By: Joann Bally CSCS
An article in Money magazine gives these figures: hours the typical worker wastes in an 8 hr day = 2; hours in a year the average American spends looking for misplaced items and information = 150; hours a day the typical American spends shopping = 1.2.
Money wants people to consider how much their time is worth before spending it looking for a bargain that will save them a few bucks. I am bringing this up because one of the most common excuses to not exercise is not having enough time.
If you do the minimum recommended exercise, which is 30 minutes brisk walking 5 days a week (or equivalent), your yearly total exercise time is only 125 hours a year, giving you 2 weeks off. So why is it you don’t have enough time to do that? Just take less than a third off your shopping time and you have it. Organize your time.
If you can’t get out to take that walk—ice and snow, darkness, babysitting, etc.—do something at home. I like having an exercise bike around for that, but you can jump rope, go up and down stairs, or get an exercise video. Some of this may be vigorous enough that you can get away with 20 minutes instead of 30, including rest periods. (I wouldn’t tell you to jump rope for 20 minutes straight.)
Try some calisthenics or body weight exercise to build up strength: body weight squats, lunges, pushups, crunches, and lots more. Get some exercise bands and follow the routine on the package if you want. Go to the gym, get outside when you can, or work out at home. But do something. Get active. You know it’s good for you. And you just lost one of your excuses.
Related using the H&F.com Search:
MORE EXERCISE EQUALS MORE WEIGHT LOSS
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