Easy Ways to Fit Exercise into your Daily Routine, part 2

While many women know that an exercise program would help them feel healthier, have more energy or even lose weight, sometimes it's difficult to change previouse non-exercising habits into fitness conscious ones. In part 1, we explored two ways to sneak exercise into our busy schedules. If one of your New Year resolutions is to exercise regularly, here are some more ideas for ways you can (almost) effortlessly incorporate some type of exercise into your busy routine with minimum effort but big payoffs.

Multi-Task Your TV Time

If you don’t want to miss the morning news or your favorite television show, put your time in front of the TV to good use. Multi-task your TV time with an exercise bike or the Phoenix Health & Fitness Power Rower. Working out in front of the TV isn’t like “really” exercising. Keeping your mind engaged while keeping fit prevents you from focusing on aspects of your workout that might discourage you such as thinking about how long you’ve been exercising, how tired you’re feeling and how you should be catching up on paperwork. Many types of exercise bikes and models of rowing machines can be folded away when not in use, which is a bonus for maintaining a room’s uncluttered and cozy atmosphere.

If exercise equipment, no matter how user-friendly, doesn’t appeal to you, even exercising in the commercials will pay off in the long run if you get yourself into the habit on a regular basis. Doing leg lifts, crunches and mild stretches while the ads are on will get you moving and loosen muscles.

Step It Up

Stepping units are conveniently portable and easy to use. They can be used virtually anywhere in your home, so you can watch baby, keep an eye on the kids or tune into your favorite soap while getting a little exercise. A stepping machine like the Phoenix Health & Fitness Denise Austin Mini Stepper Plus also has the added benefit resistance handles for working upper body muscles at the same time as giving your legs a workout.

How about just doing housework or working in the garden? Health professionals advocate 10,000 steps a day to keep you active and promote general well-being. The Timex Ironman Pedometer not only keeps track of how many steps you’ve taken, it also tracks how many calories have been burned.

It doesn’t have to be high-tech or complicated. By making the most of what “spare” time you have, fitness is at your fingertips. It just requires a little creativity, consistency and motivation. And the best part is it doesn’t have to take a lot out of your day.

- E.L.