For most women with demanding careers, finding time for a workout feels like chasing a ghost. Now add four kids, the emotional toll of raising a family, and a high-stress job as an anesthesiologist. Suddenly, fitness isn’t just low on the list. It’s off it.
But Dr. Liz Lugo refuses to play that game.
Lugo is a physician mom who believes staying active has nothing to do with looking perfect in a magazine. It is about building habits that keep her energy stable and her longevity intact.
Ditching the rigid schedule
Forget the idea of a pristine, hour-long gym session. Lugo fits movement in where she can.
Some days it means making exercise part of her social life. She and her husband schedule “gym dates” before dinner. A babysitter watches the kids, they lift weights, then they eat. Win-win.
Other days? She’s sneaky.
If her office is close to the surgical center, she walks. She parks far away to rack up extra steps. At home, while the children are busy or napping, she fires up the Peloton app for fifteen-minute strength classes.
“It all adds up,” she says.
The strategy is simple consistency rather than rigid scheduling.
“My goal is at least two strength workouts a week and two long walks,” she notes.
She keeps herself honest by comparing monthly workout logs with a colleague, also an anesthesiologist. Unpredictable surgeries don’t excuse missing days, but having someone check in makes staying committed easier.
Having someone to check in with changes the equation completely.
Convenience wins every time
Healthy eating while on surgical call isn’t exactly glamorous.
“I will be honest. I don’t always make the best choices,” Lugo admits.
The trick isn’t purity. It’s access. Her car and lunch bag are stocked with protein bars, nuts, and fruit. Between cases, while driving to another shift, she grabs something nutritious.
If the healthy option isn’t the easy option, you won’t do it. So she makes it easy.
On long shifts when breaks vanish, stable energy is non-negotiable. Her day starts with protein. If she has time to eat during surgery rotations, she reaches for yogurt, almonds, or hard-boiled eggs. It prevents the sugar crash that usually follows skipped meals.
Is self-care selfish?
It shouldn’t be.
Women often feel guilty taking time for themselves while juggling motherhood and work. Lugo disagrees. She argues that basics like nutrition, movement, and sleep are foundational, not indulgent.
She forces small pockets of joy into chaotic weeks. Maybe a manicure every other week. Maybe ten minutes of reading before bed. Or just talking to her best friend while driving.
“I aim for consistency, not perfection.”
Life gets in the way. Sometimes sleep is more valuable than a run. Sometimes family needs immediate attention, and the gym has to wait. She gives herself grace when things go sideways.
It’s an investment, not a chore
Her message to other overwhelmed working mothers? Seasons change.
“There are periods where every single day involves a trade-off,” she explains.
The point is to look at the bigger picture. Every walk, every strength set, every hour of quality sleep is an investment in her future health. It is about the life she wants to live ten, twenty, or thirty years from now.
So what do you actually do when you’re short on time?
- Walk whenever possible.
- Turn meetings into walking calls if you can.
- Add ankle weights to your daily strolls.
- Use an app for quick strength sessions.
- Play sports or walk evenings as a family unit.
- Workout with your partner or a friend.
You don’t need a dedicated hour at a gym. You don’t need the “perfect” routine. You need small moments of movement. Repeat them consistently. The results happen slowly, quietly, but they stick.
Dr. Liz Lugo works in New Jersey and Texas for Olena Medical, LLC. You can find more information at olenamedical.com.
We keep busy anyway. Why shouldn’t that busy life include feeling strong? 🏃♀️
