Fear of Flab---Does anybody have time to work out?

just to deal with the stress. I make time to do it even I always feel a ton better after.

You state I-banking is you destiny...? Are you following in someones footsteps? I never heard someone say being a banker was their destiny.

Can you just up and go to the gym in the middle of the day? Or do you have to make time in the morning or at night?

I know an MD who MAKES people from his group work out for an hour 3 days a week. It is obviously not required, but I think everyone eats up the opprotunity. They go for about an hour in the evening, and then most associates/analysts go back to work, while others go home. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, and it originally started with the ol' guy simply wanting some company.

you just have to build a routine and sick to it now matter how hellish your week. i wake up at 6am everyday and run/pushups/sit ups/ etc. you hate yourself the first 2-3 weeks but if you stick to the plan it becomes clockwork.

Not really related to the posting, but to the OP, classic fucking name dude.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9-D-0_jX1O0

Daytime won't be a possibility. Night time is only a good bet if you know you won't be busy. As unpredictable as your days are, if you rely on going at night you'll miss days at the gym pretty consistently. The only way to make it happen is going in the mornings.

I've read a few different places about people going to the gym at like 5 or 6 PM, when the "regular workday" ends, before the night work (for analysts/associates) begins. Is this common, or more unique like the example PatrickBateman described?

I try to work out during the week, and usually use the gym in our office (as it's more convenient and way nicer than any commercial gym) around 9pm. Gotta bring the blackberry with you, of course.

It actually works out quite well in that it provides a decent break from work, and because principals / partners generally come up with additional to-do items as soon as they get home, so it's pretty easy to knock out their requests post-workout / pre-heading home.

I agree with GameTheory. The only real way to consistently get to the gym is in the morning, which is very hard to get accustomed to at first.

"I-banking is my destiny"? Come on dude.

You just have to make fitness a priority. At this point, you can't be sure how your body will react to the schedule so it's hard to speculate about what time of day will work best for you. After you start you could spend a couple weeks trying to workout at different times of the day. See which times your schedule allows and then seriously commit to going. Don't let tiredness, a girlfriend, the weekend, etc. be an excuse not to go.

Here are some things that work for my friends:
1. One goes to the gym without fail at 5.30am M-F. Sometimes that means she only sleeps 2-3 hrs.
2. Another friend does push ups and crunches at home before going to work. Then he uses lunch for a fast 3mi run (20min) and a quick shower.
3. And one does a really intense workout at home for just 20min 4x/wk right after work. It's mainly stuff that manipulates his own body weight, so he doesn't need a gym.

It's possible to stay relatively fit while banking, but it is VERY, VERY easy to get extremely out of shape. I did that in my first year and then recovered a lot with steady exercise this year.

Keys to success:

1) Establish a regular pattern for going to the gym... days/times. Either early in the morning or late at night is best. NEVER MAKE AN EXCUSE NOT TO GO, EVER.

Even if I've only slept 2 hours, I go. If I've been up all night, I go.

Yes, exercise is less effective when you have barely any sleep, but it's about making sure you're consistent and persistent with your exercise.

2) Diet - resist the temptation to go to restaurants all the time. Spend your money on groceries at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's or other similar stores.

Eat 5-6 meals throughout the day rather than big ones at night... those kill you.

Just avoid all junk food, avoid sugar, etc.

If you can, I would strongly recommend setting up a time to go at night and clearing it with others in your office... a lot easier to go at night vs. in the morning/past midnight.

More investment banking fitness tips.

Here's a question...What time does the gym open in the morning at a big bank with "in-house" gym? Also, do only the BB banks have the "in house" gyms?

Would it be appropriate to come to work with "work-out" clothes on and do the gym routine real early and then shower and get dressed up? Or, come to work dressed up, undress, work out, shower, redress?

Does anyone have any real experience seeing this happen or do it themselves, not just speculation?

Thanks

Good question. On the same note, if I work out in-house in the evening: AFTER work out and shower, do I have to suit up again if it's say 10 pm and all superiors are gone? Or can I just wear adidas casual for the rest of the night at my cubicle? I mean, nobody's there to care right?

thanks

bump

Another question/idea: do people ever keep a dumbbell at their desk to do curls/extensions/light presses during down time? Or do pushups and calisthenics next to their desk á la Ari Gold?

"I don't know if you heard me counting, but I did over a hundred. I can barely move my right arm..."

haha, nice.

Just watch out for the guns—they'll get you.