23rd
Mult-Task Exercise Into Your Day
Alright so here’s what I’m hearing…the toughest part about getting fit is staying motivated and finding the time. I get the motivation part…you need someone to kick you, to nag you, to make you feel guilty enough to walk the walk and do that walk consistently. I am more than happy to be that nag…my ex husband would say it comes naturall! Let me help you. I’ll text you. I’ll email you…what do you need? Talk to me. And as my first line of “nag” business I am here to tell you the “can’t find time to exercise” is just a lame …ok, ok “misinformed” excuse and here is why. I understand it is often hard or impossible to chisel out an hour or two in every day to walk/jog and lift weights. So change your mind set. Don’t try to find an hour block of time. Treat exercise like any other activity you successfully multitask into your day. Let me explain. It works. Yesterday I found I was having a tough time getting the house ready for an onslaught of guests coming to visit this upcoming weekend and still getting in my workout for the day. I was frustrated. So I multitasked the workout. I took the sheets off the guest bed, put them in the washer, started the dishwasher and put meat in the crock pot. And then I hopped on the treadmill for 30 minutes. When I finished I took my hand weights upstairs…that’s right I took them out of the basement and to the place I was going to be working all day. And my weight bearing exercises were fit in between chores. It became like a little game. I vacuumed and then did 3 sets of tricep extensions. I dusted and then did 3 sets of tricep kick backs. While noodles were cooking I did 3 sets of side leg lifts. I made a salad and hopped onto the floor to do stomach crunches. I checked my email and then did 3 sets of squats. And so on and so on…By the end of the day I had cleaned my house, prepared dinner and had done my 30 min aerobic workout and finished my entire weight bearing regimen for the day. It worked. I was thrilled! My sister is a believer. She has her weights upstairs and she does her exercises while watching a half hour of John Stewart. Fit in your exercises while you’re cooking…between chopping, waiting for your fettuccini to cook or oven is preheating. Besides if your hands are busy while you’re cooking you won’t be as tempted to nibble on stuff or drink too many glasses of wine. If you have 5 things you do after getting out of the shower in the morning fit exercises in between those activities. Get creative. Buy a second pair of hand weights and keep them upstairs so they are handy. Put them next to the TV or the computer. You are supposed to rest your eyes from the computer on a regular basis anyway, use the eyeball “rest time” to knock out some exercises. It really works. Try it. You will feel so empowered at the end of the day knowing you sustained the fitness momentum.
