Making that hour count

So the latest news is that women need to work out at least an hour a day EVERY DAY to keep from gaining weight in their middle-age years, according to a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. And that's for women who are already at an optimal weight, just to keep from gaining the average 5.7 lbs over 13 years. Women who need to lose weight should exercise even more.

So when do we find the time to do this? I was feeling a bit ... jiggly ... two weeks ago and reflected on what had devolved into a very unstructured, haphazard exercise routine. Usually, I would go to work in the morning, planning on leaving at an early enough time to work out in the afternoon. (I'm fortunate that I can work a flexible schedule.) But what was really happening -- I'd end up sitting at my desk trying to solve that one last problem, make that one last phone call, and the next thing I knew, it was evening, time to pick up my daughter, make dinner, and by then, too tired to work out. I'd try to do an exercise video, or go to a class, but if the least little thing came up, I opted out. So I decided to re-schedule myself. Now, I exercise in the morning, and then go to work. If there's an exercise class after work that I'd like to go to, and I make it, it's a bonus workout. I realize not everyone has the flexible schedule that I do. But even when my life was at its most complicated - living in the city with a baby and a teenager, working a full-time job -- I was able to get my workouts in. I really believe morning is the best time to workout. But whether morning or evening is your time, and that time is not happening, it's time to look at your schedule and make *it* work for *you*.

I also realized that my exercise routine was not really a routine. It was a jumble of exercise DVDs, some classes, and some free-weight lifting, all done at home. I thought about going back to the gym, but I really do enjoy working out at home, so I decided to do the P90X thing again. P90X may not be your cup of tea, but whatever plan you follow, be sure it includes cardio, strength, and flexibility training.  Check out fitness magazines such as Shape, most of which also have a web component. I remember when I first wanted to start lifting weights, I didn't know how to get started. I found an awesome workout routine in a Shape magazine, and stuck to it for about 3 months until I knew what I was doing. The web versions of the magazines usually even have video clips to show you how an exercise should be done.

So I think two important elements in getting your exercise to work, is to fit it realistically within your schedule, and have a plan. Good luck!