February 17, 2003

By: Fred Waters
Website: http://www.smoothfitness.com

Time enough for your health to live a long healthy life

You know I am like most of you readers; I am trying to balance a heavy schedule with keeping fit. In my case, I'm also trying to slow down the middle age process. The problem with modern society is that there are too many demands on our time like work, family obligations, social commitments, etc., etc., etc.

So how do we find that precious extra time to get out and exercise? First, we have to get our priorities straight. A while back I got together with a group of college chums and hiked Havasupai Canyon in Arizona (A virtual paradise). It is not a brutal hike, but it requires some conditioning to avoid a miserable experience for those out of shape.

I rendezvous with one of my old college friends at the Phoenix airport and I was a bit shocked. In the last few years he put on a reasonable amount of weight, and was not physically prepared for the upcoming challenge.

It was early May, and it was fairly warm, and as I feared he suffered from a combination heat and exhaustion. In fact, it was getting serious at one point. He was overheating and it required us slowing down to a crawl.

When we got back to the campsite my friend was very appreciative on how attentive we were. Since we were planning on going to a nice resort after our rugged hike, he offered to treat us to a masseuse. I declined this most generous offer and instead suggested it would mean a lot to me if he started taking better care of his health.

His response was, "With all my obligations, particularly to my family, I really don't have the time." I countered with the logic that he has an obligation to his family to live a long healthy life. It was obvious that I hit a nerve, and he didn't have a comeback.

So here are several suggestions on how you can find the time to live a long healthy life:

1) Get into a routine and stick with it.
If you try and exercise when you have the free time, it just isn't going to happen. Who has any free time? You may have some leisure time when you retire, but with the current equity market that may be awhile. I'm a morning person and I start each day with a vigorous workout. It just puts me in the right frame of mind for the rest of my challenging day. You may find lunchtime or after work better suites your schedule. It really doesn't matter. It just is important to reserve that time slot on a regular basis. Don't let any distractions interfere.

2) Find a form of exercise that is appealing.
I enjoy running and lifting weights. Some people think running is about as exciting as watching paint dry. Consider the many options. There is weight training, aerobic classes, bike riding, walking, Tae Bo, rock climbing, and the list goes on. Of course, you can always purchase a treadmill or elliptical trainer and watch television as you workout. And I know just the right place you can buy one.

3) Something is better then nothing.
If you absolutely cannot make the commitment to a regular exercise regimen, then at least make some lifestyle changes. Get more active. Mow your own lawn, get into gardening, walk up stairs, ride bikes with your kids, park at the far end of the parking lot. In general, do more activities that will get the heart pumping. Modern society requires very little physical effort to get through a day. You have to create the physical challenges in order to stay fit.

Consider your average day and the various activities. If you were to prioritize, could you replace some of those activities with healthy alternatives? I bet you could.

By the way my friend is on a rigid diet program, I believe it is the Weight Watchers program, and he is exercising regularly. Last I heard he lost 20 lbs. Keep up the good work Murph. The next hike will be a breeze.

Author Notes:

Fred Waters contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.smoothfitness.com.  We developed the "Best of Breed" in fitness equipment where you can buy online direct from the manufacturer.