Finding time to exercise can be easy

Jet, June 28, 2004

It's common knowledge that exercising is good for the body, and it's also common knowledge that it's something that not everyone enjoys doing.

"There just aren't enough hours in the day" or "Who has the time?" are just a couple of responses that people give when asked about their daily exercise routine. Finding the time to exercise doesn't have to be that complicated. In fact, anytime can be the right time. The trick is to find a clever way to work a routine into your everyday activities.

According to the American Council on Exercise, a healthy exercise program includes three things: aerobic activity, muscular strengthening and flexibility exercise.

Aerobic activity, the best way to burn away unwanted fat, involves continuous body movement of the large muscle groups over an extended period of time. An ideal workout is 20 to 30 minutes of nonstop activity three to five times a week. Can't find that much extra time to spare? Try dividing the aerobic sessions into two 10- to 15-minute intervals to reap some of the benefits of a full workout.

Accomplishing those mini aerobic sessions can be easy. Instead of taking the elevator up or down to your desired floor, use the stairs to burn off those extra calories. During your lunch or afternoon break take a short, but brisk walk around the block to help burn off the work-related stress of the day.

Going out and spending tons of money on weight-lifting equipment isn't a prerequisite to having strong muscles. If you're at work, graba couple of hefty books, equivalent to 5 or 10 pounds, and repeat lifting them in sets. The same can be done at home. This time instead of using books, go into the kitchen cupboard and use canned food products.

Increasing your flexibility is a great way to help prevent injuries from muscle strain, and it's something that can be done almost anywhere. Just remember to never stretch so hard that it hurts. Rather, hold the stretch to a point of mild tension for 10 to 30 seconds.

You only get one body, so make time to keep it as healthy as possible. If you have a history of health problems, consult your physician before starting your workout.