4 tips for working out on your lunch hour

Our desire to perform in all the roles of our life (parents, workers, spouses, etc.) has the consequence of filling our days… to the maximum! Sometimes there just isn't time to move. If you feel this way, you are far from alone in this situation!

So, on train when in all this?

Some prefer to train in the wee hours of the morning, others at dinner time, while a few will enjoy ending their day with this moment of solitude.

If you are looking for THE miracle method, you can immediately stop looking, it does not exist! We all have different habits and rhythms of life, which means that one thing that works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. On the other hand, I must admit having a slight penchant for training over dinner time.

The benefits of being physically active at lunchtime

Without going there with an exhaustive list of the benefits of moving during the workday, let us simply mention the reduction of stress, the increase in productivity and concentration as well as the absence of family constraints.

We also do a lot of good for our body and our eyes, which sometimes spend too much time behind a computer, looking at pixels. Breaking the monotony has never had so many benefits!

As mentioned above, moving around on your lunch hour is also an opportune time in our schedule. In fact, you keep precious minutes of sleep by not training in the wee hours of the morning. In addition, for most people, the energy level is also significantly higher than at 21 p.m. at night when the kids are in bed and the dishes are done ... and that's assuming you have the motivation. necessary to accomplish said training!

In addition, the chances of your training going down the drain by forgetting your oldest's skate lessons are pretty low on a Tuesday noon!

Without further ado, here are 4 tips for training on your lunch hour:

  1. Choice of activity

As you have a fairly small window of time, it is essential to select an activity that will require very little organization. We think here of walking, running, weight training or yoga.

All it takes is a few pieces of clothing / equipment such as a Altterre and presto, voila!

We also want to avoid driving as much as possible to get to the place where the activity will be carried out: it is better to transform these minutes into training!

2. Intensities

Do you think it's not worth going out and moving unless you are running for at least 1 hour? Think again! You would be really surprised to see the physiological and psychological benefits of a little workout of less than 20 minutes!

For example, if you go for a run, a short 5 minute warm-up followed by a few bursts of speed to finally go with a 5-minute cool-down will certainly get you hot.

You could also have fun by going there with a workout like Fartlek or weight training session a little more intense than usual!

On the other hand, one point should be specified: each person has different physical capacities as well as different objectives. So for Guillaume, walking 20 minutes is more than enough, while for Louis, the same period of time must be maximized by practically maximum physical effort. The important thing, in the end, is that each person is well and maintains good habits!

3. organization

As mentioned above, you have little time in front of you so you better be prepared in order to maximize everything. This implies that your training bag is ready the day before, as much as possible. You could also leave some clothes / equipment in the office or in your car to avoid carrying them around continuously.

For girls, hair can sometimes be a complex issue! Without going into an exhaustive list of solutions in this regard, know the girls that you can play with your workout depending on your hair wash cycle! Why not go for a milder activity when your hair is freshly washed and more intense activities when the hair wash is on the menu?

The lunchbox is also a big player. Make sure you have a full lunch before you leave in the morning because a stop in the cafeteria or even in the restaurant will waste precious minutes.

4. Food

Speaking of lunch, add enough items that you can consume before and after your workout. A small rule of thumb would be to prioritize a light snack at least 30 minutes before your activity and then tackle your main meal once the workout is over. That being said, everyone is different so this formula may not be right for you. If so, don't hesitate to give it a try!

If you are interested in sports nutrition and are wondering about which foods to prioritize before training, I invite you to read Caroline Toupin's article, What to eat before you run? which offers you a lot of interesting advice on the subject.

If lunchtime workout isn't part of your routine, I highly suggest you give it a go! Who knows, maybe it will become a new habit!

Good training!

author avatar
Claude godbout Project Manager
Former member of the national biathlon team and world champion in obstacle courses, physical activity has a special place in my daily life.

2 thoughts on “4 tips for training on your lunch hour”

  1. Hello,
    Since the pandemic, I have been forced to telework. Plus closing of gyms,! The beads quickly resumed their place.
    I am an early riser who did my workouts in the morning.
    I must say that since I took a break over dinner time and took the opportunity to do my sports activities, I have seen my concentration, my patience, my morale and my energy in the afternoon improve. .
    This is great advice! Thank you

    Reply

Answer Daniel Riou Cancel reply

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