SolveYourProblem Article Series: Exercise & Fitness
What Are The Most Effective Ways
To Exercise & Get Into Shape?

Maintaining Your Fitness as a Busy Professional

When you’re a busy professional and spend a lot of time at your desk, it can be difficult to stay fit with your crazy schedule. You worked hard to get in shape, though, so don’t let it slip away without a fight! There are dozens of ways that you can maintain your fitness level without requiring a large investment time every single day. Studies from leading scientists now show that short workouts throughout the day are just as powerful for the body as one long workout, so don’t feel guilty about not being able to spend a full hour or even 45 minutes working on your body. Appreciate the time that you have and maximize it for the best results.

If your company is one of the enlightened few in America that offer fitness facilities on site, you’ve got a major advantage. Check the facilities out and note the machines you would be interested in. Talk to the employees who manage the fitness center and find out when the busiest time of day is so that you can avoid it. Many times that magic time is between 9 - 11AM and 1 - 3PM. It can be difficult to maneuver a workout in during those hours, but remember, it doesn’t have to be long and drawn-out. Visit the weight room for ten minutes twice a day and you will be able to maintain the muscle you’ve built up over time. If possible, fit in a 15-20-minute aerobic workout at the end of the day before you head home. Figure out what will work best for you and then commit to it. With a time commitment of less than three hours of every week you can maintain your fitness without sacrificing your professional life.

For those who aren’t so fortunate to have exercise centers available at work, there are other ways to get around that. Invest in some smart fitness equipment to keep at the office and set your computer to remind you when it’s time for a brief 5-minute workout. Hand weights, yoga mats, resistance bands, and other accessories are perfect for the office, and can be stored without taking up too much room. Plan to have at least four 5-minute exercise segments throughout the day. Scheduling a 5-minute workout around the 3 o’clock snack time can help you avoid the calorie-laden pitfalls of the snack-room while keeping your fitness level up. For aerobic workouts, try taking four flights of stairs for a brief, intense workout that calls on a lot of muscle to work hard in a short period of time. If you can walk around your company’s parking lot, power-walk for ten minutes using your arms to boost heart rate. For some people a jump rope can be a great tool that allows them to burn fast calories with only a three minute investment of time. That doesn’t work for everyone, since jumping rope can be hard on joints and difficult to do within the office, but if it works for you, go for it.

Make a point of sticking to your fitness schedule. Co-workers may find it amusing but you’re the one with the great body! You may want to consider forming an office fitness group that could support and encourage each other during the work day or even present a request to upper management for a more fitness-friendly environment at work. More and more companies are realizing the benefits of having employees who are healthy and fit, and as a result of that some are installing fitness facilities, signing deals with local gyms for employee usage, and rewarding employees that demonstrate commitment to personal health and fitness. Find out what your company’s policy is on employee fitness and make it work for you!

While you may not be able to fit in as much exercise as you would, you can still get enough intense movement into your day to maintain your fitness level. Stay committed and encouraged; you made the original effort to get your body into shape and that is too valuable a commitment to allow it to go to waste. Figure out what works best for you during the workday and then do it! Your body will thank you!

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2005