Thursday, January 21, 2010

Getting It All In

I want to thank Jo at 282.5:Behind for giving me the topic for today's post. Go check her out, definitely worth the read.

I don't know anyone who has loads of free time. Whether you stay at home, work full time, go to school, have 0 kids or 10, are married or single, I can bet you have a full plate. I know I do. I could go on all day about all the things I do, I'm sure we all could, but we still need to take time to do the things that will preserve our health.

I don't have 2 straight hours a day in which to exercise, I just don't. I have used this in the past as an excuse not to do any exercise at all and that is just sad. Because I couldn't do a full upper and lower body workout plus cardio all at once, I would just skip the exercise all together. I don't believe you need to do it all at once in order to achieve results.

I can come up with 15 minute increments throughout the day, and this is how I exercise now. Think about it this way, none of us sit down a drink all of our daily water intake at one time. We take it one glass at a time. The same thing applies to exercise.

We can do so much, even though it may not seem like it at the time, in little increments. You can do squats in the morning while you are brushing your teeth. Wall push ups while breakfast is cooking. Toe rises while your reading your e-mail. March in place while you cook dinner. Do lunges while you run the sweeper. Turn on some music and dance with your kids. Take a 15 minute walk or run. No, you won't be able to train for a marathon or look like a body builder this way, but you will burn calories and help your body out.

It doesn't have to be all or nothing. Any step forward is a step in the right direction.

5 comments:

  1. You are absolutly right about finding time to exercise. Current research states that it may actually be healthier breaking things into chunks than steady state cardio.

    I don't exercise 2 hours straight at a time, I break it down: morning and late afternoon or early evening. And I certainly didn't start off doing that, either. The book I read was based on The Biggest Loser, a show I don't like and have only seen a handful of times. I did, however, like the science behind it. I frankly think that the way the BGL starts its contestants out is very dangerous. So I really did build up to what I'm doing.

    I think Dr. H. mentions doing stretches while he's brushing his teeth and shaving in the morning--so you're following his plan. lol

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  2. Jo, I have to agree with you on thinking BL might be dangerous. I watched an interview with one of the contestants (may have been last years winner, but I'm not sure). I got the impression that they worked out nearly non-stop. No wonder they have such dramatic results.

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  3. Great insight and I totally agree. We often put so many things before choosing to take care of ourselves. I think taking short breaks throughout the day to do this is a great plan.

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  4. I love this mind-set! You have decided to concentrate on what you CAN do, not what you can't. You are adding "movement" all throughout your day, and it will really add up in the end.

    Your post reminded me of something I read years ago... a gal wanted to burn more calories, so she started Fidgetcize. No matter what she was doing, she would "fidget", or move in some way to use some muscles, all throughout the day. I thought the name of it was so funny, I never forgot it.
    Loretta
    =^..^=

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  5. *lol* Loretta I think I was born Fidgetcizing. I MUST be doing something with my hands or reading or I go nuts. That is hilarious.

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