I am so frustrated. I'm taking 18 credits with 3 labs, and to pay the rent I need to work at least 25 hours a week at an on call job, which also requires a few hours of driving time. I'm usually out of my house at 7am, and sometimes I don't get back home until 9 or 11pm.

Where do you fit the exercise in, and how do you have the energy to do it?

When I was in university almost had your exact schedule.. So Samesies.. lol..
I was a science major.. Full load 5 classes 4-5 labs per semester.. I also worked part time at a Pharmacy as a Tec for anywhere from 20-25 hours a week. What I did was exercise during my breaks.. Lots of colleges and universities have gyms right on campus. With membership fees already built in to your tuition. So it is freeish.. I had a 1.5 hour break on M W and F and a 2 hour break on T, Th. So I took that time to run to the gym get in an hour workout and shower if I was really gross or not if I was just doing weight training.. I scheduled it and never missed it.. I said I had gym class.. So if you have any breaks thats what I would do.. I also did pushup and situps at home before bed..

Nick

You just do it... I got up early somedays and did the whole gym thing before going to class and sometimes I went when I got out of class or off of work...its about committing to doing it... I took the full class load, did undergrad research which required a ton of meetings and work and I also worked 30 hours a week just during the week not on weekends... you make time for things that are important... and no it isnt easy and sometimes you have to tell friends no you cant go out to eat with them because you have things that are more important...

Hi Everlasting!

I am a college student as well and understand how hard it is to find time to exercise. I am on a varsity team which helps but i still try to find time to go for a run every once in a while. I would recommend that you give running a try because not only is it good for you, but it helps to release stress and is a good way to clear your mind! If you make time to do it I'm sure you'll feel better! Good luck with everything

I had that same type of schedule in undergrad ... wanna hear what happened to me? I gain 80 pounds in 5 years and hit 300 pounds.

I then went to law school which requires a ridiculous amount of studying and limits credit hours and work hours. However because of all the time you spend studying most people gain a substantial amount of weight, I didn't. I made a lifestyle decision and started eating healthy and scheduled time in during my day to exercise (even if it was only 10 minutes here 30 minutes there). If you can't exercise then really focus on your eating and eating a lower number of calories (making them nutritionally worth it) so that you lose weight. I didn't exercise for 2 months after my gallbladder surgery (doctor orders) 9 months after I had my Tummy Tuck and didn't gain weight because I focused on food.

unemployed+12 units= my reason for going.

But to answer your question, have you considered signing up for a class on-campus next semester? I took an aerobics class that kicked my butt twice a week...so at least it was something. Now, when things get busy, I'll head over to the campus-gym between classes...I figure, 20 minutes on the elliptical is better than 20 minutes on my butt. Or I put a DVD work-out on when I get home. Some of them are as short as 20 minutes. I'll take 20 minutes less of sleep.

I think Nick has the best solution for your problem. I mean every university has some sort of gym, track or something you can go and work out on.
Dr. Oz says if you only work out 30 minutes of day 5 days a week, you can lose weight.

and u can try walking to your classes, a light job maybe. and if you want, do a ten minute workout when you get up or go to sleep, whichever feels more comfortable to you really.

hope this has helped you.

I'm a full-time student... and so busy! I normally hit the gym up like 10pm most nights when I go since it's the only time I can fit it in. Also, the weirder the hour, the less empty.

Yeah, I actually did sign up for a couple classes next semester, so I will have 4 days a week at least scheduled into my classes and my boss can't make me work at that time. And next semester I will be getting a gym pass. Our gym is a bit off campus so it takes a greater time commitment than I sometimes have, and when it's -40 degrees outside, it's hard to find the extra motivation to want a 20 minute walk outdoors. It's just too expensive right now for me. I will work more over winter break and be able to pay for it when the next session starts.

I do exercise. I mean, I dance regularly, and I walk everywhere. It just doesn't seem aerobic enough. Getting a DVD to go along with might be a good idea for me, that way I could just pop it in when I get home or something and go from there.

Thanks everyone; I just need more motivation. This week is really hard... heh...

Remember that every bit you do counts--so if you think it's not worth it because you only have 20 minutes, wrong.

What doesn't work: Going to the gym instead of dinner. That's how I worked exercise into my college schedule and I gained it all back and then some.

I'm only a freshman in college but what I've found helps me get to the gym is just having my gym stuff with me all the time. It can be annoying to lug shoes and a change of clothes around but it is really handy when I have a short break and can just run to the gym for as long as possible, and going right after class keeps me from falling into 'but my dorm room is so comfy and I don't want to leave' trap. I also bring work with me, like reading and flash cards and things that are easy enough to do while walking on the treadmill, that way I can get some educational benefits out of it as well as the exercise.

My freshman year I gained a lot of weight, and the years after that I kind of just made sure I regulated my eating and walked. Everywhere. Our campus wasn't that spread out, but I was fortunate in that I always lived slightly far from my classes, so I'd walk. And if I had a long break between classes, I'd walk back to my room, hang out, then walk back to class.

I think I went to the gym a total of 3 times in my 4 years there. I also tried to work swimming into my day. As someone said, its kind of a pain to lug that stuff with you, but I had a class in the same building as the pool, so I'd swim either before or after that class, depending on my time.

I have morning work and afternoon classes so I exercise in the afternoon. For me it is all about how to manage time properly. If I don't structure my week really well it all falls apart and I will never go.

The cable package my roommates and I have has On Demand, so we get free movies and TV shows whenever we want. Recently, I discovered that we have exercise on demand, too! There are a TON of short exercise programs that you can do whenenever you want--aerobics, pilates, ab workouts, etc. If you have cable and an On Demand sort of program, this is definitely worth looking into!

When my friends and I were in college, we also tried to follow Billy Blanks tae bo tapes whenever we could. It was a blast. Try to get someone to do it with you; so much more fun that way.