How do you combat the noise?
 

The noise I'm referring to when you exercise at home. I'll be moving in with my boyfriend and he was very nervous about me exercising. He's afraid to bother the neighbors. Is there anything that you can do to help? I really don't want something like that to derail me getting back on plan and getting thinner/healthier.

Would getting a machine just be easier eventually?

I have to laugh because my neighbor runs on his treadmill at 10 o'clock at night and it shakes the whole frickin' building I swear :lol:

That being said. Do you work out with a DVD that includes a lot of jumping & whatnot? Work out on padding/carpeting. Make sure that objects are secure & aren't falling over as you're moving. And make sure to do it during a decent time of day. (Not at 3 AM or someting.)

I typically do WATP/Walk Slim, some Firm, Turbo Jam and other random stuff. I'm trying to broaden my exercise. I really like the running intervals and don't want to stop them.

I used to discuss it with my neighbors, find out a time they are not usually home or are not sleeping/relaxing -- or just being up front, most people don't mind 1/2 hour to 1 hour of noise if they are prepared or greated kindly.

Yeah, but sometimes I randomly need to exercise more/want to exercise more. :( I probably will try to talk once I do move in which won't happen for 2 months.

I think you should just focus on doing the workouts as you feel....as long as the hour is reasonable. Of course it nice to check w/ neighbors and to try to accomodate them, but you have to make yourself the priority...YOU are worth it! You're not breaking the law and you're not doing anything to try to hurt anyone...you're just trying to lose weight and if someone doesn't understand that, they don't deserve your consideration anyway! Of course if you can, try to go outdoors for walks/jogs, find a long stairway and go up and down. Just hang in there and stick to your guns. You have every right to workout in your own living space! Good luck!

As a downstairs neighbor, I can tell you that I'm a lot less bothered by this kind of noise if I know how long it's going to last. I totally agree with those who said to talk to your neighbors. They will very much appreciate the courtesy.

Lisa

I assume you're going to be upstairs? I used to live in an upstairs apartment, and for that reason, I didn't do my exercise DVD's. I didn't want to disturb anyone, but now thinking back, I shouldn't have used that as an excuse. My apartment complex is pretty sound proof, so I can't hear my neighbors do anything. My neighbor right next to me has a surround sound type of speaker set-up and he says he blares it, but I've never heard it. I've been a downstairs neighbor twice, and the only things that would bother me is vacuuming early in the morning (who really wakes up and says, "it's vacuum time!") and people moving in and out, because it's constant heavy noise until they are finished moving. Maybe if you're not comfortable asking your neighbors, maybe you can just take notice of their work hours and workout around them?

Lucky you! When I lived in an apartment I never exercised at home. No matter what you did everyone else in the building knew what it was.. even if you passed gas they could hear it.. it sucked.

My best advice is to check to see how sound proof the place is. If you can hear every move everyone else makes it's kind of hard to be doing things like turbo jam. Also I agree with everyone else to talk to the neighbors, because if you can't hear things going on in your apartment, it doens't mean that everyones apartment is as soundproof... and you don't need neighbors complaining to the landlord, it could get you thrown out :o

I've done them at my apartment before and never had a complaint. I'm not sure if these apartments are as hardy since I can sometimes hear a baby in the other apartments. Typically, I do workout during the day when no one is here except for two lone cars(one being mine) but there are times that I'd love to add more workouts before dinner. I don't seem to shake the place as much as my mother ever does when she exercises! And since I try to eat before 10 pm, even my evening workouts won't be that late.

My boyfriend really likes this apartment and doesn't want to move. Of course, I don't want to be the reason for that need. I'm already annoying enough. I started whining when he told me. He said he'd try to pay attention to see what was up. He was flitting in and out of the room while I boosted and made no comment.

One time I saw these mats at JCPenny that is supposed to absorb the noise/movement of a machine but I thought perhaps I should get that. But that could be a false memory. That's why if I do jump, I'm cautious.

I have lived in apartments my whole adult life, and sometimes it's not about what you have the "right" to do, but what is the best thing to do to make sure that you're going to have a happy living environment. In an apartment, your neighbors can be the difference between loving and hating where you live. The best places I've ever lived have been where everyone is respectful and aware of the fact that the share walls. The worst places have been where people assumed that they had the "right" to do whatever they wanted, no matter how much it disturbed those around them.

Daimere, I really applaud you for thinking about this in advance. I agree that you shouldn't let your new housing stop you from exercising, but it's great that you're thinking about the best way to do it.

Lisal

Most leases I've signed stipulate hours that noises can be made; none after 9 p.m for example. However, I think it's a great idea to figure out when your immediate neighbors are working and work with that. You've also mentioned it will be about 2 months before you move in which should be great summer weather! Unless the neighborhood is dangerous you could walk/jog outdoors as well.

My last apartment was the greatest for noise- because I make a lot of it. Below me was a deaf gentleman and next to me was a prostitute. She was always too busy making noise to bother with me!

I'd say just talk to the people.

I had to go talk to our upstairs neighbors because they played lots of guitar hero, DDR, and rock band from noon to about midnight (4 nerdy guys sharing a place). I was a grad student in an intense program and now I'm in pharmacy school.

It irked me to no end to be studying my butt off and have to put on headphones in my on apartment because all the banging on my ceiling.

It's kind of funny because I taught one when he was a freshman and he looked really mortified when I told him what was going on. I gave them my schedule for when I'm at school and that's usually when they play. In the evenings, I gave them a copy of my test schedule and they're pretty quiet for a couple nights ahead of time.

Apparently, I was also very scary when I banged on their door one night around midnight before a quantum mechanics final and explained that I had an exam in less than 8 hours.

I also give them baked goods when they're particularly quiet during a bad week for me.

Thank goodness, we're moving to a house for next year.

My hubby got me a freestanding boxing bag for Xmas this year... and I've barely used it for the same reason you're talking about. This thing SHAKES the whole house... I live in a duplex, so I only have one set of neighbors to worry about.

I've decided last week to start using it again--- usually I have at least a half hour after I get home before my neighbor pulls in the drive, so I know I have that amount of time at least to get in some punches!

As for a bigger apartment complex... I dunno... that's a tough one!