I'm an elementary school teacher who used to work out regularly in college but the past few years as a teacher have ravaged my routine. Im constantly looking for a practical routine that I can fit in after long hours in the classroom. What do you all do to fit in the workouts?

Given how you've given us no insight into your daily activities after work, or into your daily routine at all for that matter, how do you think we could possibly prescribe you a fitness routine? Since you haven't given us much information at all, I'm going base this post purely on assumptions.

As a teacher, you must get off of work at, what, 3-5 pm? If that's the case, and barring any other extracurricular activities you may engage in after work, there's absolutely no reason why you cannot find the time to spend 45 minutes to an hour engaging in the physical 3-5 times a week. It doesn't take more time than this to produce solid, startling results.

It's basic time management.

Just DO it.

Manolito, a good idea is to put your gym stuff in the car and head straight from school to the gym. This way you don't go home, get sidetracked and wind up not going. I almost always work out right after work.

Hola Manolito. I am a fellow teacher, so I understand your plight. With all of the lesson planning, paper grading, conferences, trainings, and othe obligations that come with our line of work...excercising seems to be one of the last things on our list of things to do. Before I had my daughter, I went to the gym EARLY in the morning and worked out. I just got ready at the gym and headed to school. Nowadays, that's not possible, so it's important for me to do what Rachael suggested and just bring my clothes with me. If I actually get out of here by 4:30 or 5:00, I head over to the gym directly from work. The most important thing to do is make working out a priority in your life. You spend all day taking care of others; taking care of yourself is just another part of preparing for your day.

Good luck!

Excellent point.

I'd say as a teacher just give everyone an A and get to the gym early.

You'd feel great and your kids would love you!

If your schedule is so tight that you can't wedge in a 45 minute workout then well, no one can help you here. Truth is you have time to workout but it's getting started and making it part of your daily activities that's hard when the big comfy recliner is calling after a long day at work.

I used Simplefit to get me going again. Nothing but pull-ups, push-ups and squats and shouldn't take you more than 20 minutes plus 10 minute warm-up/cool down.

If you can make it to Level 8 of the Simplefit program, I'd consider you fitter than the majority. So you really have no excuses.

Great advice Splint! I've never seen Simplefit, but it makes great sense especially for people with busy schedules!

Shawn, if only our lives were that simple.

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Thanks for the advice Angie and Splint. I really like the thought of keeping things simple with the workouts. Ive always tried to keep my old routine (pre-teaching days) of lifting 4 days a week with one body part a day, but with my schedule I always end up leaving out a day and just getting frustrated with not keeping with the routine. I'm hoping to just simplify things and become more consistent.

I'm a fellow teacher as well & by the time I get home I'm both physically & mentally drained. It's hard work & most folks don't understand that. I've decided that this is my summer. I'm going to eat right & exercise & give 100% to myself. You gotta be selfish sometimes!!! We're worth it!!! Good luck this summer.

I'd like to know what you come up with because I'm looking to be a teacher too.

One thing to consider maybe, when looking to schedule workouts, you should cook more food than you'll eat. This way you have leftovers. Then, on the days you eat the leftovers, rather than cooking, you can take an hour to work out. Then all you have to do is heat up your food instead of chillin' at the stove watching water boil.

This also sets you up for better eating - an important part of a well rounded lifestyle of health.

So maybe, cook sunday, workout monday (leftovers), cook tuesday, workout wednesday (left overs), cook thursday, workout friday (leftovers), relax saturday. Go out on a date with your significant other.

I'm an elementary school music teacher & at one school the PE teacher said that she cooked all day on Sunday. She grilled lots of chicken & made all her school lunches for the next week & put them in the freezer. The night before school she'd take out a meal from the freezer and put it in the frig for her lunch the next day. She was so encouraging to me.

The past 2 summers I've taught Summer School but not this year. (whew) I'm focusing only on me and my weight less and exercise efforts.

Prepping your meals for the week on the weekend will really help one stay true to their meal plans.

Its amazing how much better we'll eat if we have it all laid out and ready to go. Don't have to worry about making something when its done already.

Gluck with hitting your goals this summer