Ask the Trainer Archives | Page 2 of 2

In my introductory “Ask the Trainer” post, several of you asked how I have been able to fit workouts into my already busy days.

I truly didn’t think I had time for exercise before this year – and I certainly wasn’t very eager to shift my schedule around much to make time for it. Now if chocolate is involved in an activity, I can make time f0r it – no problem. But exercise? That hasn’t made it consistently onto my priority list since high school. And that was, you know…way back in the 1900’s. ;)

So, how did this happen? For starters, I had to just decide that I was going to be consistent with exercising – plain and simple. I found that it really helped that I was going to be working out with a friend. Accountability is key for me.

It wasn’t long before I started seeing results – mainly a huge increase in my energy level! Then I started noticing that my muscles were more toned. My lungs started to feel stronger. My endurance level increased. My belt needed to be tightened.

Somehow, since I have discovered that I love exercising, the time needed for it has magically appeared. I’m guessing that this is because I’ve decided to make fitness a priority in my life. I’m not really sure what I took out of my schedule in order to add in the workouts, but I have consistently been able to exercise four to six days each week since mid-January. Somehow, I’m still able to get everything else done each day. That probably has something to do with that increased energy I mentioned earlier!

Keep in mind – my children aren’t babies anymore. I think that most people can find at least a little bit of time to exercise each week, but I know that I would not have been able to work out at my current level of intensity a few years ago when my boys were littler. Could I have done something though? Yes, I believe I could have – at least two or three days each week. I sure wish I would have. If I would have only known how good I would feel!

At this point, Jen, my friend and work-out buddy/personal trainer, and I try to work out five to six days a week. Some days we get in about 30 minutes of resistance training (lifting weights). Other days we take long walks – sometimes up to eight miles if we have time. Occasionally we jog part of that walk. Some days we do a 45-minute intense work-out video. Some days, we can’t find time for a workout at all.

Our workout times vary from day to day. We just try to grab those minutes that fit into the schedule, even if it means we can’t start a workout until 9:30 at night. Ha! Recently at a soccer game, she and I decided to go for a jog/walk while we waited for Justus’ team to warm up. Then we took advantage of half-time too. Hey, you gotta make it work whenever you can make it work. And sometimes, while running around a soccer complex in front of dozens of people, you just have to realize that you’re a little bit crazy. (Um, that would be me…not Jen. Although she was with me, so…)

Here’s what Jen (from Getting Fit With Jen) has to say about finding time for fitness:

If fitness and exercise are a priority then it does become easier to find time for it. But that doesn’t mean it is always easy to fit it into your day. You will still have other priorities and responsibilities that you will need to take care. Sometimes exercise has to be fit in around those responsibilities. Sometimes it just needs to be “scheduled” into the day like everything else.

Here are some possibilities for times that might work for you to fit exercise into your busy day:

Get up a half hour to hour earlier! Sometimes it works to get your workout in first thing so that you can continue with the rest of your day like normal.

If you have little ones, maybe you can get your workout in while they are napping. You could also take them with you on a walk or if they are old enough to play at the park let them play while you workout nearby….Read the rest of Jen’s article here.

I totally love point #4 that she shares! That’s how I find that this exercise thing really works most days!

What have you found to be the best time for you to fit in some exercise?

Everyone who knew me before January of 2012 knows that I did not like to exercise. No way, no how. Exercise was painful and I was very sure that I didn’t have time for it. That is why, in January of this year, when my friend Jen asked me to join her in her workout routines, I choked, laughed, and ran far, far away.

Well, I didn’t literally run far, far away, because that would have involved exercise, which was not something I ever did. But you know what I mean.

Jen urged me on; she told me how much fun it would be for us to work out together; she told me how much better I would feel.

To which I answered, “Hey, I feel just fine, thankyouverymuch.”

And then I coughed.

Stinkin’ asthma. Which led me to another excuse I’ve always given to avoid exercise – it would trigger my asthma.

So no thanks on the workouts. I would simply continue eating a wonderful diet of nutrition packed foods. That is all I needed to be healthy.

Well, Jen is almost as stubborn as I am, and so she nicely pushed and told me to think about it some more. She promised to go easy on me, but felt sure that I wouldn’t regret the decision to become more active. Matt agreed with Jen, knowing that I would benefit greatly and become stronger from the workouts. He’s been forever concerned about my lungs and asthma. He was also not nearly as convinced as I had been that simply eating a healthy diet (and skipping the exercise) would keep me healthy.

I finally agreed reluctantly to give this workout thing a try – mainly because I knew that my lungs and overall body needed to get into shape. I figured I would last a total of two and a half days, and then I could move on back into my happy place – my comfortable kitchen where I would always and forevermore be content baking muffins and reading school books to my children.

Twelve weeks and approximately 55 workouts later, all I have to say is this: Jen is a miracle worker. The girl has made me fall in love with exercise. She’s whipped me into shape, and she’s somehow figured out how to make it fun.

It didn’t take long at all for me to notice a difference in how I was feeling. In fact, I feel better than I have felt in years. I have loads of energy. I’m standing straighter. I’ve had to tighten my belt two notches.

We’ve been walking, lifting weights, and doing workout videos. Jen is so gifted at this personal trainer business that she is now working toward becoming a Certified Personal Trainer. I am so excited for her!

And guess what? I’m so nice that I’ve decided to share her with you. (Just so long as she doesn’t get so busy that I can’t get my workouts in – because look out world! I am addicted to exercise!)

I recommend that you check out her website, Getting Fit With Jen. Read the great information she shares on fitness and look into the services she provides. (Yes, she can even be your long-distance personal trainer.)

And guess what else? Because I am finally recognizing that simply eating healthy is not enough, in an effort to complete the whole healthy package around here at Heavenly Homemakers, Jen has agreed to help me out with a new feature here: Ask the Trainer

If you are like I was, you may have no idea where to start on your fitness journey. You may wonder how you can even schedule exercise into your already very busy life. You may wonder how to involve your children. You may have all kinds of questions about working out and exercise – I know I sure did. I can’t believe how much Jen has taught me in such a short time.

So here’s how we’re getting started with this today. First, make a decision – are you ready to get fit? I realize that this may not be an easy decision for some. But oh how I hope you’ll join me on this journey! You won’t regret it. Next, what questions do you have that you’d like Jen to address in this new “Ask the Trainer” feature?

Let the comments begin. Who’s ready to get fit!?

Finding Time For Fitness

I’m Getting Fit With Jen – Want To Join Me?!