How can I fit exercise into my busy schedule? - Bodybuilding, Fitness and Health Forum Axiolabs and Syntrop Steroids Board

TrainWiser · **How can I fit exercise into my busy schedule? -** 05-23-2007

Q: I mean to work out , I really do. Yet every day it seems something stops me. How can I stick to my workouts during really hectic times? - J.F., Brooklyn, NY

A: Your situation is not unique. In fact, I wish I had a magic wand I could wave to give us all some extra time. If I did, I'd be rich and famous. What I do have is a variety of strategies that can help you work exercise into your busy routine.

* Put yourself first: Make the decision that you are important enough to spend some quality time with to stay healthy and fit. You give of yourself to satisfy other people, meet deadlines and encourage those around you. Well, take some of that energy, enthusiasm and dedication and give it back to yourself. If you need help rationalizing, realize that exercising may actually relieve some of the stress and hectic times. You will be better able to handle the deadlines and last minute crises.

* Start early: Sometimes it is easier to schedule your workouts first thing in the morning, before you go to work and get caught up in everything going on. Get up early to ensure you have extra time.

* Make an appointment with yourself: Putting an appointment to exercise in your daily planner makes it tougher to let other things and other people override your fitness commitment.

* Pair up: If you can find someone else to exercise with, so much the better. Having a steady exercise partner not only gives you extra motivation but also makes it harder to break your exercise engagements.

* Try a working lunch: Work in some activities on your lunch hour. You can organize a program for the employees at your job site. Noon, breakfast or after-work programs can be very successful and help make everyone more productive and relieve work stresses. If organizing this effort is too much for you, reap the same benefits yourself by simply going for a walk or run on your break.

* Involve your family: Get your spouse, child, dog or cat to join you for daily walks or jogs in the morning and evening (or go by yourself).

* Don't sit idly: While watching the news in the evening, you can lift weights, stretch or do stationary cardiovascular work like cycling or walking on a treadmill.

* Make a healthy dinner: Cooking dinner can present a great opportunity for doing exercises like leg curls, heel lifts, leg lifts (front, side, behind) and soccer kicks. You can work with weights, too: Before opening a can of food, do 12 repetitions on each arm of biceps curls and triceps kickbacks. Lift those cans overhead or out to the side to work shoulders. Pull your abdominal muscles in tight and hold them for 10 seconds.

Obviously, there's a lot you can do to work in activity on even the most chaotic days. Use your imagination and have fun.

Source: fitlinxx.com