FitSugar

Do You Always Work Out at the Same Time of Day?

Michele Foley — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:30:11 PDT

My workout schedule is on the fritz. I'm pretty much a night person, and same goes for working out. I almost always go to my climbing gym at night, hang there (literally!) for a few hours, and have dinner around 9:30. But my workout partner is working late for the next few weeks, which leaves me stranded. (My gym is only accessible by car, and I don't have one.)

To remedy the problem, we've been trying to go to the gym before work - it's not exactly panning out. I'm not really a morning person and I can't seem to wake up enough to get the kind of workout I want. I know that if I stick with it, I'll come around, but since my climbing partner's schedule is back to normal in two weeks, I'm opting out. Instead, I signed up for a temporary membership and I'm doing midday workouts at the gym by my work. I guess when it comes to working out, I am a creature of habit. How about you - are you chained to a schedule or do you play it loose?

I'm Asking: Do You Go Out on Weeknights?

SavvySugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:45:49 PDT

Planning a girls' night during the week with my closest pals is always a challenge. One is a go-getter whose assistant does all her scheduling so putting anything on her calendar involves at least six emails - and she never leaves the office before dark anyway. One is committed to picking up her stepchildren from after school care everyday at five and one has to take the ferry to the suburbs. Our family commitments and work seem to keep the four of us sequestered in our "school night" schedules so we rarely go out during the week (whether together or apart) unless it's to grab a quick bite to eat.

Are you able to finish up work early and sneak out with your lovers or friends on weeknights, or do you lay low during the week and reserve your revelry for the weekends when you have more free time?

Handle This: He Only Dates on a Schedule

DearSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:00:00 PDT

A couple months ago you started dating a guy that you met through an online site. He’s kind, intelligent, and funny, and though you haven’t had sex yet, the making out has been great so far. But he doesn’t ever seem like he wants to take it further. Stranger still, he refuses to see you other than Wednesday nights and Saturdays due to his "hectic schedule." You completely understand the demands of work, but after two months this seems really inexplicable. You have another Wednesday night date planned tonight, so how do you handle this?

Source

You Asked: I Can't Accept My Boyfriend's Female Friend

DearSugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 06:00:00 PDT

Dear Sugar,

I'm so incredibly jealous of one of my boyfriend's female friends, and I want to know how I can stop feeling this way. I'm not worried my boyfriend would ever do anything inappropriate, I know he only has eyes for me, I just get really angry and hurt inside when I know they're hanging out. Due to the way my life is right now, I'm lucky if I get to spend an afternoon with my boyfriend once every two weeks! She, on the other hand, gets to see him whenever she wants, multiple times a week, on fun outings like dinners, late-night coffee runs, movies, concerts - all the things I wish I could do with him but can't for the next few months. I would never tell my boyfriend to stop seeing her because he is trustworthy and should be free to spend time with his friends but it's eating me up inside knowing that I can't be a part of those fun times, and she can. I know it's not the friend's fault and it's not my boyfriend's fault, but I still feel rejected, jealous, and lonely. How can I make myself feel better about how bad this situation is? - Left Out Lani

To see DearSugar's answer,

read more. Dear Left Out Lani, I'm not sure what's going on in your life that's taking up so much of your time, but from what you're telling me, it sounds like your boyfriend is carrying on a relationship with someone else! They are doing everything a couple would do, so I completely understand why you're upset. Since asking them to stop hanging out isn't an option for you, it's imperative that you voice your feelings to him as soon as possible - he might not even know how you're feeling. Since your busy schedule sounds temporary, keep your eye on the prize and know that you'll be spending time with your boyfriend and doing all the things you've been missing out on sooner than later. In the meantime, keep the lines of communication open with your boyfriend - I'm sure he'd feel the exact same way if the roles were reversed. But just because you can't spend long afternoons together, Lani, it doesn't mean you can't make the time you are together special. Try to spend the nights together so you can cuddle and feel connected again, ask him to meet you for coffee when you have breaks, and rev up the amount you text or talk on the phone. I'm sure just knowing that he's thinking about you will make things better until your schedule frees up. I hope this helps! Source

Dear Poll: Do You Ever Lie to Get Out of a Commitment?

DearSugar — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 12:00:00 PDT

Life is hectic, and it’s all too easy to sign on for more than you can or want to handle. Fortunately, I’ve practiced saying no often enough to avoid locking myself into an obligation I know I’ll regret later. Though I’m sure we’re all the type to try our best and follow through on commitments, every once and a while, when the time comes, it's normal to not feel up to making the effort. Sometimes a lie is easier than the truth, so do you ever lie to get out of a commitment?

Source

Back on Track: Map Out Your Fitness Schedule For the Week

FitSugar — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 04:30:00 PDT

This Sunday night, take some time to go over your schedule for the upcoming week and plan some exercise time. It's easy to make the excuse that you just don't have time to work out, so make it a priority before anything else comes up. Take out your daily planner, or you can print out this free downloadable fitness journal, and write down the days you're going to the gym or to your Pilates class. Jot down what afternoons you're planning to walk with your girlfriend at lunch, or when you're going to do a Kung Fu Kickboxing DVD in your living room. If you write it down, you're more likely to stick to it and won't let an appointment, errand, or meeting get in the way.

Source

Do Tell: What's Your Standard Routine?

DearSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:00:00 PST

I was just having a conversation with my good friend PartySugar and she shared her weekly beauty rituals with me. Monday, Thursday and Saturday are her hair washing days, Tuesday and Friday are her leg shaving days and lastly, every Wednesday she paints her nails. Although I tend to do certain things on certain days, there's no way I could keep up with a schedule like hers! So ladies, since we all have our quirky ways about doing things, do tell, what's your secret weekly routine? Do you do laundry on the same day every week? Do you exfoliate on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or are you more of a free spirit who likes to just go with the flow?

Source

Tip For Staying on Track During the Weekend: Schedule

FitSugar — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 03:00:00 PDT

Be it that you end up eating really unhealthy on the weekends or that you totally slack off on working out, the weekends can be a time when a lot of us slip-up in our health endeavors.

One reason for continuous weekend blunders is because we get off schedule. The week is pretty scheduled for most of us, which usually includes going to the gym and cooking healthy meals. On the weekends we stay up late and sleep in, which makes us feel fat and lazy leading to us to act fat and lazy -- As a result we're skipping breakfast and skipping the gym, which makes us feel even worse. The spiral continues until Monday morning, when we get back on track. This is not the worst scenario there ever was, as we all need a break and we should be pleased that we're able to keep eating healthy and exercising during the week. However, when it happens every weekend, we could get unmotivated.

One way to keep on track through the entire weekend is to keep to your normal schedule. The best way to do this: Wake up at the same time you normally wake up (or at least close to it). For me, this helps me stay on track significantly and I feel like I have the entire day to get done everything I've planned.

Have your own ideas for staying on track during the weekends? Share them in the comments section below!

Source

Diet Tip: Set a Snack Time

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:00:00 PDT

Snacks are important part of dieting. It is true, since if you allow yourself to get too hungry you will often over eat, plus living with hunger pangs is a sure fire way to get a serious case of the crankies. And the having the crankies is a major reason folks break their diets. However, endless snacking is no good either because you start eating more calories than you are burning in a day.

To snack healthy you need to plan ahead so you have a healthy snack on hand. You also need to set a snack time and snack just at your snack time. I know is sounds like kindergarten, but having a schedule can prevent you from over-snacking (which is just like overeating but often goes unnoticed since the eating is spread out over the course of a day).

Plan a morning snack for around 10:30 and an afternoon pick-me-up around 3:00 - this way you will eat a little something in between meals without ruining your appetite.

Don't what to snack on? Here's some suggestions for the next time you have a Snack Attack.

Spring Running Tip: Get a Running Buddy

FitSugar — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 10:15:00 PDT

You and I both know that there's safety in numbers. Not only is running with someone a great way to protect each other from harm or get help in case of an emergency, but it's also a great way to stay motivated if you're trying to get in shape.

Having the desire to be a healthier, happier you is an awesome way to live, but no one ever said you had to do it alone. So this Spring, get yourself a running buddy. It could be a close friend or relative who shares the same goals of wanting to be healthier. Or maybe it's someone you met at the gym that shares your love of running. Make sure you share a similar lifestyle schedule, like you both work 9-5 and can exercise after or before work.

You also want to make sure that she shares your wellness goals - If you plan to run on Sunday mornings, you don't want your running buddy calling you up to suggest brunch instead.

When you do find your running buddy (or buddies), determine together your running schedule. Plan out what days work for you both, and what times you prefer to exercise. Once your running schedule is set, you'll be able to inspire each other to stick to it.

Fit's Tips: Set a reasonable goal you both can meet. Start off with one day a week, and then if it's working with your schedules, add another day or two. It's a great time to work your heart and muscles, release stress and tension, discuss healthy recipes, or vent about your problems. It's multi-tasking at its best.