Search our Site:

Fitness in a Hurry

Most of us are so busy that we don’t have time to workout the recommended 30-45 minutes for optimum physical fitness.

Most of us are so busy that we don’t have time to workout the recommended 30-45 minutes for optimum physical fitness. (Thirty minutes of exercise 5 days a week significantly reduces the risk for most cancers. Forty-five minutes of exercise 5 times a week significantly reduces the risk for breast cancer, which both men and women can get.) Here are some ways to help you be more physically active, to fit in a workout even when you do not have much time, and how to make the most of the exercise you do manage to squeeze in.
Plan your workouts as you would any other activity in your week. Schedule them when you know you will have time and write them down on your calendar or wherever you write down your scheduled appointments. If you can’t schedule 5 times a week, schedule it as many as you can. Once or twice a week is much better than not at all. Do not allow anything else come between you and your workout. Let your family know that you need these 15 minutes, half an hour, or however long you plan to workout, without being interrupted. If you have younger children, see if your spouse or a neighbor can care for them, and offer to care for their children as well.
When you exercise, don’t simply walk or run, add jogging or sprints throughout your workout. Intense bursts of energy for short times help your body to burn fat, helping you get the most out of your exercise. (It's also highly recommended to increase the intensity for short periods of time when working out for long periods of time, too, not just during short workouts. This allows your body to continue burning calories long after your workout is over.)
Find opportunities to be more active during your day. Walk during your lunch break, or at least for part of the time. Whenever you need to speak with co-workers, walk to wherever they are instead of calling or emailing them. When you go to the store, park farther away and walk. Only use the stairs and stop using elevators and escalators altogether.
It’s very important to make time for physical fitness. Look for chances during your day to be more active. Plan to workout at least once this week, and make the arrangements necessary to do so. It may be difficult now, but the long-term benefits of physical fitness are worth it.

Gina Clark writes on nutrition and fitness. Visit her blog for healthy tips to improve the quality of your life.