10 Ways to Find Time for Exercise

I save my tv watching time for workout time. I watch it only when I go down to workout. I work out on the treadmill - the bike or other things while watching. It distracts me from the "is it time to stop" question I usually get - and I usually workout longer because I want to wait until the program is over.

I don't do this every day - because other days I want to focus on my workout (step aerobics). However, if I intend to spend time doing something I don't like - treadmill - it is a good way to keep at it!

Sumay - 4/19/2013 3:23:57 PM

This was a great article.

I have all the excuses in the world to not exercise: three kids with school/sports activities every night, a job, volunteer engagements. I schedule 4 days a week for running. They are an appointment. If it's raining, or I'm feeling tired, etc when I am ready to head out the door, I still head out the door. That is my allotted time to exercise, and I don't feel bad about making my exercise a priority! It always makes me a better wife, mother, and friend.

I have a good friend in the same situation. We are running partners, but we are also good friends. While we prefer to run together, we also trade off watching each other's kids so we can get the run in for the day. It's all about priorities when you play the "excuses" game. - 1/26/2013 6:16:44 PM

Some of these suggestions are good for me to remember - especially stepping away from the media.

I am interested if there are suggestions for people who are caretakers for family members in their home. That's kind of my situation. I can wake up earlier, but not go anywhere because it would wake up my son, who needs me at home and has trouble sleeping enough. We have a loss of income because I can't work anymore - so I am looking for more common sense, low-cost ways to help make exercise part of my routine. - 1/21/2013 11:57:47 AM

A great article. I can pick up some very helpful ideas and try them on my own. - 1/20/2013 4:25:05 PM

Of all the suggestions made, I think making the committment to yourself is the most important. We all let everyone else's needs and wants take precedence over our own. If we don't take time for ourself to try and stay healthy how will we continue to fulfill everyone else's needs/ - 1/19/2013 9:48:56 AM

Thank you for the article. The one thing I would take issue with is the one about getting up earlier. Americans are sleep-deprived as it is, and lack of sleep can interfere with weight loss. If you need to get up earlier to get your exercise done in the A.M. for all of the good reasons listed here, it should go hand-in-hand with going to bed earlier in the evening to make up for it. The suggestion about cutting down on media time is a great one, however! Great article! - 1/19/2013 8:16:13 AM

About a year ago, I made a decision to walk to my town's bus loop instead of walking to the closest bus stop. It was basically two fold that I made this decision: the first reason was that I found that my bus was coming inconsistently to the bus stop and therefore found it was quicker to get to the bus loop by walking and secondly, I had gotten some Starbucks cards for my birthday and it was the perfect excuse to get my morning coffee on my way to work. Of course there are days I would prefer to take the bus to the bus loop, but I realize that it is much more sensible to walk to the bus loop instead of waiting for a bus to pick me up to take me to the bus loop. It also helps that I have walk most of the way up a hill. I have found that I have enjoyed it and it has just become a part of my day. - 1/19/2013 4:16:47 AM

I'm wondering if anyone else out there profusely sweats during and after a workout. I find that a ten minute workout involves more TIME than 10 minutes... I usually take 15 to stop sweating, 15 for a cool shower, and another 15 to stop sweating after the cool shower. Because of the sweat most of these are not doable... - 1/12/2013 2:53:11 PM

This was a great article and reminds me of all the healthy things you can do to get in shape and to goal. Thanks for sharing and the reminders of how we can get there and be motivated to keep it up. WE CAN DO THIS!!! We are worth it and setting an appointment up with ourselves is the best idea for staying focused. - 11/7/2012 7:44:41 AM

one of my favorite ways to squeeze in exercise: if you go out on the town with friends, hit a club that plays music you like. then dance to it. when you're working out with people you like to music you love, it doesn't feel like a chore anymore.

of course, finding time to go out is a whole other issue, but you'll have to figure that out on your own :P - 10/29/2012 6:27:29 PM

I'm doing most of these - my problem is finding motivation for a second stint, particularly on days when I've slept badly, woken up late, and have a morning commitment. - 8/17/2012 4:37:04 AM

Articles like this one remind me how important and worthwhile exercise can be. I just went walking/hiking for an hour this afternoon and I really got a sense of accomplishment when I finished. - 6/13/2012 12:47:10 AM

I really liked this article. It makes a lot of sense and makes exercising seem much less overwhelming. I've been trying to squeeze in 20 minutes a day on my lunch break and it's nice to know that it might actually be making a difference. :) - 5/28/2012 6:43:53 PM

I really like the article.
With regard to 'no time to exercise' - a coach I know once said that we may feel that exercise takes a lot of time. But she reminded us that if we don't exercise, we will very likely get health complaints.... and these take time too! Time spent in bed or on the couch, time spent in hospitals, time spent talking to doctors or trying to get educated on the problem, time trying to get help... So it's better to exercise and have fun than to not exercise and be ill and spend time miserable later...! - 5/28/2012 2:50:22 PM

My husband and I walk 40 minutes 5 days a week. We get up at 4:30 am and have done that for 34 years. Guess what - we are slim and healthy. Do we like to get up early - heck no. But being healthy and slim is important so we do it. - 5/28/2012 11:28:55 AM