How many times do you go to bed wishing you had exercised that day? Well here are a few tips to fit exercise into a busy day. In the morning- stretch to start the day, a few yoga moves makes a great start to a day. While preparing breakfast and packing lunches for the day try to do some leg raises, plies, and squats while food is in the microwave or toaster. While driving to drop kids off, stretch your neck at stoplights by rolling your head in circles (it is safer than being on your phone and it feels good)! It also is a good time to stretch your shoulders by pulling them up and down together, one at a time, and then in forward and backward motions. These head and shoulder exercises can also be done at work while sitting or standing at your job.
If your are at home during the day, you always have the option of joining a gym and going to one of the fun and energetic group classes such as Zumba, Step, Spinning, Pilates, Yoga, Water Aerobics, Kickboxing, or a Combo Fitness Class offered by your fitness club. If you do not belong to a club or have time to get there you can purchase a fitness DVD, pop it in and get your exercise done for the day in anywhere from a 30 minute to a 60 minute video. (An ideal way to spend your baby's nap time or sometimes they even have fun watching or doing it with you). Remember to grab a big cold glass of water afterward and enjoy the rest of the day!
Another option for an exercise activity from home is walking or jogging outside. Yes, it may be frigid since it is winter, but the cold air feels good and you burn more calories in the cold because your body is trying to stay warm and exercise! Honestly, purchasing a few good winter fitness clothes really makes outdoor walking and jogging refreshing and exhilarating! Once again, end it with a nice cold glass of water even if you do not feel thirsty, your body needs it. (In winter it is just as important to stay hydrated as in warmer months).
If you make it home after work and chauffering the kids around all day and you still have not been able to exercise, no fear, there is plenty of time to fit it in your evening schedule. While making dinner or cleaning it up, try some of the leg lifts, plies, and squats mentioned for the morning options. If sitting down to enjoy some TV and you feel guilty because you still have not exercised, no fear again, there are these wonderful breaks during shows called commcercials and they are for about 2 minutes- perfect exercise opportunity! During every commercial break do sit-ups, push-ups, jumping jacks, small weight exercises for your arms, plank for the entire time (this is tough), do squats, do anything just do some type of exercise and make your kids or husband join you! It truly becomes a fun little burst of cardio or stretching, then you can rest and do it all over again at the next commerical break!
A final last exercise tip to try to fit in your busy life each and every day is to do sit-ups and push-ups in an amount equal to your age (and this can be for every member of the family to incorporate into their life). If you are 40, try to do 40 sit-ups and 40 push-ups each day and your 7 year old daughter can try to do 7 of each daily also. Just one more thing to look forward to on each Birthday- one more sit and push up a day! Fitting exersise into your day may be tricky, but hopefully you now see it is very possible and definitely worth it!
Comments