I’ve got a big family, and although I am very consistent with my exercise, there are times when I have 20 minutes or less to do a fast workout.
In past days, I would have just skipped working out completely if I didn’t have time because:
1) I was morbidly obese
2) The thought of exercise made me tired
3) Why bother for just a few minutes?
Well, these days, I understand that even a few minutes of activity can help you rev up your metabolism, get a burst of energy, burn a few calories, and may keep you motivated to eat healthy in order to not “undo” those calories you just burned.
I don’t belong to a gym, so my 15 to 20 minute workouts are at home. Here’s how I get in a fast workout when I’m too busy to head outside for my walk/run.
Walk up and down my stairs for 5 minutes, jog in place for 5 minutes, lift 15-pound weights for 5 minutes.
Jump rope for 2 minutes, march in place for 5 minutes, jump rope for 1 minute, march in place for 10 minutes.
Do 20 minutes of strength training – biceps, triceps, abdomen, chest and a few leg lifts.
Put my bike on the trainer and ride for 20 minutes in the garage.
These are just some of the ways I make sure that I don’t get lazy even when my life gets really busy.
Diane
YESYESYES!!!!
I can be as simple fast and SWIFT as this.
Miz´s last fabulous musings ..Fitbloggin Four
So true! I can’t always fit in a big hour-long workout, and sometimes I plain don’t WANT to. But I’ve discovered it’s a good break for me anyway to get up from the computer and do a set of pushups; later do a set of situps; later do some stair climbing. I don’t have to set aside a big chunk of time.
Gingersnapper´s last fabulous musings ..Forties
Your post made me have a bit of a giggle, because just a few days ago, there I was in the shower, using the 3 minutes that I normally just stand there waiting for my hair conditioner to work, to jog on the spot, and then I realised that my hubby had walked in, and was brushing his teeth, watching me with a very confused expression on his face!
Ness at Drovers Run´s last fabulous musings ..Old Fart- that’s me
So true! It is important to do what we can even when we don’t have time for a full hour long workout. For me this helps a lot with the all-or-nothing mentality that I’ve struggled so much with. I’m directly fighting this when instead of saying “What good is a ten minute stroll going to do me? I can’t workout intensely today.” I say, “Every little bit helps. I will do what I can when I can.” Another favorite of mine for a quick workout is workout DVDs. I have quite a few and don’t have to waste time going anywhere to do it. I also having been trying to get at least ten minutes of walking in on my lunch break.
Laura Jane´s last fabulous musings ..Whew! That was a CLOSE one!
20 mins was the magic number that got me exercising. I promised myself I would do 20 mins of walking 6 days a week. I would REQUIRE no more than that. I could always say,”its only 20 mins”. Sometimes, I would do a walking video or just march in place and treat myself to a show on tv. Most of the time, it was a walk outside.
Then, somedays, going a little farther or faster seemed good. When I noticed I would get sleepy at 2pm, I started adding 5 mins of movement then. Climbing the stairs and some strength training.
This was over 2 years ago, now (40 lbs lighter), I am a runner 3 days a week and do strength training 3 more days. And on those days where it just seems too hectic, I promise myself I only have to do 20 mins. And sometimes, I actually only do 20 mins.
your 15-20 minutes would be eaten up in the time it took to drive to gym, so it is very good you have the ‘I can do it at home, by myself’ mentality. And you have written in the past that you can PUSH yourself to work hard/fast which is very important. I am sure you can get more burn in your 15-20 now (because you know you have to PUSH) than the former me would have gotten in an hour.
It was a revelation to me when I read a book by Peggy Fleming, the ice skater. She said that you didn’t need to have rest days. I sort of figured if I worked out several days I needed at least a couple days rest. She pointed out that athletes work out 7 days a week. If one part is injured, they still work out in other ways. So 20 minutes on the days when you might feel “tired” is beneficial and keeps you from the idea that you can take time off. We all know one day off can turn into many more so easily.
This is so perfectly timed with what I posted today – I have to fit in those workouts no matter how much time I have.
Thanks for sharing your ideas!
Leah´s last fabulous musings ..Weigh-In Time To Explain the Stress
My favorite workout involves walking from my desk to the kitchen several times, pausing long enough to pour a cup of coffee, add cream, and cut a piece of fudge then carry cup AND plate outside to sit in the sunshine and enjoy!
Hey. I said it was my favorite, not necessarily the BEST.
The best workout is when I actually work in my orchard or gardens for several hours–spading earth, sawing limbs, mowing grass, digging trenches…a lot of bending, lifting, stretching and breathing of fresh air.
HopefulandFree´s last fabulous musings ..the other girl’s poem
it’s now been a year after my son was born and I have lost any stamina I built up before the pregnancy. I’ve been feeling just what you said. if I can’t get in a full 30min AT LEAST… then what’s the point. Or if I’m just not capable of it, what’s the point. But I finally have stopped that thinking. Because I’m just not capable right now of doing more than 20min at 1 time… And honestly i am usually WAY too exhausted all the time to do more than that. I started breaking up my workout routine into mini workouts. 2 10 min sessions during the day (when he’s napping) and then my usual 20 minutes after the kids go to bed. I’ve had a few days where I just had no time for one of the 10min sessions. But at the end of the day it’s about my trying and getting all that i can into the day. I’m shooting for 40min/day, but I’m requiring 30min/day. And I know it’ll all build the more I go. funny how I knew all this knowledge forever ago, but it’s finally hitting me how practical it ACTUALLY is.
Jules´s last fabulous musings ..A leap of faith in me
I tend to have an all or nothing mentality so thanks for the reminder that every minute counts.
‘Drea´s last fabulous musings ..The Shred Event
I grab the hula hoop or I simply turn up the music and dance! It’s great fun!
Love Diane! Not only for the workout BUT showing other women that it can be done if you stop making excuses why you can’t – LOVE IT!
Jody – Fit at 53´s last fabulous musings ..Pork Chop Help Product Reviews & more
You are so right! It is all such a matter of the right mindset. When we want too, we look for exercise! Today I had a meeting downtown, and I took the many many stairs instead of the elevator…it about killed me, but I did it!
Brenda´s last fabulous musings ..The ZONEIts Coming Back to Me
Intensity. You can burn many calories in as little as 15 minutes if you put the intensity into it. I like to do a combination of burpees(squat thrust), mountain climbers, push ups, and high kneess for some quick calorie burning.
Mike´s last fabulous musings ..Exercise Tips To Build Muscle
These are very good fitness tips and exercise ideas.Our lifestyle is such that we accommodate no workouts and thus accumulate extra fat in the body.
I love 30 Day Shred … it’s okay 30 minutes and gives a great work out and you don’t need anything but a couple of hand weights (which you could sub food cans if you wanted).
Good workout tips! I might steal a few!
Lisa´s last fabulous musings ..I am doing much better – progress pics
Diane, your post makes an excellent point. Even us gym goers have days where we cannot make it there. When I first started working out 4 years ago, my experienced gym buddies basically told me the same thing as you’re saying here: You better have a plan to work out each day, if you can’t make it to the gym. Take time to make a place and a plan for exercising at home, because fit people do that. Yoga and isometric exercises such as push-ups and planks don’t require any equipment at all.
Thanks for sharing your at-home work out tips! it just goes to show that we can make it work if we’re committed.
Well said, Diane — just getting in *some* movement at least helps! I’ve been known to do laps around the dining room table, myself. Weird, but it beats throwing up my hands and giving up
Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day, by the way!
Amanda´s last fabulous musings ..WW Weigh-in- Week 9