Women need daily exercise routine - Fitness - maintains Michelle Kowalski of the Ball State University Human Performance Lab, Muncie, Ind - Brief Article

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), August, 2003

The television infomercials make it look easy for women to get into shape fairly quickly, but such programs aren't realistic, maintains Michelle Kowalski of the Ball State University Human Performance Lab, Muncie, Ind. Few such exercise regimens take into account the challenging daily routines most females face, including looking after children, fixing meals, working in an office, and taking care of a house, indicates Kowalski.

"Women are much busier now than they were, say, 20 years ago," she points out. "Exercise is usually not one of their top priorities. They have so many other things to do, and once life becomes filled with other priorities, exercise goes to the bottom of the list." A recent report by the Federal government recommends at least one hour of moderate physical activity daily, such as walking, slow swimming, leisurely bicycle riding, or golfing without a cart. That's twice what was suggested by the Surgeon General in 1996.

Kowalski urges women to review their daily routines and offers five subtle changes in order to squeeze in regular workouts, including:

* Wake up 30 minutes earlier and walk the dog or with friends through the neighborhood.

* Instead of a coffee break at work, walk briskly for 15 minutes around the building or indoors.

* Get the entire family involved and enjoy a nice stroll before or after dinner.

* Plan a couple of evenings each week to do a fun outdoor family activity such as bike riding, kickball, or softball.

* At the end of a busy day, put on some relaxing music and stretch all major muscle groups. Flexibility is a major component of physical fitness.