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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: How do you make time for working out?
by Stephanie Drury 
Jan 19th 2011 at 8:00AM
A recent NPC comic strip touched on an issue I find very near and not quite dear to my ... mid section. It has one of the main characters admitting he's gained some weight; he then suggests that a rule be enacted that he cannot play WoW until he has worked out.
Sounds simple, right? Some would say that depends on your level of self-control and willpower. Having tried this rule myself, I also say it depends on your raid schedule, your work schedule and any unexpected overtime, the traffic levels on your drive home, what's for dinner ... There is so much to this balancing act that such a rule is tough to keep in place. Do you make 24 people counting on you to be in a raid wait for you or replace you while you do your workout regimen?
An obvious rebuttal: Work out in the morning! Well, as the comic strip characters find out, that doesn't always pan out either. On a regular day I get up at 5 a.m., which is plenty early enough for me without a workout on top of it.
How do you balance your gaming habits and health concerns? Do you work out in the morning? Do you have a rule in place as the comic characters did, that you can't play til you work out? Or perhaps you're one of the lucky people who just have a high metabolism? /jealous
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Guest Posts
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 8)
Ozzard Jan 19th 2011 8:57AM
... so has your weight loss accelerated since Cata came out?
Aaron Jan 19th 2011 2:16PM
I used to take a shot every time I died. Maybe I should start using your method. HAHA!
Chris Jan 19th 2011 8:29AM
I was a Karate player before I started working at age 18, I havent worked out in the last 13 years, when I started playing WoW in 2009 lol it made me even go for walks on weekends or evenings, WoW is a bad influence on people like me. Not blaming the game but myself actually to constantly play it as soon as I get free time. Though I am changing those habits, cos that belly belly aint gonna slim itself ;)
Coopaloop Jan 19th 2011 8:31AM
I go to Army PT. Easy lol
Mike Jan 19th 2011 8:30AM
Its not a set schedule, but about 4-5 times a week, after I get home, I work out for about 30-45 minutes, usually listening to gaming podcasts while on the exercise bike or going for a run.
And really, I never put the game in front of anything real life. But then... I'm not a raider and really not interested in the job-like time schedule I would have to keep. But reality should always come first.
Sturmovic Jan 19th 2011 8:33AM
I spearfish.
Anyone for spearfishing solidarity?
(I'm anticipating /crickets)
snowtread Jan 19th 2011 8:41AM
I do actually. Since my son was born I'll do stretches and floor excersizes (nothing too strenuous though) before logging in.
quasarsglow Jan 19th 2011 8:36AM
I joined a couple of excercise classes.
24 people waiting on you to raid or 24 people who you have to make an excuse *about a computer game* to face to face. Which is harder to deal with?
I can still get home, eat dinner (thank you boyfriend!), and jump online for a few dailies before showering/bed.
OR just set a schedule. Work out 2 hours 2-3 days a week. Raid around those days. Most groups raid on a schedule, work out around that schedule. You may feel obligated to bring flasks/food for everyone, but ask others to drop mats/gold for them in your mail or the bank if they want em. Farm for yourself plus 2 that is more than reasonable. You don't have to farm for 25.
ptay313 Jan 19th 2011 8:38AM
Working out? What is this "Working out" you speak of? It sounds like a lot of work.
I think I'll go level my hunter now.
VF Jan 19th 2011 8:39AM
Army PT. Try the "100 Push-Up" program, which only takes a few minutes a day, followed by flutter kicks. It takes roughly ten minutes a day to be in good shape, done twice a day. The worst part, though, is finding the energy to go run two miles...so, what I have been doing is queuing DPS for a heroic, go run and shower, and by the time I get back I STILL have 20+ min to wait.
Ilya Jan 19th 2011 8:59AM
I'd completely forgotten about this.
Yes, the Army PT program works WONDERS. It's been a few years since I last did any of the Army PT, and I'm not too keen on hopping back into it... because once you fall out of it, it's a BITCH to get used to again. Once you've been doing it for a while (a little while each morning before breakfast), it doesn't hurt as much, but to get into it or BACK into it... that's painful. Pain thricefold... for a while. After a while, it doesn't hurt as much, and that's a good thing.
If only I'd kept up with it... ah well. Good advice all the same.
Hraklea Jan 19th 2011 5:19PM
Regular days: Breakfast -> Gym -> Job + Lunch -> University -> Dinner -> Sleep
Raid days: Breakfast -> Job + Lunch -> University -> Raid + Dinner -> Sleep
I raid on weekends whenever it is possible, but this is my usual schedule.
Gribs Jan 19th 2011 8:43AM
It's just a matter of whether you want it bad enough. If you make it a priority, the same way you make raiding a priority, you'll find the time. Maybe it's cutting out an hour of tv a day, or not running the daily heroic. I just know that I've never met someone who said "I just don't have time" that really didn't have time. If you want to be stronger, or leaner, or bigger, or whatever it is that you want, you'll find the time.
MusedMoose Jan 19th 2011 8:47AM
Well said. Also, if you start working out and see results, that alone will serve as motivation to keep working out. I'm not going to be strutting around with my shirt off anytime soon (or possibly ever), but after three months of sticking to my routine, I can see how much it's helped me, and that makes it that much easier to keep it up.
MusedMoose Jan 19th 2011 8:46AM
I work out twice a week in the morning and both days of the weekend. I've found that the trick to it is to get on a schedule and make yourself stick to it - for me, Tuesday and Thursday morning, I've got my medicine ball and I'm doing a workout, no matter how much I don't feel like it. I'm also taking up jogging this weekend, as my current workouts don't have enough cardio and I'd like to lose some of this belly fat.
I think the only time WoW might get in the way of my workouts is when I'm playing on a weekend afternoon and I realize that it's 3:30 and I have to stop playing so I can go work out. ^_^
On the plus side, it's my best friend (who got me back into WoW several years ago) who inspired me to get into better shape after telling me how much her workouts were helping her, and when I finally got to see her last month after two years, she looked at me and said that now *she* has to work out more. Mutual circle of inspiration FTW.
Mitino Jan 19th 2011 10:32AM
MusedMoose, I agree with you that getting into the schedule is that hardest part. I see it all to often that a new face comes into the gym for a week, then doesn't return.
The first 2-3 weeks are absolutely critical if you want to regularly go to the gym and workout. During this time you need to make sure that you go on every day that you planned to, no excuses (Making excuses not to go is so easy, I know from experience :P). After 3 weeks or so, going to the gym just becomes a habit (a good one too!). After 2 years of working out, the first thing I do after work is go to the gym. I don't even have to think about it, I just do it.
Greyhame Jan 19th 2011 8:47AM
Mainly you just need to find a time to insert it into your life. It doesn't need to be everyday, but it should be semi-regularly. Some people are better at this than others. Also, you may need to accept that fact that you may have to do less of X to fit it in, or skip if you can't make the time.
GammaGuru Jan 19th 2011 8:49AM
I realized that a lot of my WoW time is spent on simple tedious tasks. I've been looking into the Darwiinremote software, so I can farm ore or fish while on the treadmill with Wiimotes in hand. If only Blizzard and Steelseries would get together on some type of wireless but efficient controls. For now, I'll throw a laptop in front of the treadmill, and maybe feed a small TV on the wall, and nunchuk my way around Uldum or TH.
BMEgal2 Jan 19th 2011 8:49AM
I bought a little bike that fits under my desk from Brookstone. I can play WoW and bike for as long as I want...hard 20-min workout, slow pedaling for 60 min, intervals, whatever. Great way to kill two birds with one stone!
Urza Jan 19th 2011 8:48AM
I get up, I go to work. Does work count as exercise? :)