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Making Time for YOU

By Fawnia Mondey

When the average American watches 171 minutes of television a day, how can he or she find the time to workout? It’s obvious that many people’s priorities are not where they should be. Where does that much television get you? For me, in about a month, I would get: a slower metabolism, cravings for sweets, depression, a sore back, and about five pounds of unwanted weight!

It seems that most people who ask for advice have the same issue with time, yet they can always make it to their comfy couch to watch their favorite reality show. Get real, people — if you want to feel alive and real!

I don’t want to take away your life, so instead let’s compromise. How about doing 30-45 minutes of weights and cardio at some point before 3:00pm and then you can still have time with your favorite program. With this amount of activity each day, you will be steps closer to reaching your health-related goals.

Say, for example, you have children to get ready for school, then have to go to work, and don’t get home until 6:00pm when you need to make dinner and prepare for the next day’s work. It’s still possible to make time for you! If you have two 30 minute breaks at work, use one of them for a workout, especially if the gym is just a few blocks away, or even better, in the same building. Try 5 minutes of cardio and 20 minutes of weights, then 5 minutes of cardio to clear your mind.

If you have two hours in your day when you enjoy watching TV, spend 45-60 minutes on YOU and your health. Chances are that you will feel energized from your workout.
 
Active people make things happen in their lives. Making the time for YOU will keep you around longer to enjoy your grandchildren while being in a much healthier state than if you spent the next 15 years watching two and a half hours of television each night. We know that with television comes snacking, and not the high-protein, slow-burning carb kinds of snacks.

Mothers are often the ones that give new meaning to the word “multi-task.” It’s like they all have a bit of Libra in them — pleasing everyone else before themselves. Life is about balance, and if you truly care about your family, children, friends, etc., start making a change in your life and take care of you. This will ensure that the people you care about most won’t be waiting on you hand and foot when you are in poor physical health.

I also invite you to try one or more of these solid suggestions:

Train at home. For you it may be about the convenience of a home gym. Purchase a workout tape, a jump rope, a set of dumbbells and/or a miniature trampoline to help get your heart pumping.

Become a morning person. Studies show that people who exercise regularly in the morning are more likely to stick to their exercise regimes. Energize yourself for the day! Also, you’re much less likely to have things come up (a late meeting, your child’s after-school activities, etc.) at 6am than at 6pm. Always train before 3:00pm if you know that your motivation is down at night.

Make Time. Pencil it in! You are going to run from 10–10:30a.m. every Tuesday and Thursday and stick to your plan. This appointment should be treated with respect just as you would any important meeting. This is YOUR time.

60 min running hour. Change your lunch hour into your fitness hour. Go outside for a run or enjoy a 30 minute circuit workout at the gym. You might also consider walking. Running vs. walking over the same distance, you’ll actually burn an equal number of calories.
Shorter but more often. If you have days where there are two or three 15 minute periods of free time, then get outside and enjoy a power walk. People who run three times a day for 15-minute durations will get practically the same physical benefits as those who run once for 45 minutes.

Intensity vs. duration. Do you normally train for 40 minutes, but have just 20 minutes today? Then increase the intensity of your usual pace, or do interval training. Example: If you normally walk for 40 minutes, try jogging for 2 minutes every 5 minutes of your walk. This change in your workout will actually increase your endurance and muscle strength while saving time.

Think about what I said about taking care of everyone else before you. It goes further than your loved ones having to wait on you when you are sick or not physically capable. You and I are together setting an example for our children. Spend just 30 minutes a day going for a walk to the park. One on one time will expand their minds and when paired with something as simple as enjoying nature’s fresh air, you will be encouraging children to want more out of life. Build ambition through fitness and a love for life.

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