How To Gym In Your Lunch Break

In an ideal world, I’d wake up at 6am, work out before work and not feel tired throughout the day. Or, I would feel super energetic after work and manage to fit in a work out, food prep, shower, and blogging. Unfortunately, I don’t. To either of these. Rather than throw in the towel and commit to being a lazy couch potato (it’s definitely appealing!) I decided to give a lunch hour workout a go. I figured shorter workouts were better than no workouts, and so far it’s WORKING OUT well. Ha.

The only problem is no one wants to come back from lunch a hot red mess, and I don’t have time to get to and from the gym, work out, shower and eat. So I’ve been doing the ‘shower in a bottle’ method. Also known as product the hell up until you can get home and shower. Probably slightly gross, but I have never smelled yet so I thought I would share my wisdom on how to fake being fresh after a workout. I am very wise after all.

You will need…

Dry Shampoo

Sweat is not your hair’s friend, unless you like sticky, congealed hair. After working out, I brush my hair, blast it with dry shampoo and give it a quick once over with a hair dryer. You honestly can’t even tell I was pounding the treadmill! I use bastiste at the moment, which I know isn’t the greatest out there but it’s cheap and cheerful and does a good job for what I need.

Invisibobble

Speaking of hair, I’ve found the Invisibobble quite useful for my gym goings. My hair kinks within five minutes of being up, even faster if it’s up and I’m sweating. The Invisibobble definitely reduces kinks, meaning I can put my hair down after the gym (and you know, a lot of dry shampoo..).

A towel

Although you can’t stop yourself from sweating mid work out, blotting it away with a towel stops any sweat from dripping down, taking your makeup and dignity with it. I blot during workouts, and afterwards I give myself a once over in the changing rooms to absorb any sweat patches.

Baby wipes

Towels might get rid of excess sweat but it certainly doesn’t get rid of dodgy smells. Years of festivals have taught me that if you can’t shower, baby wipes are the next best thing. Not only do they help to de-smell you, they are cooling and refreshing. A must have after a session!

Deodorant

This one is obvious, but some times you just have to say the obvious things. I prefer a spray deodorant when I’m in a rush, as it’s less stick and means I can give my whole body a quick spray.

Body Spray

The nice smelling kind. Although baby wipes and deodorant do a bang on job of ensuring you leave the gym smelling clean, body spray means you go beyond clean and smell nice. I tend to use body spray on my body, and perfume on top of my clothes. I practically smell beautiful after my workout!

Face spray

If you’re anything like me, after a workout you will probably look like a tomato. Thanks to primers and setting sprays, my makeup actually stays in place during exercise but there’s no denying my red glow. I’ve been using Temple Spa’s Toning Essence, which comes in a spray bottle, as the spray is cooling and the ingredients are soothing.

I’ve been really enjoying my lunch time workouts, I find they leave me a lot more energised and motivated for the afternoon. It also means I have more time in the evening to be productive, and less time to spend all my money on stuff I don’t need. Half an hour may not be the most calorie burning workout, but I’d much rather fit the gym into my life than fit my life around the gym as I’m more likely to keep it up!

Would you ever go to the gym in your lunch break?