Fitness Is Good Exercise For Busy And Lazy People
Fitness is good exercise
Incremental Change Can Have Dramatic Results
We're busy people.We spend the vast majority of our days on the run, rushing to work, darting between meetings, munching on convenience foods and desperately looking forward to a good night's sleep that never seems to come.
In spite of the fact that we know, deep down, that this is no way to live, we wonder how we could possibly make changes to this lifestyle.
Where would we fit them in?
Dr. Rachna D. Jain, a certified coach and psychologist,
suggests that there are three important points to consider when considering a life change.
First, be clear about what you want, and why
- Do you want to eat healthier foods?
- Do you want to make time for fitness?
- Are you hoping to find more time to spend with your family or friends?
- Why do you want to achieve these goals?
- Do you want to eat right and exercise for health reasons?
- Appearance?
- Do you want more time with friends and family for personal growth?
- Enjoyment?
Make a list of the "whats" and "whys" you would like to change
Second, take baby steps
"We’re not built for big, fast changes, "says Dr. Jain. If your goal is to lose weight, for example, don’t focus on the end goal of pounds to lose.Make small changes, one at a time. Be more conscious of your portion sizes. Eat more "real" foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains instead of processed foods whose ingredients remain a mystery.
If you can’t make time for a fitness class, make small changes during your day.
Take the stairs. Walk to a colleague’s desk instead of calling or sending e-mail. Use the copier or fax machine on another floor.
Park as far from the door as you can to force yourself to walk a little more each day.
Third, Finds The Easiest And Most Fun Way To Make Progress
Dr. Jain says to "find the easiest and most fun way to make progress on your goal every day." Take a friend to a fitness class for an extra dose of laughter and conversation.Don’t deprive yourself of things that bring you joy (like those particularly yummy chocolate chip cookies that always come to your weekly staff meeting).
But remember the value of moderation and balance - capping off your salad lunch with a cookie is very different from chowing down on dessert after a burger, fries and soft drink.
And remember, you might have more time than you think. A recent time-use survey sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and conducted by the U.S.
Census Bureau indicated that in 2003, the average American spent approximately 2.57 hours per day watching television.
Even if you were to turn off the TV for just one night per week, that’s more than enough time to work out for an hour, call a friend and prepare some healthy foods for tomorrow’s lunch.
Change isn't meant to happen overnight.
Remember that you're working towards a goal, and that every little step we take can bring us closer to what we ultimately want to achieve.
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