While looking at an article by a leading fitness guru, I was struck by her emphasis on making exercise a priority and finding a way to fit in your gym time at any cost. Although she’s right in principle, those of us who are balancing multiple roles — as parent, worker, spouse, volunteer, household manager, etc. — often find that 24 hours per day simply aren’t enough. Fitness gets put on the back burner.
Even if you’re lucky enough to be able to set aside time to work out, things like school holidays, childhood illness, and workday crises have a way of eating up these extra hours along with our best intentions.
You may not have time to go to the gym, but you can still be physically active and boost your metabolism by using a bit of creativity in planning your day. If you’ve got a young sports enthusiast in the family, play along. Shooting baskets and kicking a soccer ball around the yard are great ways to get your heart pumping. Thirty minutes of cardio training are recommended, but even five to ten minutes will elevate your energy and speed your metabolism.
Get up 15 to 30 minutes earlier than the rest of the family and use this time for a run, a walk, or some stretching and yoga.
Get into some vigorous sweeping, mopping, or vacuuming. These types of housekeeping chores can burn a significant number of calories.
We’ve all heard the benefits of taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Everything you’ve heard is true.
Likewise, getting off the bus or subway a stop or two before your destination on a regular basis adds up to a lot of heart-healthy walking.
Source: medicinenet.net
