| Exercising During Commercials | | | | to do, no reason we can't carry them into our |
| I'm getting up an hour earlier these days. At first | | | | TV room and get them done. |
| I said I'd never be able to do it: I was already | | | | Turn TV Time into "Get Fit" Time |
| sleep deprived rising at 6 AM how would I ever | | | | You can turn your TV room into a fitness room |
| get up at 5 AM? I'd never be able to get to sleep | | | | easily. A cushy floor mat, if the room isn't |
| earlier (this is still true), and a hundred other | | | | carpeted. A pair of dumbbells or two. Empty |
| reasons why it wouldn't work. And then I tried it, | | | | bleach jugs make good dumbbells, but be careful |
| and it does work. I'm still sleep deprived, but that | | | | if they are only partially full of sand, dirt or water |
| extra hour in the morning is a Godsend. I love it. | | | | (whatever you use to fill them with something to |
| How do you Present Ideas to Yourself? | | | | create the weight), as if the weight shifts during |
| So why did it take me so long to "just do it?" | | | | the movement you could injure yourself. |
| Probably the way I presented the idea to myself. | | | | Canned food make good homemade weights. I |
| Notice I used words such as "never" and "already" | | | | have half pound and one pound cans, heavier can |
| as in "I'm already sleep deprived." I kept telling | | | | may be too difficult to hold. Go on a scouting |
| myself it wouldn't work, that it was a bad idea | | | | expedition around your house and see what you |
| and until the first time I actually tried it, I secretly | | | | find that could work as weights then store them |
| believed when the alarm rang, I'd just turn it off | | | | behind the couch and start using them. Twice a |
| and go back to sleep. I'd forgotten how much I | | | | week or three times, consistently, and you'll start |
| enjoy getting up early. Mornings are my best time | | | | noticing a change within a short time - usually in a |
| of day. I'm the most productive in the morning so | | | | month or six weeks definitely. |
| it makes sense to give myself an extra hour. | | | | My first exercise equipment was a pair of |
| I Don't Have Time to Exercise | | | | dumbbells, a one pound and a five pound set. You |
| Sometimes a small adjustment in how you run | | | | don't have to have a fully equipped home gym to |
| your day can help enormously in freeing up some | | | | exercise at home. |
| time for things like exercise. "I don't have time." I | | | | Push ups are an incredible exercise, men's and |
| hear that a lot, but if asked, "What's your favorite | | | | women's style. No special equipment needed, just |
| TV show?" most people can list a few -- hours | | | | get on the floor and start. Standing squats |
| spent sitting and watching. There's nothing wrong | | | | (pretend you are going to sit in a chair, then stop |
| with enjoying some TV, but there's also no | | | | at about or before chair level, and return to |
| reason you can't exercise during the commercials. | | | | standing straight). There are even books written |
| When I was a kid and it was my turn to clean | | | | for exercising on the commercial breaks. I put |
| the house, I made a game out of it. I loved TV, | | | | together a page with a few of the books I've |
| watching probably six or seven hours a day then, | | | | found which present this concept such as "The |
| so missing a show to clean was not going to | | | | Commercial Break Workout: Trim and Tone Two |
| happen. So I'd clean during commercials. Today | | | | Minutes at a Time" by Linda Buch and Seth Anne |
| there are over 20 minutes of commercial time | | | | Snider-Copley. |
| during each hour of the show. That's plenty of | | | | Grab some Extra Minutes and Get Started |
| time for getting things done. As soon as the show | | | | I wanted to get up an hour earlier so I could |
| broke for commercial, I'd jump from my chair | | | | work out in the mornings. When I exercise first |
| and dash to wherever I'd left off. I'd bring in | | | | thing, nothing else interferes. No matter what |
| laundry and fold it while I watched. I'd iron in front | | | | comes up, it doesn't take away from my fitness |
| of the TV, I'd bring in piles of miscellaneous debris | | | | program. Unexpected calls or invitations, traffic |
| from other rooms and sort it into piles for where | | | | jams, "There's no bread," yells my son who still |
| it belonged, then on the next commercial I'd go | | | | thinks it's my job to keep the pantry stocked, so |
| put things away. | | | | I need to run to the store, nothing ruins my day's |
| I'd move from one room to the next, carrying | | | | plan to ride my bike or lift weights. The |
| things that belonged there with me, and returning | | | | consistency of a regular exercise program just |
| with things that did not. Eventually the house was | | | | makes me feel good - you might find it does the |
| clean, and hadn't missed my programs. | | | | same for you, and if you have had a difficult time |
| If you enjoy TV, consider how much time there | | | | finding time - make time. Grab some extra |
| is available during the commercials and start using | | | | minutes during commercials on TV, get up earlier, |
| it. Whether for exercise or cleaning, or anything | | | | find whatever works for you. Write it on your |
| else you need to get done: responding to | | | | calendar, make a date with yourself, and get |
| correspondence, studying, paying bills, grooming | | | | started. |
| the cat - there are lots of little chores we need | | | | |