Hi Mamas,
I recently posted a question on how to get exercise into my already busy and way too chaotic life, and I got WONDERFUL responses from all of you! Thank you so much for that!!! I've been using my two daily work breaks to get in 2 brisk 15 minute walks per day, and have worked my way up to a walking speed of 4.5 MPH WITH 20 POUNDS WEIGHT LOSS!!!! (Yay me!!! :-) )
My question for you Mamas now is, now that I'm working out, and at such a pace that I am breaking a serious sweat, what tricks and tips can you share with me to return back to my desk without stinking too much!!!
I am very fortunate to have a full locker room with dressing area, lockers, and showers, 30 feet from my cubicle. What I don't have is the time to both get in the walk, and shower down afterwards. My break is 20 minutes, and I am currently walking 15, and then going to the locker room, ripping off my shirt, and fanning myself down for the remaining 5 minutes so that I don't sweat too much into my work blouse and have some opportunity to cool down before returning to my desk.
Recently a locker opened up and I grabbed it! (they're typically all full/in use and you have to wait for an opening to get one), so now I have a locker of my own. I had planned to bring the following items from home to help me quickly freshen up again after my walks: a work out shirt, deoderant, an aborbant bath towel to pat down with, a mister bottle, and a small fan. I figured I could run to the locker room and put on my work out shirt at the same time I put on my walking shoes, head out, do my walk, and then come back in and do the same practice of ripping off my shirt and cooling down as quickly as I can, only do it now with the aid of a bath towel, a mister bottle, and a small desk fan to blow cool air on me. Does anyone have any other ideas that would work? I especially need help in the hair department. After each of my walks the roots of my hair get drenched with sweat and although this dries up quickly (California, 95 degrees!), it leaves my hair looking stringy and ucky for the rest of the day. If I clip my hair up while I work out it tends to leave clip marks and weird kinks that don't fall out right after I've cooled down and my hair dries back out. Also, sweating at the hairline is giving me some really funk-a-licious calic (sp? cowlick?) in my hair that I can't do anything with for the rest of the day.
Do any of you ladies also squeeze in an intense/sweat-worthy work out into your work breaks, and if so, what are your secrets for recovering and returning to your desk without looking like... well, like heck.
Thanks!!!
If I had five minutes, I would spend 2 1/2 of them in the shower. But that's me, I love showers, and hate to go back to work sweaty.
Baby wipes are the bomb for this. Also, a teensy sprinkle of baking soda to the roots of your hair will help dry up your scalp. Put some in a salt shaker and drop it in your locker.
At my local gym they actually sell wipes that are made for post work out "clean up". Not sure how different they may be from baby wipes, but it is an idea.
We have a small gym and showers here at work. When I work out here I will put my hair up and and jump in the shower for a quick wash off. I am in and out under 3 minutes - enough time to rinse off the sweat but keep my hair dry. I quickly blow dry my somewhat sweaty hair with a round brush - takes another 5 minutes since I didn't really get it wet in the shower. All in all I can clean up in 10 minutes.
Good job on working out and keeping up the consistency!!
Baby wipes!
I love em, and they're great for a quick freshen up when you need it.
Another suggestion, because it sounds like your fitness has boosted and you might need to up the intensity...
Run for 10 minutes (and when that gets enough, break those into HiiT style sprints). You'll get the same benefits (if not more) as that 15 min walk, because you're increased the intensity.
Then take the remaining 10 minutes and actually shower.
Congrats on your awesome progress!
I used to do it all the time.. (i need to again!!)
I used to change shirts or would just wear something that didnt show the sweat too bad. y deoderant was really good so I never smelled bad, trust me if I did these uuhhh LADIES would tell me, but I would spritz somehting anyway and use my fan. The hair..well I have straight hair that was just sittin there anyway so I never had an issue.
Face wipes.. Costco Kirkland brand is great.. Change bras.. I use dry shampoo after my workouts check ultra beauty.. Or I like Victoria secret brand dry shampoo too. Then pull the top part of my hair back.. Also nordstrom carries deodorants that have a perfume scent but not too strong.. They are 12 dollars and last 6 months.. Donna Karen casmere mist smell so good. Also to freshen makeup.. I use Mac spray after I put on my powder foundation.. Great job.
I work-out on my lunch hour too. To stop sweating I wrapped a cold wet towel around my neck. I use the same towel to wipe-off my particularly sweaty areas. I reapply deodorant and body spray. When I did kickboxing I'd change into a support bra first and back into my non-sweaty bra afterwards. I'd even bring fresh panties. I just prayed that I don't find out that there are hidden cameras in my office.
