| Some people have a good, balanced exercise | | | | Strategy 2: If your regular workout program is at |
| program that they keep up religiously three or | | | | a gym, have a backup plan at home for those |
| four days a week. Some people workout five, six | | | | days or nights when you just cannot make it. If |
| or seven days a week! Most people, it seems to | | | | you are paying for a gym membership you |
| me, struggle hard to keep up a regular work out | | | | probably do not want to buy a lot of equipment |
| program and are fortunate if they do make three | | | | for your house, but you do not need expensive |
| or four days a week. In this article I would like to | | | | gear for your backup plan. There is always |
| discuss how often we exercise and provide a | | | | jogging, walking, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, |
| couple of tips that can help us maintain our goal | | | | stretches and several other good exercises that |
| of a consistent exercise program. | | | | you can do at home for no cost at all. Many |
| How often we work out partially depends on the | | | | people get bored stiff doing these exercises as a |
| exercise program we use. For instance, if we are | | | | regular routine, but this is not a regular routine. |
| power weight lifters we should not lift more than | | | | This is your backup plan for when the normal |
| every other day. When we use our muscles to | | | | situation falls apart. The key is to keep doing |
| the extreme we actually tear them. And muscles | | | | something. Do not let your entire schedule crash |
| usually need at least 40-48 hours to rebuild from | | | | because you could not make it to the gym one |
| minor tears. When they do rebuild, they are | | | | day. |
| stronger. I know many weight lifters who are so | | | | Strategy 3: Attempt to get your kids involved. If |
| extreme they do not lift more than twice a week | | | | you don't have kids try to get your spouse or a |
| and still show dramatic improvements. If we walk | | | | friend. Whether you work out at home or at a |
| for exercise, it is beneficial for many to go four | | | | facility doing it with another person can help you |
| or more days per week. If you are particularly | | | | maintain the schedule. After all, you do not want |
| targeting specific areas of the body there is | | | | to disappoint your friend, your spouse or |
| another philosophy that is valid. For example you | | | | especially your kids by telling them you are too |
| might target your abs on Monday and Thursday, | | | | tired! |
| your lower body on Tuesday and Friday and your | | | | Strategy 4: Consider the type of exercise you |
| upper body on Wednesday and Saturday. This | | | | are doing and whether you should do it more or |
| could be an excellent way of keeping up some | | | | less frequently. For example, if you are a power |
| cardiovascular work nearly every day without | | | | lifter and you only exercise two days a week I |
| overextending any muscle group. | | | | would consider doing something light two or three |
| The big issue for many people is maintaining a | | | | more days per week. If you are a walker and |
| regular and consistent exercise program. Granted, | | | | your program is to walk 3 days a week for 15 |
| this is hard to do. So many things happen to | | | | minutes, you may want to increase that to 30 or |
| disrupt our schedules. We may have to work late, | | | | 45 minutes over time. If you are weight lifter |
| the kids may have athletic or scholastic contests | | | | targeting the upper body five or six days per |
| that we cannot miss, there may be car problems, | | | | week you may consider backing off a little or |
| etc. I would like to provide a couple of strategies | | | | doing an alternate exercise on a couple of days. |
| here that may help. | | | | Strategy 5: Many people do best when they try |
| Many of us work out at a gym. A gym can | | | | to work out at about the same time. It might be |
| provide very good equipment for a solid workout. | | | | the morning, at lunch time or right before supper. |
| The problem is that most of us have to drive (or | | | | What time it is done at is not as important as |
| walk) at least a short distance to get our gym of | | | | getting it done. |
| choice. For me, I could never exercise regularly in | | | | Strategy 6: Don't be overly discouraged if you |
| the morning before going into work. It just would | | | | feel you don't have enough time to do your entire |
| not happen. I am not a real early riser and I do | | | | workout. If your program lasts 45 minutes and |
| not think I ever will be. In my job, exercising at | | | | you only have 15, I suggest doing something |
| lunch time would not fly either, even though there | | | | different for 15 minutes or maybe just your first |
| is a YMCA less than 1/10 of a mile from my | | | | series of reps. Do something, even if it is not for |
| workplace. I just would not be able to do it during | | | | as long as you would like. |
| work time. So to use a gym, my only solution | | | | To Wrap it Up |
| would be after work. When I complete a day at | | | | Exercising is a good habit that helps almost |
| the grindstone, like many of us, I want to get | | | | everyone. The benefits provided are too long to |
| home. Going to a gym consistently after work | | | | list in this article. Exercise is most beneficial when |
| would be hard for me too. | | | | it is done on a consistent basis. Consider if it is |
| Strategy 1: If you are able to make it to a gym | | | | best for you to work out at a gym or not. |
| regularly, it is an excellent idea considering the | | | | Remember to have a backup plan for when |
| good equipment that most workout facilities have. | | | | things don't go as planned. Try to get someone |
| There is also a benefit of the friendships you can | | | | else involved so you can help each other with the |
| gain with others pursuing the same goal as you. If | | | | scheduling. Consider the type of exercise you are |
| you are not able to make it to a gym at all, a | | | | doing and whether should be doing it more or less |
| good piece of home exercise equipment can | | | | frequently. If you do best exercising in the |
| make the workout process considerably more fun | | | | morning or evening, put it on your schedule. Don't |
| and easy. The Tony Little Gazelle and Rock and | | | | be discouraged and completely neglect your |
| Roll Stepper are two pieces of equipment that | | | | workout if there is not enough time for the entire |
| are very good and do not cost a fortune. If you | | | | routine. A short workout is usually better than |
| are unable to make it to a workout facility | | | | nothing. With the winter time upon us, exercising |
| regularly, consider the purchase of good | | | | regularly is more important than ever. Remember, |
| home-gym equipment. | | | | you can do it. |