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Got 15 or 30 Minutes? Time To Exercise!

By HERWriter
 
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15 minutes is enough time for exercise Hemera/Thinkstock

If there is one thing in life many of us would like more of, it is time. In fact, as a trainer the number one objection I hear from people about not working out is that they do not have the time nor the money for a session.

You could perhaps make the argument that in today’s economy, the reason we do not have the time is that we are putting in more hours to make ends meet.

However, it is the quality of the little time we have that is important. Exercise can improve that quality of time and make us stronger for our families and more productive at work.

As a new mom, I am certainly getting a lesson in time management. However, I find that I can check more things off of my To Do List when I energize myself with a workout.

The American Council On Exercise, as reported on EverydayHealth.com by writer Leigh Crews, offers several suggestions for fitting in a quick 30 minute workout. One of their most important key points is to “schedule it like an appointment” and to not wait for “the right time” to exercise.

Partner up with someone to help you stick to your goals. Crews says, “For many people, an exercise partner is the glue that helps you stick to your commitment.”

You want to also make sure that you’re in the right frame of mind yourself and can be encouraging to your workout partner, even if they’re achieving faster results than you. Don’t get or act discouraged and let your partner down.

Another suggestion is to start out slowly by going for a walk. I find this is a nice way to get clients moving and is even better if you can get them outside to enjoy nature. That mind-body focus helps them stay motivated with varying sights, terrain and nature sounds.

If you do not have 30 minutes, you do not get a hall pass to eliminate exercise. A study last year found that 15 minutes is enough time to get results.

The study out of Tawain found that all you need is 15 minutes a day. The study was conducted by Tawain’s National Health Research.

As reported on Reuters.com, researcher Chi Pang Wen said, “Just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day increased life expectancy by three years compared to those who remained inactive.”

Wen is optimistic that the decrease in allocated time will encourage more people to get moving. "We hope this will make it more attractive for inactive people, that they can allocate 15 minutes a day, rather than 30, which is more difficult."

I am also confident, that once people start moving for 15 or 30 minutes, they will want to find more time to get moving as they enjoy the benefits of an active life.

Online References:

“How to Exercise in 30 Minutes or Less – American Council on Exercise – EverdayHealth.com.” Every Day Health and Nutrition. Web 17 May 2012.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/blog/american-council-on-exercise/how-to-exercise-in-30-minutes-or-less/?xid=nl_EverydayHealthDietandNutrition_20120517

“15 minutes of fitness a day can add 3 years to your life – Reuters.com” Reuters. Web 17 May 2012.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/15/us-exercise-taiwan-idUSTRE77E69L20110815

Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training.

Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com/ She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband and son, where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.

Reviewed May 18, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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