Making Time For Exercise

What is the number 1 excuse for not exercising? Lack of time. I know we are all busy. There are deadlines, and holidays to prepare for and kids to take to and fro. But, no matter how busy you are, there is someone equally busy that is making the time to exercise. How are they doing it? How are they squeezing exercise into their overloaded day?

Let's find 10 ways you can create the time for exercise.

1. Wake up earlier. I know a busy man who gets up every morning to ride his bike with his "pack". He's up at 4:30 a.m. to fit the exercise in, riding by 5 a.m., and then ready to go to work by 6:45 a.m. It's tough, but you can train yourself to get up early, by systematically going to bed a bit earlier every night. And listen, you don't have to be up at 4:30 a.m. to squeeze in exercise. It really depends on your schedule and the length of the workout you are trying to fit in. I teach classes that begin at 6 and are done by 7. Some folks leave a bit early to get to work on time. It's really not that bad!!

2. Cut down on your media time. Just for fun, record the amount of recreational time you spend on your data phone, computer, and watching T.V. I bet you can find at least an extra hour, simply by cutting your media time down. What about this? Do your cardio at the club, while watching T.V.?

3. When you do watch T.V., make it active time. Do abs while you are watching your favorite show, especially during commercials. Sun salutations from yoga can easily fit in commercial breaks. And what about a set of push ups every break?

4. Make your commute active. This is actually one of my favorites! Weather permitting, you can ride your bike to work, or to another activity that's in your general vacinity, like meeting friends for coffee. Park far away from the building and work and walk in. Get off the bus one stop too early and walk the rest of the way.

5. Make exercise a social event. Our team at Le Club is doing that by playing kickball on Friday nights. Take your family on a long bike ride, with the final destination a healthy place for lunch.

6. Make your chores into exercise (and more fun!). Vacuuming? Add some music and dance with your vacuum. Washing the floor? Put some rags under each foot and glide around the floor like a skater.

7. Schedule your exercise like an appointment you can't possibly miss. Would you no show for your doctor? Probably not. Make an appointment with yourself for your health, and don't miss it.

8. Find an activity you love! Cross country skiing, riding your bike, roller blading, running...whatever it is that you love, make that at least a portion of your exercise. That way, you will look forward to it, and not want to miss it.

9. Make it part of your routine. I don't know about you, but I am a creature of habit. Every Thursday I go for lunch with my Mom. The time may change a bit, but every Thursday, it's just what we do. Sometimes exercise is something you're not used to making time for. So make it part of your daily routine. Start small, if necessary. Pick a class you want to attend, commit to yourself which days, and go. Start walking the dogs, even if that's an extra time for them (they won't mind!). Add a T.V. yoga class for 1/2 hour, every morning, or do an exercise video the same time every day. It takes time to brush your teeth, also, but you make time for it, right?!

10. Just say no. If you can't find any of the previous nine every working for you, it's time to look at your priorities. Are you putting too much on your plate? Do you say yes every time someone asks something of you? Chances are, this is stressing you out, causing an increase in your cortisol levels and aiding you in putting on belly fat. Reexamine your priorities. You come first. If you can't take care of yourself, how can you take care of others?