Investment banking and going to the gym
I'm pretty much a gym freak and am worried that banking is going to cut into my workout time. While I'm willing to sacrifice some workout time, I pretty much need an hour a day to lift, etc. Are most of you guys able to hit the gym every day? Is it any easier for associates to escape during the day than analyst?
Is it Possible to Exercise at Work as an Investment Banker?
Everyone knows that the banking schedule is tough. It’s not uncommon to work more than 80 hours in a week, and it’s not guaranteed that you’ll get time during the day to escape. If you want to stay in shape as a banker, here are some general tips from the WSO community:
- Just make time if it's important to you
- Hour for lunch/dinner=hour for gym (if you have a gym in your building that is)
- Join a gym that is near your office and open 24 hours (or at least extended hours)
- Some groups will explicitly say when you can go to the gym in the evening
- Go in the morning
- Make sure you get your work done and you should be able to find ways to fit in a work out
- If you do get to leave, make sure everyone knows where you’ll be
- Stick to a strict schedule for working out
Sample Workout Schedule in Banking
Certified Investment Banking Analyst @F9 - Update" shared this sample plan for how to exercise even when you have long hours:
If you eat your lunch/dinner at your desk, doesn't it make sense to duck out for an hour to work out? When you return to your desk, you can work while eating.
- 5 mins there
- 5 mins change
- 60 mins workout
- 10 mins shower
- 5 mins change
- 5 mins back
That's an hour and a half. If you can cut your workout to 30 mins and shower quicker, than maybe you could be gone from your desk for a cumulative one hour.
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I wouldn't get your hopes up if you want to get any sleep. Most of those that I know working as analysts this summer are getting home around 2am every night and getting to the office at like 8:30. But I guess you could go early if you can still function on 4 hours of sleep every night...
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Hmmm. I actually know very few analysts going home at 2. They all work in oil and gas. Most are stragiht chilling, somewhat bored actually. Banking is sllooooowww right now.
Who the hell lifts then only sleeps for 4 hours? You'll never achieve any gains with that little sleep.
just make time if it's important to you. hour for lunch/dinner=hour for gym (if you have a gym in ur building that is)
My group lets us go to the gym in the evenings for an hour or two, and it's notorious for how bad it's hours are.
It's just a question of whether you get your stuff done.
well, I'm not going to be an analyst, so maybe that will help a bit. Unfortunately, the gym is a few blocks from the building.
There must be some serious lifters doing banking.
Most days I just go after I come back from work, unless its past 1 am.
I used to do that, but I find that I'm way more productive if I can break up my day with a workout.
I can usually make time either during lunch or before dinner 3 nights a week or so. It's really just a matter of making it a priority.
If you eat your lunch/dinner at your desk, doesn't it make sense to duck out for an hour to work out? When you return to your desk, you can work while eating.
Also, if you need to actually be lifting for an hour, how long do you expect to be gone from you desk?
5 mins there 5 mins change 60 mins workout 10 mins shower 5 mins change 5 mins back
That's an hour and a half. If you can cut your workout to 30 mins and shower quicker, than maybe you could be gone from you desk for a cumulative one hour.
who the hell lifts 7x a week, you make gains on OFF days not at the gym. go 3x a week and eat right and youll be fine and its certainly doable.
I lift about 5 days a week plus I do brazilian jiu jitsu a couple of days a week. At my level, 3 times a week isn't sufficient.
sacrifice
Kimbo, it just doesn't work this way (unless you're at VP+ level). No one gives a s..t about your "need" to go to the gym daily - you are expected to work and are expected to have only 1 priority - work. Maybe 2 times a week for a new analyst - in case he works well the rest of the time. But the way you want it to be is just totally unacceptable. You should be not a "gym freak", but rather an "IBD freak" to start with.
Sorry Ivan, but that aint gonna work for me. I'm not some 22 year old kid. If it doesn't work out, I'll just quit - it's that simple.
If you're really that dedicated, then get up in the mornings. That's what I did while I was in banking. I was in the gym five times a week. I was in a late group, so depending on the day I would be in the gym between 6 and 7:30. Even if I got home at 3 or 4AM I'd get up and work out. I felt better physically and mentally throughout the day, and I didn't spend time worrying about if my workload would allow me to take an hour after dinner. If you're too lazy to get up in the mornings, then there's no guaruntee you'll get in five times a week, simple as that.
Here is my workout routine from my summer. Pretty comprehensive workout plan for someone who drank a shit ton in college and wanted to get into shape over the summer, while also interning at a BB. Four keys - to get jacked/stay ripped you need to lift, eat, sleep, and sweat.
Lifting: Between Monday-Wed - hit the gym once for 1.5 hours, do chest and arms Between Thursday-Sat - hit the gym once for 1.5 hours, do back and shoulders Sundays - legs (I always had time on Sundays, some of you might not)
So during the week I worked out 3 times, for a total of 4-5 hours, always lifting heavy. On days I didn't lift, I did 25 pushups when I woke up, some sit ups, manual squats, just to keep my muscles kicking.
Sweating: I did light cardio every day - even if it meant running back and forth doing suicides in my 30 foot apartment. Break a sweat Every Single Day. This is key to shedding the fat.
Eating: In terms of eating, eat breakfast at 9 am (Eat breakfast every day! when you wake up it really energizes you. Also, Red Bull is disgusting on an empty stomach), a fruit-based snack between 10-11, lunch between 12-2, bigger snack between 3-5, and small dinner 6-8. Then a meal at least as big as dinner around 10. Bed by 3 am, solid 6 hours of sleep every night.
The balanced eating keeps your metabolism going.
My lifestyle at school is fratty, so I was really out of shape at the beginning of the summer (210 lbs. and 16% body fat). On my eighth week I weighted 200 with 11% body fat. And my bench went up like 35-40 lbs. So while working an average of 75 hours a week, I managed to get stronger, lose fat, and get in overall better health. I DID get a solid amount of sleep too - at least 6 hours a night, and at least 7 a couple of nights a week.
I only drank on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and only got really wasted on Fridays and Saturdays. Alcohol is a killer for the Saturday morning workouts, though, so sometimes I did my workout later in the afternoon rather than the morning.
The key is to realize that when you DO have time to work out, go heavy, but the actual lifting of weights is just one small part. Breaking a sweat every day, shedding fat, and eating in a healthy way that keeps you energized is all crucial.
Also, trust me, in banking looks and physical appearance DO matter. The social/networking aspect of this is aided. And also, how many really out of shape associates make VP? Maybe it was just my bank but they all seemed to look like athletes.
There is no reason to be lifting for more than 30-40 min. at a time. Unless you are an Olympic-level athlete or a professional bodybuilder, if you are lifting for 1 hour+, you are sitting around a lot of the time. Experiment with shorter rest times, you get much better results.
45 minutes is reasonable, 30 mins is cutting it too close.
45 minutes is reasonable, 30 mins is cutting it too close.
I lift 3x/week. Any of my routines is
45 minutes is reasonable, 30 mins is cutting it too close.
I feel like I've seen this thread about 10 times.
Looks matter in IB? What about that little thing called work? Does work matter in IB?
f9 - work matters more, looks matter too, though less.
i'd rather work with a good looking dude then a fat dude.
I think ideating is the only one in this thread who actually knows what he's talking about.
Are you a faggot, big unit?
You lift for 5 hours over three visits to the gym? Do you know anything about fitness or do you just pump iron to look good for your associate? If you really want to "get jacked" don't listen to this clown. You should be lifting for a maximum of 45 minutes with very little rest between circuits and sets. And you're not going to fucking shed fat by running thirty feet I don't care how many times you run around like an idiot in your apartment.
Are you a bigot, partyingtoohard? There's plenty of ways to lift and stay in shape. If you don't think you can get a work out running suicides of 30 feet, you're an idiot. And you'd seriously rather work in an office w/ an obsese dude than someone who stays in shape & eats well? Give me a break.
my post was meant to be sarcastic. Of course your work product matters more.
partyingtoohard - the hell is wrong with you? Unbelievably stupid response to my post of what I actually did workout-wise while still working 75-80 hours a week.
Different people have different styles of working out. For me, I didn't have many days to go to the gym since I worked a lot... so when I DID go to the gym I worked out multiple body parts (ie arms AND chest on the same day, back AND shoulders on the same day). I'm sure if you are in PWM you have plenty of time to go the gym everyday, do a single body part for 45 minutes, and then relax all day. In IB the three 6 hour periods a week I had off from work during the day I maximized my working out.
Also, yes, running suicides going back and forth over a 30 foot apartment IS a good cardio workout compared to the alternative - which is nothing. Sometimes you don't have time to go to the gym. Dumbass.
Everything I am saying would make sense to someone in IB and who tries to works out. So either you have never worked out for, aren't in IB, or are fat and depressed. I'm not gay, but when I go out with people from work I like being with people who don't attract negative attention. Its one of those "being in good shape is better than not" things.
But then, I see that you are a 'prospective monkey' so your opinions don't matter haha. You'll find that you can't just workout like you can in college when you are in IB, so you have to incorporate advice like my own in order to stay in shape.
Either way, don't be a dumbass.
Actually, partyingtoohard, I just realized you are a graduating high school senior (aren't you deciding between some non-targets or something.
Are you kidding me? You are telling me how to workout while in IB and you're like 16.
whoa, triple post.
Everyone has reasons for quitting. I am curious to know why working out is so important that you would quit a job if you couldn't work out.
Also, when I first read your post, you reminded me of this douche, no offense.
"Everyone should fucking see how jacked and tan I am."
yeah, sorry about that.
It's just that as I've gotten older, I've come to realize that working out and staying healthy are more important to me than any job I might have.
I would miss days here or there (I usually lift 2 or 3 days on, one day off and sometimes I would resort to lifting every other day), but overall I was able to lift pretty consistently. I mean, if you're looking to put on size it will be difficult, but I was just looking to maintain what I had in college and keep the bad weight off.
I'm just looking to maintain until I find a job with a better lifestyle
....that working out for 1 hr every day probably improves your productivity so much, that it actually ends up saving you time by the end of each day?
If you're going home at 2am more than once a week, you're doing something wrong. Maybe this is it.
Frankly, whenever my energy level is highest. I know a lot of guys who pound a red bull or coffee and then go lift but I think that is really stupid.
Be honest with yourself, how much time do you spend sitting around the gym? If you go in with the mindset that you are there to do work, lift heavy and get out, you can drastically cut down your lifting time. It's ok to admit that you flex in the mirror, etc. but realize there is a time cost associated with it. The biggest gains are when you limit yourself to 1 min. max for rest with 90 seconds for big lifts (squats, bench).
I agree to an extent that minimizing your rest time is best for growth, but if you're doing heavy compounds to failure, I think even three minutes is reasonable rest time. Obviously that'd be ridiculous for something like tricep extensions, but when you're going balls to the wall on a set, sometimes 1.5 minutes is a tad too short for rest before the next set.
Like I said earlier, I don't expect to make any gains while working in banking, but it would be nice to maintain my strength (405 bench) and maybe even get in slightly better cardio shape. My goal is to lift about 4 days a week and do brazilian jiu jitsu 2 days a week.
How about circuit training? It cuts down greatly on rest. Better yet, if you're badass enough (not sarcasm), go HIIT.
What exactly is HIIT training?
Circuit training/HIIT are great to improve endurance and cardiovascular/aerobic ability, but I wouldn't rely on them alone to build/maintain mass.
That said, after one or two big compound lifts, if I'm running short on time I often throw in hard, fast sets of any of the following to break a sweat, get winded, and generally knock the crap out of myself really quickly so I feel like I got in a full workout:
-Dumbbell swings
-renegade man makers (http://www.gymjones.com/schedule.php?date=20051123)
-High-pull deadlift
-erg (rowing machine) sprints - 100 m on, 45 seconds off or 50 m on, 30 sec off
-w/45 lb (or higher) bar: 5xBarbell curl, 10xOH Press, 15xBent Row, 20xLunges (bar on shoulders) for time of
I wouldn't recommend doing HIIT when you still have a lot of work to do afterwards. HIIT leads to exhaustion. Lifting weights in a short period of time is okay, you're not going to be dead tired afterwards. I don't think most people can say the same about HIIT if you're doing it properly.
Have you tried ROM? It's a full range of motion exercise machine, and apparently Tom Cruise and Silvester Stallone has one. You only do 4 minutes a day, one day upper, one day lower, for 5 days. Here is a link to the video: http://www.fastexercise.com/media/video1.html
You plan on doing BJJ on weekend or something?? Don't see how you could consistently train BJJ in banking at all. I have a hard enough time doing lifting and BJJ with college and a part time job, and I am just a student.
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all
I'll probably do bjj on saturday and try one day a week. Like I said, I'm not trying to be some super associate - just want to do what I have to do.
ROMs are like bowflex but more of a ripoff
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all
I heard Bowflex works though.
Where you gonna train - Renzos? Ronins ? If anything written on here about IB associate lifestyle is true, godspeed to lifting 5x a week and bjj 2x a week. I don't see how you will make it a month in IB without going crazy from missing workouts and BJJ.
Cash, Rules, Everything, Around, Me C.R.E.A.M. Get the money Dollar, dollar bill y'all
Have any of you ever looked into Crossfit? It usually only takes like 20-30 minutes but will totally work everything. Its a different workout everyday. If I get an ib job one day, hopefully I can get some people in my group to go workout like this.
Kimbo--you should be able to pull off the workouts, but honestly, the martial arts may have to go. I started doing some martial arts back in the military and tried to continue with classes in New York post b-school, but my schedule was just too random.
I found it almost impossible to fit into any sort of a schedule during the week, and I was just doing S&T (granted, a commodities desk, so some of the longest hours on the floor, and also doing sales, which often has quite a bit longer hours than trading). The problem is that I never know when I am going to get home, and just when you think you may make it out in time for a 9pm class you end up stuck at work past that and end up paying for classes that you miss 9 times out of 10.
So I just found it very tough to fit into any sort of a regular schedule for anything that requires a set class time. That said, anything you do on your own (i.e. gym time) is doable.
Also consider this--in IBD and S&T there are literally tons of people who were athletes in college, fitness freaks, prior military, etc. Now consider how many people in finance are a shadow of their former selves, physically.
The problem is that you only have a very small amount of free time and at first its easy to just focus on not getting fired and keeping in shape. But then you start to add a significant other, God forbid you actually try to get a hobby, etc. and all of a sudden you have no free time and you're burnt out. Yes, it would be great to quit, but by that time you're hooked on the money, or if you aren't yet then you still have student loans to pay.
Quitting is not always as easy as it sounds. Everyone on this board keeps talking about exit opps but they forget one thing--regardless of whether it's IBD or S&T you basically have 2 set of exit ops. The first set (e.g. HF, PE, etc.) are very tough to get into and let's be honest, the majority of you will NOT make it. And even if you do, the hours ain't that much better. The second option is to go somewhere with work/life balance where you'll actually be happy. But let's be honest, then you're no longer really "playing the game" anymore, and your pay plunges.
Not trying to be a buzz kill here, but finance will wear you out over time. And like you, I'm also older, so my tolerance for bullshit has declined.
How many BBs have gyms in the building?
I-Banking & Working Out! Possible? (Originally Posted: 05/26/2008)
This question is for those in the industry - do you still get the chance to work out? if so, how do you balance your day between working out, going to work, and your meals? How regular do you work out, and the times of the day that you typically do it? What are the times you typically go out during lunch, and for dinner?
1) I always go to the gym either late at night, early in the morning (rare, I'm not a morning person), or on weekends. I usually go 3 times a week, with 2 of those on Friday and Sunday so that I have a lower chance of being interrupted by work.
2) I generally bring my own food rather than going to dinner, most restaurant food is just too unhealthy (not to sound like a snob, but this is what I've found). I use my stipend on groceries instead. Sometimes if a co-worker is leaving or there's a closing dinner or something I'll go but I try to minimize my restaurant meals.
3) I have small meals throughout the day rather than a few big ones.
The biggest obstacle to staying in shape while banking is the fact that your co-workers will always want to go eat at restaurants or get food delivered... and most of it is really unhealthy. So there's some social pressure to do what everyone else is doing. I generally try to eat with other people, even if it's my own food rather than whatever they got from Seamless.
Another tip: stick to a strict schedule for working out and it will be a lot easier to stay in shape. If you just say, "Oh I'll go when I have time" you'll never end up going. Find a gym that's open 24/7 and go there... even if you're tired/sleep-deprived it's better to stick to your schedule and go for even 30 minutes than to avoid the gym completely.
dosk, doesn't your secretary raise questions about you using your food allowance to buy groceries? I had thought about bringing my own food also and using the food allowance to do my food shopping instead, but surely your employer only wants you spending the money on food and not stuff like washing powder/toilet paper/shoe polish etc. :) ???
The legend of joefish grows...
By groceries he obviously means food, not washing powder/toilet paper/shoe polish.
What's washing powder?
Laundry detergent?
haha you guys need to consult a little book called a dictionary
Actually, you mean a thesaurus.
Stupid question on my part. To add a little value to the OP, do a search of this forum, and the "Monkeying Around" forum and you'll find some useful info.
But all those strip club receipts, that really hurt me when I tried to expense those...
(As ideating pointed out, I only use it to buy food as opposed to toiletries and other home supplies.)
One note, though - a couple years ago we could get away with expensing a lot more in the way of questionable items... now it's sort of taboo to go too crazy. So you have to use more discretion. Never had a question over food though...
pretty sure I mean a dictionary foo' :P
It doesn't matter if you meant dictionary or thesaurus, you are still an idiot.
right back at you
Analysts hitting the gym? (Originally Posted: 02/07/2008)
I am going to join a BB as a SA in May; I was wondering if there is ever anytime to workout (45 minutes a day). Physical fitness helps me think and stay energized, anytime to do that you think? Or should I forget about it for the summer?
Curious too. I'm in good shape now, and would like to stay that way
You can always sleep an hour less then you would have and hit the gym in the morning.
Is anybody ever able to sneak out for an hour at lunch to hit the gym?
I know plenty of analysts who take an hour or so to goto NYSC or Equinox in the middle of the day. They make sure everyone knows where they will be, get their shit done, and stay later than other analysts. They also established this pattern immediately.
So, it is possible, not everyone or every group will allow it. It's also a little more difficult as a SA because you don't have any skills to begin with and need more time to do anything.
I was thinking of grabbing a set of dumbbells (ones made by PowerBlock) that are adjustable from 5-90lbs and a basic bench that can be moved to different angles (i.e., flat, upright, incline, decline). I basically felt like this was my best option being that I'd be able to lift whenever I was at my apartment (whether it be in the morning/night).
I was curious too from a SA, but I think my dorm building will have a gym in the basement, so mornings or nights would be fine.
I think as a SA you want to make the best impression, and since you're at the bottom of the totem pole, I would think you might want to lift outside of work.
NYU Palladium has a nice gym, I've heard. For people working in Midtown...
Palladium's down in Union Square just fyi. It does however have a gym where you can go if you're at any of the NYU dorms.
Sorry... not familiar with NY. Was under the assumption that Union Square is in midtown.
I agree, as a summer, I do not want to be that guy who says "Hey guys, I am taking off for an hour". Best get it done on weekends or early in AM.
edit: double post
Only problem with the Palladium is that after work many people are too tired to make the trek over there (depending on which NYU dorm you are placed in)
If you live at Cliff Street NYU dorm (off Fulton Street), you can get membership at Gold's Gym which is literally 30 sec to 1 min away.
I'm not sure whether there is a gym closer to Water Street than Gold's, but that gym is also an option if you are placed at Water
I looked at Palladium, it is only open from 8am-11pm, making it difficult to be in the gym in the am and then be to work by 9. And at 11pm who the hell will want to lift weights?!
Eat Healthy so you don't have to go to the Gym to get way of fat.. if you want to get muscles.. exerecise by walking/jogging to work, exericing while on train, there must ways around it..
Ling~
That won't give you muscles. Please don't jog to work either, that wouldn't be pretty. Pushups on the train on the commute home would also be lovely.
Eat Healthy by xabaglione (Senior Monkey , 69 Banana PointsPoints) on 2/7/08 at 4:08pm
Eat Healthy so you don't have to go to the Gym to get way of fat.. if you want to get muscles.. exerecise by walking/jogging to work, exericing while on train, there must ways around it..
Ling~
I could not stop laughing at this...
Anyway I can give you advice on how to make the best of not being able to go to the gym... for me, I basically did a few things during my summer. One, diet. What worked for me was bringing the protein level way down (was almost a vegetarian basically) and drank a shitload of water. Took a week to get used to but after that I started dropping bad weight ridiculously fast. Two, 4-5 times a week just do pushups, situps and pullups when you wake up. Takes about 5 minutes and really helps out.
Basically I used it as an opportunity to drop all that bad weight that you always mean to get around to, but never do.
lol get muscles by jogging and walking and while on the train....
you get muscles by lifting weights. heavy ones.
I think you must exercise to stay sane when you are working so hard. Your work will be better if you exercise. I have worked in a group where most of the mid level people were ex-military and there was a fitness mentality that pervaded the group. The senior bankers in our group including our global head were all really into exercising especially long distance biking. Lots of ex-Div I athletes, triathlon participants, and marathon runners, etc. Other groups don't have this mentality but finding yourself in one that does will help your life be more enjoyable while banking.
The Prince of Wall Street
http://www.princeofwallstreet.com
Best idea:
1) Get a punching bag. 2) Carve out a picture of your boss and paste on punching bag.
This way even if you're tired as shit from working all night, you'll still have enough energy to workout.
I've heard some trains have gyms in them. Can anyone verify?????????? I would really like to do some yoga tomorrow on my way to work. Are there changing rooms? Anyone???
What are some good gyms in the financial district of San Francisco with hours suitable to the banking lifestyle?
I only know people in 555 Cal but they all seem to belong to the Bay Club or Equinox in SF. The Olympic Club is further away but has great new facilities. Need recs to get in and a sponsor.
Alright so let's say you get a weight-lifting bench for your apartment. That's pretty convenient, and it won't take up too much space.
What about cardio? Buying a treadmill for the apartment may take up a bit of space and may be tough to get in the apartment due to its tremendous weight. And it's probably a bad idea to jog on the sidewalk in NYC. So what's an easy way to get your cardio in every day without going to a gym?
spiral9, in regards to a treadmill, i have a small treadmill that folds in my house. it was pretty cheap. works good though.
not to disagree with the above posts, but i'd strongly advise against going to the gym during the day as a summer. summers need to be the first one in and last to leave. bottom line is you just don't want the connotation of not being available. face time is super important as a summer. the summer is all about the offer. in the long run it will absolutely be worth it to gain 15lbs and have an offer than to stay in shape and not have it.
if possible, if you can probably go to the gym in the AM before work - knew a guy who swam at 7am everyday.
going to be working in midtown, any gyms that you all would recommend?
i LOVE crunch in midtown. They also have one just south of Union Square. Young, hip vibe. Friendly people - clean equiptment, large, etc. Best gym I have ever belonged to. Stay away from NYSC if possible.
If going to the gym is important to you, make sure you go to the gym (or don't even think of taking a full time offer from a group that won't let you go to the gym). I went to the gym 4-5 days a week as a SA, but I made sure I always went with an Analyst, Associate or VP from the group. There was always someone going to the gym, so I just went at the same time. I'm pretty confident that a major part of getting the offer from my SA stint was the fact that the guys liked "hanging out" with me at the gym as well as doing a good job on the desk. And I'd always make sure I was at the gym for about 15-20 minutes less than the higher level guys and got their food order before I left, and that way they'd have dinner pretty soon after they got back to the desk. Food and exercise keeps everyone happy.
Fandango
"It is a fine thing to be out on the hills alone. A man can hardly be a beast or a fool alone on a great mountain." - Francis Kilvert (1840-1879)
"Ce serait bien plus beau si je pouvais le dire à quelqu'un." - Samivel
I've built a very solid body with a combo of calisthenics and weightlifting. And my advice (even tho I havent done a SA stint) would be to stick to calisthenics and forget the gym for the summer; a well designed pushups/crunchs/dips/pullups program will work wonders and can save you time since you can do all of these at home and not have to hit the gym which = more time for sleep!
I suggest something like the Navy SEAL prep program (obviously cut it down a bit because it is pretty intense if you aren't the average lifter). I finished it a few years ago in highschool (takes about 4 months to complete) and the calisthenics (excluding the running/swimming) took less than 30-40 minutes a day AT HOME. Here is the link, check it out: http://www.teenbodybuilding.com/brent2.htm (scroll down a bit for the actual schedule)
I take ballet dance lessons.....it's not as easy as it looks, but you get a beautiful body.
********"Babies don't cost money, they MAKE money." - Jerri Blank********
Oh come on, NYSC's not that bad. I've worked out in NYSC's on Wall St., Tribeca, Gramercy, Chelsea, Midtown. The showers are disgusting, but whatever. The equipment is good and the passport functionality is great (24 hr gyms if you miss the cutoff at your local one).
Couple of responses:
1) Water St. dorms also have a gym, albeit smaller than the one at Palladium, with about the same hours.
2) I wouldn't count on it everyday, but getting to the gym for 45 minutes three to five times a week, including weekends, shouldn't be a problem. If I were you, I'd plan on doing four days a week and some days you may get three, some you'll get five. You'll just have to be a little more efficient than most, but you can usually find some downtime between 4 and 10. This will be made easier if your building has a gym, i.e. ML, but either way won't be impossible. Most of all, anytime you get a weekend day half-off or off, make sure to take advantage, or else you'll be cheating yourself.
3) I echo whoever said that if going to the gym is really important to you and you can't get it done at the firm you SA at, then make sure you consider that in your evaluation of whether to take your (hopeful) offer. If that's what keeps your going each day then it's just as important as any other part of a firm's culture that you evaluate.
ML has a gym?
Yes, ML has a gym in the building.
Take the stairs...?
"We are lawyers! We sue people! Occasionally, we get aggressive and garnish wages, but WE DO NOT ABDUCT!" -Boston Legal-
Guess this is geared towards bankers, no one in markets works out at lunch. Early in the morning or after work, if you need to work like sometimes you quickly when the markets close and then come back.
I really only get to work out Saturday and Sunday, which sucks because I used to go to the gym or run 4-5 days a week before I started.
I hit the gym 4 days a week, however, it is always late a night. Morgan Stanley even offers a discount on Equinox.
NYSC has a gym at Grand Central for those working in midtown. 24-7 during the week, and open late on weekends. A nice new gym at 47th and 2nd, and one right outside the 6 train stop at 51st and Lex. For those downtown, the wall street one is really nice. NYSC isn't as fancy as equniox, or some of the more upscale ones, but for an analyst budget, it's fine.
It's tough to schedule time every day to go to the gym, but I like to keep a set of clean gym clothes by my desk. You will get stuck sometimes with some downtime (waiting for pages, waiting for books to be printed, waiting for edits) and it's a great time to go to the gym. People are more understanding on weekends too. Eat healthly and work out when you can.
Most banks will have some kind of discount plan due to the number of people they hire. But for SAs, it's a bit tougher, espeically if they want you to sign a 1 year contract.
Hitting the Gym - Possible as an analyst? (Originally Posted: 06/19/2014)
Rising junior, thinking hard about investment banking. Currently working in a small boutique bank getting my toes wet.
This might be a totally asinine question, but is it possible for analysts at any BB IBD to hit the gym for just 30 minutes during the day? I might be incorrect in my notion that there is often downtime at the office where you are not doing much, where I'd like to get a quick pump. Also I heard that goldman has a corporate gym- am I incorrect in assuming most others do as well?
It's a slight concern for me since I want to ideally stay fit and maintain some of my lifts. My personal fitness is becoming an increasingly high priority, though it would be a longshot in banking.
I know that you just joined, but there is a search bar. There are actually a ton of topics about this exact thing. Yes, you will be able to work out. Will you be able to go whenever you want to? No. Will you have time in your day for a quick workout? Yes.
Just join a 24hr gym so that way when you get out of the office at 1 am and want to do a quick lift, you still can.
No, it is impossible to hit the gym. You will be so consumed with work that you couldn't possibly think about getting 45 minutes of exercise a couple of times a week.
Working out and banking? (Originally Posted: 05/27/2013)
I'm starting this summer in IBD as an intern at a bulge bracket, and figured it was a good time to make some other drastic life changes as well. My college relationship ended/is on hold for the summer, I'm working my first real job, and I wanted to use this opportunity to further test my dedication by beginning workout plan. I went ahead and purchased P90x/Insanity and spent a good amount of money on workout equipment, but I was wondering how to balance banking and a commitment to working out this summer. Do you guys work out before work/after work/or just whenever possible? And is it possible to eat healthy with seamless?
every day during lunch
P90X is for softies
Anyone can be skinny and have abs..how many can pull over 400 lbs off the ground?
There are 3 times you can work out. The safest is in the morning before you come in since generally that time is yours. Depending on the culture of your group it may be ok to take off for an hour when things are slow in the afternoon/evening. Finally you can work out when you get out of the office but I don't recommend it - you'll be way too tired and/or will want to go out instead. You probably shouldn't have spent a bunch of money on equipment unless your appt is right next to your office - joining a gym next to your office works much better.
My best advice is to have a flexible program - you will miss some workouts because you pulled an all nighter or got out of the office at 4am. Just resume your program as soon as you're able.
Ditch the equipment and get a gym membership, your results will be much more drastic assuming you are dedicated.
What gym do you guys recommend close to the financial district in NYC? I am looking for something cheap with enough equipment for a basic workout.
not rly equipment - meant the videos and such & some weights
Hitting the gym: workout schedules (Originally Posted: 04/24/2013)
One of my biggest concerns going into banking is how I'm going to be able to squeeze in workouts. I run quite a bit and getting a solid workout in daily tends to keep me going. How are you guys able to balance the work, facetime and working out? Is there a time during the day that would be better to sneak out for an hour to hit the gym?
To compound my issue, I'm going to be working in Boston and there aren't any 24/7 gyms around.... any advice?
Funny ... I work in NYC banking now and moving to buyside in Boston this summer. Don't all the gyms close there @ 10pm?
I would say the morning is probably the best time to go because it is the time you have the most control over. You can go at night but for me there was always a ~50% chance that something would come up and I would not be able to go. If your group is big on the gym or you have one in your building then you might be able to go during the day if you let someone know. 24 hour is a must in NYC, but in Boston try to find something that is open a little later. Good luck.
I have friends who run before they come in and I also have friends who work out around 9 or 10 pm after the associates leave
Workout early in the AM, shower at gym, eat breakfast at work. Problem solved.
I work in Boston and you've gotta go in the morning. If you try after work it's always packed.
As others said, morning works great. Depending on your group, dinner can also be an awesome time to go. Especially for a run, you can get 5-6 miles in + go grab dinner in a little over an hour and it's not a big deal, then you come back and finish your work
Awesome. Thanks for the advice. It's nice to hear that it's not as huge of an obstacle as it seems.
@vtech most of them close at 9... I think the only one that's open as late as 10pm is Equinox...
planet fitness is 24/7
Morning workout before work to get your brain and body going, then after dinner I like to run.
Yeah Planet Fitness doesn't close so try there.
hah planet fitness in Boston closes at 9
@superu that's impressive fitting two workouts into a day...
Summer Analyst- Gym (Originally Posted: 03/24/2009)
Is it feasible to get an hour or so in a day for a S.A? Also, do most of the BB have gyms in the building available to employees free of charge?
It depends on the market. When I did my SA, I could hit the gym for about an hour around dinner time - but that was an hour later I had to stay at the office and not sleep. When we were slammed, gym was the first thing to go.
However now that I'm FT and the market sucks, I'm able to find time almost everyday.
Capt K, Ironically I am working even longer hours now than ever. Our MD's just keep coming up with stupid ideas that would never work and i feel like I just make pitchbooks all day.
GYM? Lol, by the time I get done with work I just wana go home and bang my gf to be honest. I guess I could make time in the morning, but I am always tired as shit. 16hr days wear you out after a while
My bank has a gym in its office and I plan on hitting it up every day or so, then again I'm in S&T.
not certain if most companies have free gyms. my firm charged but it had a pretty big waiting list.
anyway, there are 24/7 gyms popping up around the city (nysc midtown), you may want to check them out as well.
The world has changed. And we must change with it.
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