbells are great. But you can also get fit through calisthenics. Just another option. There's a book called Convict conditioning it's intense but with a packed schedule like yours it may actually be a great idea. I know what it's like to have no time bring deployed is a huge pain to have a proper diet and time and energy to work out at all. Just keep pushing. And congratz on all the hard work you've put into this!

[Calvino06]

finishing up my Masters in Counseling Higher Education & Student Affairs

No problem. What are you studying?

[Calvino06]

Thanks for the tip on the book

Adjustable dumbbells are great. But you can also get fit through calisthenics. Just another option. There's a book called Convict conditioning it's intense but with a packed schedule like yours it may actually be a great idea. I know what it's like to have no time bring deployed is a huge pain to have a proper diet and time and energy to work out at all. Just keep pushing. And congratz on all the hard work you've put into this!

[thefleshlight]

Make time or continue with the "woe is me" mentality.

[Meatie]

for a guy getting a PhD in counseling I'd figure you'd be able to counsel yourself on the matter.

[kissdadookie]

Make time or continue with the "woe is me" mentality.

for a guy getting a PhD in counseling I'd figure you'd be able to counsel yourself on the matter.

I tend to agree with these sentiments.

[lucasrd]

If you absolutely can not find time to hit a gym, just go Herschel Walker style - do 1000 push-ups and 3000 sit-ups each day - just do them while you're studying... There is a time to hit the gym and there is a time to study and prepare yourself for the rest of your life. During those times you do what you can - if it is a pile of push-ups, sit-ups and body squats, so be it. I'd take another look at your schedule and see if you can move anything around to make it work - get up an hour earlier? If not, you'll have to do what you can for the next few months.

[Yodums]

Are you honestly saying you don't have a single moment to spare during the week, and you are fully booked with no breaks? If working out is something you value, then you'll find time for it. I have a hard time believing you don't have 2-4 hours to spare during the week on top of the time you're spending on weekends working out. This would allow you to get a fairly decent 3-day or 4-day workout in.

[Valhallabound86]

5x5 training 3x a week. Full body work outs. 3h/week is nothing.

[mountaineer16]

I'm currently in law school at the University of Alabama, so I certainly feel the pain of a busy schedule. However, working out was not something I was gonna give up. For me, I wake up at 5am to be at the gym when it opens at 5:30, get my workout in, go home and get ready for my day that starts at 7:30.

I find that going early in the morning makes my day feel longer, so it actually makes my workload feel lighter.

Hope this helps.

[Bluerex]

I tend to agree with these sentiments.

As do I, I went to grad school while working full time and bla bla bla. I have news for you, it is only going to get worse, I wish I had that kind of freedom and spare time now. I had the same mind set as you then though, looking back now I have to laugh. As others have said, work in those 3 days a week and get it done. Don't waste time at the gym, get in and out in an hour. It will make you feel better and help with your studies. You have to either do it early in the morning or late at night to avoid conflicts with your busy day.

[linton5]

I go three times a week at 6 am. Totals up to about 3 hours. I don't know your schedule but three hours doesn't take much time in the scope of things. Best of lucks with your schooling, that should be your priority!

[Calvino06]

uh...masters not phd...and thats the thing about counseling...you get paid to do nothing

for a guy getting a PhD in counseling I'd figure you'd be able to counsel yourself on the matter.

[Calvino06]

Thanks for the advice

If you absolutely can not find time to hit a gym, just go Herschel Walker style - do 1000 push-ups and 3000 sit-ups each day - just do them while you're studying... There is a time to hit the gym and there is a time to study and prepare yourself for the rest of your life. During those times you do what you can - if it is a pile of push-ups, sit-ups and body squats, so be it. I'd take another look at your schedule and see if you can move anything around to make it work - get up an hour earlier? If not, you'll have to do what you can for the next few months.

[Calvino06]

I do have sat and saturday mornings which are the days I go...its my so called "therapy" Monday through friday im stacked with internship hours starting at 7 in the morn till 3 or 5 depending on the day, and monday-thursday i have class till 10 or 9 pm depending on the day. Fridays i have intern and then work till 1030 at night. Thats my typical m-f. Sat - sunday i can get in the gym...start work at 9, get off at 5 ... and then work on my thesis...anytime during the week that i have free i have to work on my thesis...this is not a matter of me being lazy, im just trying to prioritize my time, and in doing so, the gym is being cut out, so Im asking for advice. Like i said in my original post, its easy to judge me and call me lazy, but if you lived one week doing what i do, i think you would have a different perspective

Are you honestly saying you don't have a single moment to spare during the week, and you are fully booked with no breaks? If working out is something you value, then you'll find time for it. I have a hard time believing you don't have 2-4 hours to spare during the week on top of the time you're spending on weekends working out. This would allow you to get a fairly decent 3-day or 4-day workout in.

[Calvino06]

positive advice always helps...but I usually stay up till about 1230-1 in the morning working on my thesis, so yes i guess not waking up is being lazy, but for about 2 weeks i tried running on 4-5 hours a sleep a night and eventually it caught up to me and i got real sick. Wasnt a cold/flu the Doc simply called it exhaustion. I am morning person when it comes to working out, but if anything ive replaced that time with working on my thesis/hw/projects.

I'm currently in law school at the University of Alabama, so I certainly feel the pain of a busy schedule. However, working out was not something I was gonna give up. For me, I wake up at 5am to be at the gym when it opens at 5:30, get my workout in, go home and get ready for my day that starts at 7:30.

I find that going early in the morning makes my day feel longer, so it actually makes my workload feel lighter.

Hope this helps.

[Danielfp]

positive advice always helps...but I usually stay up till about 1230-1 in the morning working on my thesis, so yes i guess not waking up is being lazy, but for about 2 weeks i tried running on 4-5 hours a sleep a night and eventually it caught up to me and i got real sick. Wasnt a cold/flu the Doc simply called it exhaustion. I am morning person when it comes to working out, but if anything ive replaced that time with working on my thesis/hw/projects.

Good luck with everything! I would agree with some posters here. If you really have a crunch period where you cannot dedicate gym time, then do what lucasdr said. It may not be the same as a full workout but you can still get soem strength and particularily endurance benefits. That is, if this lack of time is only temporary.

[Calvino06]

And thats the thing i am struggling with most is that this is temporary....i cant wrap my head around that in december ill have more time, because in the here and now, this time away from the gym is killing me, but i know i cant sacrifice my thesis time as well. oh well hopefully it will be worth it in the end

Good luck with everything! I would agree with some posters here. If you really have a crunch period where you cannot dedicate gym time, then do what lucasdr said. It may not be the same as a full workout but you can still get soem strength and particularily endurance benefits. That is, if this lack of time is only temporary.

[Danielfp]

And thats the thing i am struggling with most is that this is temporary....i cant wrap my head around that in december ill have more time, because in the here and now, this time away from the gym is killing me, but i know i cant sacrifice my thesis time as well. oh well hopefully it will be worth it in the end

It will be. Here's the thing, you have to think, which is more urgent or more important at the moment. I think you can say your thesis so its natural to dedicate more resources. However, don't make the mistake many of do and forget about fitness. It seems you haven't so that's great! If you really need to hit the gym try doing a workout that will economical time-wise ( I dont know stronglifts maybe? I dont have many examples but you get the point.) Good luck your dedication shows so Im sure youll stick well with it.

[Mr.Cooper69]

Make time or continue with the "woe is me" mentality.

This. It only gets worse OP. I do upper/lower on saturday/sunday and usually get one lift in during the week. It works better than you think

[Calvino06]

This. It only gets worse OP. I do upper/lower on saturday/sunday and usually get one lift in during the week. It works better than you think

what would your typical sat/sun look like...i have resorted to push/pull days, but it excludes legs by doing it that way

[Mr.Cooper69]

what would your typical sat/sun look like...i have resorted to push/pull days, but it excludes legs by doing it that way

Upper:

Incline Bench x 3-4
Dips x 3
Barbell Row x 3
Weighted Pullups x 4
Curls/Tricep Supersets

Lower:

I can't squat or deadlift due to my back, but if I could, that would be at the core + calf work