If you’ve been lacing up your sneakers and breaking a sweat a few times per week for a while now, you’ve got a great fitness routine going—good on you! But what happens when things go haywire? Say, your calendar fills up with work deadlines, the babysitter cancels, or a tire goes flat on the way to the gym. Cut yourself some slack, and try one of these tricks to keep some activity in your day.
Put it on the Calendar—in Pen! Schedule your workouts the same way you plan your week around your favorite TV shows. Yes, you can TiVo those episodes to watch on your time, and—guess what!?—you can do that with a run or power walk, too. Find a time that works for you and make fitness happen!
Make it Fun Stop thinking of exercise as something you have to do. Fitness should be fun! Find an activity that you love—adult kickball, soccer, roller skating, anything!—and make that part of your routine. You’re more likely to stick to an exercise plan that makes you smile than one you dread. Plus, there’s no rule that says you have to spend an hour a day slogging it out on an elliptical machine, while staring at a wall. Open the door and…
Get Outside! Skip up a hill—don’t laugh, it’s a calorie-torching workout! (Or do laugh—it’s great for your abs!) Invite your friends for a power walk around the neighborhood and some girl time. Or turn your 2:15pm touch-base with a coworker into a walking meeting, and do a couple laps around the building. (Don’t forget to log that walk in your MyFitnessPal exercise diary.)
Don’t Aim for Perfection Instead of getting bogged down with doing the perfect workout or signing up for the trendiest class, simply add more movement (any and all movement is great!) into your day.
Just Keep Moving! You’ve heard these little suggestions before: Take the stairs, park in the furthest spot possible, get off the bus one stop early—all that extra movement really does add up. Being more active in general will increase your calorie burn and enhance your weight loss efforts.
Time for a group share: How do you slip extra activity into your day?