| While you are raising a family, sometimes the | | | | 2. Workout to Music: Take an iPod with you whenever |
| pressures of daily life seem overwhelming. You have | | | | you hit the gym. This is a great way of kicking the |
| kids to get ready for school, housework, meals, | | | | boredom out of your workout routine! When I work out |
| laundry, illnesses, not to mention your job if you work | | | | to music, I find it more enjoyable because I am not |
| outside the home! "When the heck am I going to have | | | | really concentrating on how hard I am working, but |
| time to workout?" That is a question I hear regularly, | | | | actually listening to the music. Upbeat music works |
| and I can relate to that because I am a working | | | | great when you are doing cardio. Softer music when |
| mother myself. Sometimes it is just impossible to stick | | | | you are stretching or doing yoga. Most gyms today |
| to a regular fitness routine and the preparation of | | | | have TVs too, so if you have headphones you can |
| healthy meals. | | | | plug in and watch your favorite TV show while on the |
| That being said, I try not to let everyday stress | | | | treadmill! |
| become an excuse to not get my regular exercise in. | | | | 3. Do what you love: It becomes a lot easier when you |
| We all have 24 hours in a day, so we need to find | | | | find certain exercises that you love to do. If there are |
| some time during that period for some form of | | | | exercises that you absolutely despise, do not make |
| exercise. Part of your daily routine includes a shower | | | | them part of your routine. You will get bored and quit. |
| and brushing your teeth. You would not go without | | | | Instead, mix it up a bit, but make sure you are working |
| those, so if you make exercise part of your daily | | | | every area of your body. |
| routine too, it will become a habit. A great habit! It is just | | | | 4. Start it slow: If you have never exercised in life, it is |
| not right to use lack of time as an excuse to avoid | | | | only natural that you will be afraid to hit the gym. When |
| exercise. If you are afraid to get started, or just not | | | | you first begin to exercise, you do not have to do it |
| sure how, then read on, I think this will help you. | | | | daily in order to lose weight. Instead, try to take it easy: |
| Just remember, even 20 minutes a day is better than | | | | start by working out only for fifteen to twenty minutes |
| nothing at all. Here are five tips to help you get started. | | | | per day, for two or three days a week. As your body |
| 1. Find a friend to workout with: Working out alone is | | | | gets accustomed to your new workout routine, you |
| not always an enjoyable experience. However, if you | | | | can scale up the intensity of your workouts! Trust me, |
| have a friend workout with you, chances are that you | | | | you will feel so much better when you start to |
| will start loving your workouts because you will also | | | | incorporate fitness into your daily routine. |
| have that social interaction! Also, seeing your friend | | | | 5. Work out at home: If a gym membership is not in |
| working out will motivate you to continue with your | | | | your budget, that's okay. You can purchase some |
| exercise program. The other benefit that comes with | | | | really good exercise DVDs and get started at home. |
| working out with a friend is accountability. If you know | | | | You can still invite friends over to work out with you |
| your friend is counting on you to meet her at the gym, | | | | for added fun and support. We offer some beginner |
| you are less likely to use the excuse "I don't feel like it | | | | to advanced DVD choices on our website. |
| today." | | | | |