How do you feel sacrificing down time for the gym?

[roadkill0000]

I know this sounds lame AF. But honestly. For those with busy lives (most of us) parents/work long hours/etc... how do you make time for the gym, and mentally live without down time? If I factor in the gym, I'm looking at 30 minutes of personal time at home. If I'm lucky/ an hr.. that might be a lot for some ppl, for me it is kinda a bitch.
I have a strong motivation and work ethic and hate missing the gym, im just not used to sacrificing the time I use to "unwind" for lifting. Any solid advice? Things uve learned? Perspective? Anything other then "get over it bro". I'm honestly asking how u feel about it.
Thanks.

[cmacken]

I go to the gym 4 days a week which leaves me 3 days with downtime, which is enough for me. If I do feel like I need a bit of downtime on a gym day but I still want to go to the gym, I'll just eat into my sleep time a little bit.

[CommitmentRulz]

I know this sounds lame AF. But honestly. For those with busy lives (most of us) parents/work long hours/etc... how do you make time for the gym, and mentally live without down time? If I factor in the gym, I'm looking at 30 minutes of personal time at home. If I'm lucky/ an hr.. that might be a lot for some ppl, for me it is kinda a bitch.
I have a strong motivation and work ethic and hate missing the gym, im just not used to sacrificing the time I use to "unwind" for lifting. Any solid advice? Things uve learned? Perspective? Anything other then "get over it bro". I'm honestly asking how u feel about it.
Thanks.

Hit the gym early (4:45 am for me), before everyone else in the house is awake. You're not taking time away from family time.

[roadkill0000]

Interesting. So 0 down time for those 4 days. I find that difficult, not mentally able to wrap my head around that for some reason. I get the leaving 3 days for urself, but 4 days with nothing, hmm.

[Jasonk282]

Why cant your unwind time be gym time?

[ashhabah89]

There are plenty of 2 days a week programs that works , yes it is not optimal but it is great for busy guys

You must sacrifice those 2 days , you want to have a good looking body , this ain't coming without some sacrifices

That leaves you with 5 days to spend time with your family

[Jasonk282]

There are plenty of 2 days a week programs that works , yes it is not optimal but it is great for busy guys

You must sacrifice those 2 days , you want to have a good looking body , this ain't coming without some sacrifices

That leaves you with 5 days to spend time with your family

You can still.have a good body and spend time woth you family. Its litetally like a hour you have to worry about.

[tomsfish]

Why cant your unwind time be gym time?

exactly,the very definition of me time.

[Farley1324]

Gym time is downtime

[roadkill0000]

For all those saying gym time is downtime, I assume u watch 0 tv, read 0 books, play 0 video games, because that's a big statement to make.

I think instead of working out 2 days a week, for me maybe condense my workout to an hr a day. Tryin to figure it out. Thx for input all

[sunsean]

For all those saying gym time is downtime, I assume u watch 0 tv, read 0 books, play 0 video games, because that's a big statement to make.

I think instead of working out 2 days a week, for me maybe condense my workout to an hr a day. Tryin to figure it out. Thx for input all

Everyone's in a different boat, nobody has the exact same life. If you have SO much stuff going on that you only have 1 hour of free time every day, then it's a choice you have to make. Would you rather spend that hour working out or playing a video game? It's as simple as that. Either find more time or prioritize what you want to spend your limited time doing.

[Jasonk282]

For all those saying gym time is downtime, I assume u watch 0 tv, read 0 books, play 0 video games, because that's a big statement to make.

I think instead of working out 2 days a week, for me maybe condense my workout to an hr a day. Tryin to figure it out. Thx for input all

No...I don't read, watch tv or play video games...

But i do work 50 hours a week in construction, take my kids to soccer practice 2 days a week, dance class 2 days a week, boy scouts on sundays, soccer ganes on saturdays and i do muay thai 2 days a week.

Know when i lift? In the morning or at night when they're not ad active.

With 24 hr gyns this is possible. Stop making excuses

[LactoseTolerant]

For all those saying gym time is downtime, I assume u watch 0 tv, read 0 books, play 0 video games, because that's a big statement to make.

So you have time for all that?

[daudi81]

Gym time is down time (me time). Stick some headphones on, crank up the music, bust out some sets, get some endorphins flowing. I look forward to it, it's an escape. I've got a full time job, kids, wife, etc - and always make time for them and the occasional video game / Netflix show. Sometimes you can't fit it all in one day, so you make time on other days / weekends.

[OldFartTom]

Why cant your unwind time be gym time?

Agreed! There's plenty of forum members with busy lives and kids/family. Gym and commuting to work are my only downtime. If you see gym in this way, it's a good motivator

[rsid97]

For all those saying gym time is downtime, I assume u watch 0 tv, read 0 books, play 0 video games, because that's a big statement to make.

I'm with the rest of the crew, gym time is the closest my life gets to downtime. And sure I would like to read, play video games, draw, own 15 different pets among a bunch of other things. But with responsibilities on the line, like only permits to pick one, and I pick the gym.

[mandm001]

Only 3x a week for me (2 upper and 1 lower) try that if you have a busy schedule

[GoodBrotherHoot]

I have 3 young kids, 3 year old twins and a 1 year old and I understand what you mean about sacrificing time.

I go 4 days a week. M, T, Th I'm in the gym late, i.e get home around 11:30pm to midnight or so. Fridays I get off early and go around 1:30pm.

To not sacrifice time with family that is when I have to go. You just have to pick a time that you can make work. Late is best for me.

[ashhabah89]

Dude , if you can't sacrifice 2 hours per week for your body then you don't have business with fitness

[health4life24]

There's no reason not to get a good 3-4 days of training in at least. Sure you don't have to go the 5-6 day route, but people who look to train only once or twice a week I just don't get. Like literally you can get a good training session done in 45 minutes to an hour. There's always time. I started getting up at 3:30 am so that I could get ready for work, get to the gym before 5 am, and then go right from the gym to work. You make it work. There's always time.

And for most people here the gym is time to unwind. I look at it not as a chore but what I'm doing for myself to better myself. I get a high from the gym, it makes me feel good physically and mentally.

Hit the gym early (4:45 am for me), before everyone else in the house is awake. You're not taking time away from family time.

Why cant your unwind time be gym time?

Thise

[OldFartTom]

I think we have a problem with this post and we are arguing in different directions.

Roadkill is using "downtime" to mean relaxation like watching TV, reading, playing video games etc and because gym is (or at least **** should be) azz bustingly hard work he's not seeing this as "downtime"

Maybe the rest of us with various numbers of kids, stressful jobs, mega stressful busy lives regard some hard work on the gym as "downtime" as that's a bit of time when we're for once being left alone (unless you are foolish and have a phone next to you in gym).

While we are using "downtime" with such different meaning/perspective I think this thread is doomed. Sorry...

[Burgerbuger]

It's all about mindset. If you see gym time as a form of punishment/chore then of course it turn into a sacrifice for downtime. I view gym time as a stress reliever and improvement to myself. Gym time is my downtime.

[sooby]

I live with my brother, work 40 hours a week and study about 20 hours a week. Plus having to do other stuff like cook, clean, run errands, etc. Sleep about 6.5 to 7 hours a night on weekdays, maybe 8-9 on weekends.

You can find time OP, you just need to budget your time properly. Do what you have to do. I know when I'm busy and have to do things playing video games and watching TV isn't on my mind because there are things that I have to do.

Maybe condense your workouts into an hour, invest in a home gym, etc, etc.

[Squid24]

Time management...we all learn to make it happen.

I workout in the early am(4:30) 5-6 days a week and work 8-12 hrs a day 6 days a week. I still have plenty of time to spend with my wife and Grandchildren. You just have to figure out how you want your priorities on your own.

[maddog352002]

For all those saying gym time is downtime must read 0 books because that's a big statement to make.

Saying that i read 0 books isn't that much of a jump. All you have to do is look at speeling mistakes and grammar. But anytime away from 2 screaming toddlers and an exhausted angry wife is downtime for me. The difference between work and home is just who's crying.

[Squid24]

For all those saying gym time is downtime, I assume u watch 0 tv, read 0 books, play 0 video games, because that's a big statement to make.

Hummmmm, I missed this statement.

I watch more TV than I should, at least 2 hrs a night, sometimes 4. While I watch TV, I play a video game on my phone, which I play at work cause I have a job like that...lol. I never have time to read a book, cause I'd rather watch a movie or TV show....plus I never enjoyed reading that much all my life.

[zGwild]

I know this sounds lame AF. But honestly. For those with busy lives (most of us) parents/work long hours/etc... how do you make time for the gym, and mentally live without down time? If I factor in the gym, I'm looking at 30 minutes of personal time at home. If I'm lucky/ an hr.. that might be a lot for some ppl, for me it is kinda a bitch.
I have a strong motivation and work ethic and hate missing the gym, im just not used to sacrificing the time I use to "unwind" for lifting. Any solid advice? Things uve learned? Perspective? Anything other then "get over it bro". I'm honestly asking how u feel about it.
Thanks.

How do you feel sacrificing gym time to make this thread?

[Squid24]

How do you think we feel sacrificing gym time to read this thread?

fify