As in completely full...

Got this question from a reader recently and I thought this is some advice that a lot of people can really benefit from.

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Hey Nick, I’ve spent hundreds if not thousands on the “next thing” that will help me lose weight or get fit. I know it’s a "me" issue but I’m struggling to get it down.

I’ve got two kids and another on the way. I’ve made some positive changes with your Starting Monday Diet even though I’ve been modifying it, but I’m struggling to know where to fit in fitness.

I get up by 6 or 6:30 most days and there’s always a little one up at that time.

I have an X3 bar and was going to combine that with your Time-Volume Training program.

I just feel like I get up, work until I get home, put the kids to bed and then my wife and I are wrapping up the evening with the baby asleep on me.

I don't know where to fit it in or how to overcome the excuses and discontent. I’d love to break through this habit plateau but just not sure how.

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My Advice:

It's a challenge with having multiple kids like that! I can totally understand that. The trick is to find a way to fit it in that works for you, your wife and your kids.

The X3 is a great piece of equipment, and the Time-Volume Training is excellent as well. Though with TVT, you might find that the time blocks can be a challenge and it might be a better approach to go for shorter workouts but a bit more intensity.

What I would suggest would be testing out some quick circuit workouts like these:

1. Single Dumbbell Attack

2. Three Exercise One Dumbbell Countdown

That'll depend on what kind of work you do and where, of course, so that might be not be workable.

Weekend Warrior Training

Another approach is "weekend warrior" training, where you do more "traditional" workouts on Saturday and Sunday, where hopefully you have a bit more time, and then do a Specialization Training exercise during the week.

Daily Specialization (this one works great with bodyweight exercises or with minimal equipment...you essentially add reps over time).

Or if you have a bit of equipment at home, you can try Progressive Resistance Daily Specialization Training.

This version gradually adds resistance over time, like Milo lifting the calf every day until it grew into a bull.

(heck, you might be able to mimic this somewhat by lifting your kids :)

For both Specialization methods, you pick one exercise and just do one set in the morning and one in the evening before bed... this takes just a couple of minutes but will allow you to squeeze a bit of training into your day.

Then make time to do a more comprehensive workout on the two weekend days (or at least one of those days).

This can be a couple of Time-Volume Training workouts (which are great, low-stress workouts that focus on training volume and density rather than intensity, so they're excellent for jumping right into without needing to do longer warm-ups).

You might also like some of my Metablic Monster workouts. They're a bit more intense and some do require a bit of equipment, but they're incredible for time-efficient training.

This type of weekend warrior training schedule can definitely help you work with the time you have available, though.

I hope this helps!