Making Exercise a Priority

Last night, I checked out my schedule for today and determined the best time for a workout to be first thing in the morning. I set an early alarm so I could fit in a nice 75 minute hike with Harley as the start to my Friday. This is common for me, as I schedule my workouts the vast majority of days as I would a conference call or doctor’s appointment. Sure, some days things don’t go as planned and my workouts might have to get switched around. Perhaps every now and then I won’t get a workout done at all when I had penciled it in. But, because I make it a priority to exercise, I usually find a way to fit it into my days.

When I hear people say that they simply don’t have time for exercise, I cringe a little and then think of this quote: ”If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.”

Let’s face it – most people have busy lives. But even those with the most on their plates can still manage to squeeze in exercise, if they make it a priority. I’m not saying that everyone has hours a day to dedicate to fitness. What I am saying is that I believe that we are all capable of exercising at least 20 minutes a day on most days. It’s just a matter of making it a must in your busy life and taking a minute to plan it out. Why wouldn’t you make an effort to fit something into your day that improves your health in just about every way possible (Endorphins! Cardiovascular health! A strong body! Disease and illness prevention! Improved self-image! Calorie burn!)?

That being said, I don’t think that everyone needs to belong to a gym. They’re not for everyone, and luckily, there are a lot of other options out there. If you’re looking to begin a fitness regime but don’t want to get a gym membership, 1.) Make sure you have a good pair of sneakers, 2.) Nab some cheap workout DVDs off of Amazon or elsewhere, and 3.) Get a pair or two of dumbbells to work with. Your exercise regimen can now easily include walking or jogging, doing your choice of exercise DVDs, and incorporating some easy moves such as bicep curls and lunges within the comfort of your own home. 

Here is a short workout challenge involving old-school exercise moves that you can do anywhere, whenever you have about 10 minutes to spare. Even though it’s a quickie, it’ll get your heart pumping in no time! I started my workout with this yesterday and was sweating within a few minutes: 

Wishing you a happy & active weekend!