“I don’t have time to exercise.” How many times have you said that? “Time” is the number one reason that people give as an excuse for not wanting to run, walk or workout.
All experts tend to agree that exercise is good for you. Exercise can even lengthen your lifespan, a little thing like “no time” is a pretty lame excuse, don’t you think? If it were something that you wanted to, like shopping or meeting a friend for lunch, you would figure out something.
Denise Malan (Corpus Christi Caller-Times: Corpus Christi: March 26, 2010) writes that you need to make exercise a priority. I know, you have heard all this before but as get a little older the need becomes a little more urgent. Think of exercising as a daily task like brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. You wouldn’t forget that would you? There is no reason why you can’t multi-task here too. Perhaps you could watch your favorite television show while riding a stationary bike or walking on a treadmill. Exercise is something that you should enjoy so stop thinking of it as a torture device. Exercise should be a positive task. You could tempt yourself with a little reward afterwards, like a session in the hot tub or setting 30 minutes aside to read or meditate.
Most people find that morning workouts are best, by evening you are tired and it is a lot easier to make excuses. Still some people do better in the evening, so pick the time of day that is best for you, but find time. It doesn’t have to be a huge chunk out of your day; even 30 minutes will make a difference.
Terrie Henrich Rizzo (Arthritis Today: January/February 2011) gives some suggestions that I would like to share. Perhaps they will help you rise, shine and get moving first thing in the morning. Her experiences tells her that working out in the morning works best for many people. Studies show that working out in the mornings can boost mental acuity and burn up to three times more fat than at other times of the day.
Still, getting up in the morning, when your body is stiff and sore and all you can think about is morning coffee, isn’t always easy. Let’s look at Terri’s suggestions.
- Plan ahead. Get your gym clothing and gear together the night before, ready to grab and go.
- Do your workouts as close to home as possible to save precious travel time.
- Workout before showering. You don’t have to primp for a trip to the gym or a jog around the block.
- Do something that you enjoy. It is not easy to feel joyful at 5-6 in the morning but surely there is some form of exercise that you enjoy.
- Find a workout buddy. It isn’t easy to find a like minded friend but start putting out some feelers. There is always the dog.
- Eat a little. You might not feel like a full breakfast but you do need a little fuel to start your day, even if it is at the gym.
- Get up earlier. Set your alarm 15-30 minutes earlier and think about how good you will feel and how proud of yourself you will be.
Find time to exercise. Please share ideas and routines that work particularly well for you.
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