Hello everyone! My name is Veronica and I reside over at V Watts’ Thoughts.
I’m extremely honored and excited that Joi invited me to do a guest blog for y’all today.
Fridays on RxFitnessLady are usually about fitness and not wanting to stray from that topic I’d like to talk about “Fitness Anytime Anywhere”.
When I initially began my weight loss journey I was about 18 years old. Other than competitive athletics in junior high I had never purposefully exercised. Pushing 220lbs and a size 20 gave me a reason to look into working out and eating right.
At the time I didn’t own a car or make much money so going to a gym was out. The only exercises I knew how to do were your very basic moves. My workouts involved squats, lunges, sit ups, and jumping jacks. And that, my friends, is how it all began for me. I sat down and wrote out a little routine for myself comprised of those few exercises. I would do them every night without fail. In retrospect the whole routine would have probably been what some consider a warm up much less a workout. But you know what? It got the job done. I started to see the pounds fall off. This was an extremely long introduction to basically say, you do have time for fitness!
Whether you go to the gym for an hour to attend Joi’s Bodypump or you have 20 minutes in the morning before you get ready for work —you’ve got time to get fit. Sometimes I think we have this belief that a workout must consist of 20 minute of stretching, 15 minute warm up, 50 minutes of workout, 10 minute cool down, and 10 minute stretches. That’s great, if you’ve got the time to do it. But I don’t want time constraint to hold any of us back.
Do you have time to do 20 jumping jacks and a few side planks?
Do you have time for 50 squats and 20 lunges?
Then by-golly I think you’ve got time for a workout. Now, this shouldn’t take the place of a longer workout that you do have the time for but, by all means, it should take the place of not doing anything at all because of a time constraint.
Change at work and head to the gym to break a sweat before you go home. Do a workout DVD while your clothes are in the wash. Jump rope while you watch your favorite tv show. It’s amazing how I can find time to look through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and blogs for hours and yet I can easily tell myself that I don’t have time to do some crunches or go for a run.
One of the best things to do is have a small workout routine memorized. That way you can bust it out whenever you’ve got the time. When I became my most physically fit I remember doing a workout whenever I could fit it into my schedule. If I was going out for a night on the town and I only had 30 minutes I‘d make that time count! It was second nature to me to get moving and sweating. One thing I’ve noticed about really fit people is that they are usually on the move. There are a couple of people that I work with that are constantly up and walking around. They may be doing it to get more exercise but something tells me that they are just used to being active. I’m working on making physical activity a part of my lifestyle again. Then it doesn’t seem like I’m making myself move it will just be part of my every day.
I hope you all will join me in making time for fitness.
Hi this is Joi! Thank you for supporting Veronica as the guest today! Please show her some love in the comments!
If you are interested in guest posting here at Rx Fitness Lady, visit here and join the PFL community!
Rx Fitness Lady
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Great advice, Veronica! My hubs started a fitness routine this past week. He can only run for maybe 5 minutes at a time, but he’s doing it! So proud of him. 🙂
Yum Yucky recently posted…I ain’t had none in five loooong weeks.
That is so great that fitness is becoming a family affair for you guys! My hubby is anti-running at this point.
Tell your guy “KUDOS” for the five minute increments. That really is fantastic for only just getting started.
It’s true, we seem to have a set mentality of exercise should consist of, something we need to change! I know personally that I feel like if I dont have a big chunk of time for a workout I think why bother but there are benefits to short workouts.
Hi Em! I know what you mean. I would do the exact same. I don’t like feeling rushed so if I didn’t have a good lengthy two hours to do as I pleased at the gym then I figured, “What’s the point?” But you are right, there certainly are benefits to even a short work out when done consistantly enough. 🙂
veronica recently posted…Joi the RxFitnessLady and Friend
If it isn’t convenient, and you don’t like doing it enough for what it can help you achieve, you won’t continue to do it, long term. It’s as easy peasy as that!
Great job on the guest post, Veronica!
Gwen recently posted…The Four Elements of Planned Eating
Sorry, Gwen aparently I sent my reply to you as a comment to my own blog. Good grief. I need to get it together!haha
Anywho, my reply is the very next comment down.
veronica recently posted…Joi the RxFitnessLady and Friend
Thank you Gwen. You are correct, if it isn’t something you can see yourself doing long term then it probably won’t last. That’s why I know that if I can get in even just a little workout then I’ve done well for myself. And doing well for myself is something I can see doing long term. 🙂
veronica recently posted…Joi the RxFitnessLady and Friend
Hi, Veronica! Great post! I love how you described fitting something in even if it’s not a long time. Often people thin “I’ve only got x minutes so I’ll just skip my workout.” But that’s so wrong! I loved your suggestions for how to spend that time.
Carli recently posted…Drop & Give Me 20! {Ab #Workout #Printable}
Thank you Carli. I was queen of excuses at the beginning of my fitness journey. I had to get the all or nothing mentality out of my head and make time for fitness whether it was 2 hours or 20 minutes.
veronica recently posted…Joi the RxFitnessLady and Friend
I think I’m really learning that there’s time for everything if we let that happen. I often feel so overdone with two kids and work and blogging and meals, etc. but you’re right – you can make time for anything important.
And this is important!
Tamara recently posted…Ladies Only Blog Share Link Party: Funtastical Summer.
I hear ya Tamara. I was strapped for time to workout. I asked my boss if I could stop taking lunch breaks so I could leave an hour early to be able to workout before my baby got home. That’s been working for me. Schedules are so hectic with work and little ones aren’t they? Sometimes a walk around the park with baby girl in her stroller is the only exercise I get but it gets the job done. 😉
veronica recently posted…Joi the RxFitnessLady and Friend
Great post, Veronica!! Awesome tips – no need for all the excuses – just make it work!!! I think you completely nailed the problem when you said (in a comment response) that you had to get over the “all-or-nothing” idea – short amounts of time are 100x better than nothing!!!
Kim recently posted…Choices and Why I Work out First thing
Yes, Kim. Learning to get over my black and white, all or nothing attitude was key. I began to realize that I had enough time to do something active and healthy for myself.
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Hey Veronica!! What a great motivational post! I love it. Especially when you asked if I could do 50 squats, heck yeah I can!! 🙂
Nellie recently posted…Friday Fitness Check In: I Love My Curves
I KNOW you make time for fitness. Look at how fabulous you look! A few lunges, squats, and a walk are on the horizon for me today.
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
There is always time for fitness even when watching tv I use to do my walks on my wii fit while watching a tv show. You can also park away from stores and walk extra to get to your destination. Great tips
Kita, I like the way you think! We can make the most of any opportunity to get in some exercise!
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Great advice! I have a quick core routine memorized that I do when I don’t have time for anything else.Also, I love to just get out and walk, even if I only have a few minutes.
Lisa recently posted…Beyond Bacon
That is a great idea Lisa! I like having a little routine memorized. Then you leave yourself virtually no excuses not to get in some sort of fitness for the day. People who make no excuses produce results!
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
I love that you started at home with what you could do there and it all went on from there. That’s totally inspiring for people like me!! Fantastic!! –Lisa
The Dose of Reality recently posted…Hunger Is Something We Take Personally
Hi Lisa! Thank you! Yes, it can start at home. In fact, I am a huge fan of Workout DVD’s. it was easy to roll out of bed and do a workout or do the video before bed. I wish you the best on your fitness journey!
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Thank you Joi and Veronica for sharing and inspiring fitness on the go! Although it may seem like a no- brainier to exercise as much as we could, I do think we over look all the possible possibilities to get a work out in. I’m re-evaluating all down time now!
Hi Chardas. I’m the type that doesn’t like to feel rushed. So I know that for me, having 30minutes to put towards exercise always seemed too small to really enjoy a workout. But like you said, I had to reevaluate my time. Little workouts can keep my exercise momentum going to keep me until my normal-longer work outs can happen.
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Thank you, Joi for letting me guest post and share my thoughts!
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Thank you my darling! It was my pleasure to share you for the blessing that you are to the PFL community! I really appreciate you taking on the guest post and replies. Love ya girl!
Veronica was a great guest today! Her message definitely resonates with me. No excuses!
Karen recently posted…Style Tips::Summer Style Edition
Thank you Karen. I’ve definitely been trying to give my excuses the ol’ heave ho!
veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
I really enjoyed reading this post. There are so many practical ways to build up a sweat and burn some calories. I like that you didn’t use not having a gym membership as an excuse. Great post Veronica.
Hope recently posted…Old School Blogging- Alphabet Soup
Thank you Hope. I am actually a big fan of exercising at home. I loved workout tapes(notice I used the word tapes). Since buying a dvd player I actually don’t have many work out dvd’s. I need to build up my collection so I can do workouts at home to, well besides the little ones I throw together.haha
I hope you have a great weekend.
veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Excellent post on just doing it! Thank you for the encouragement. I needed this.
catherine gacad recently posted…Blurbs for the Brain
You are so very welcome Catherine. I know I’ve read my fair share of blogs that helped me get moving when I felt like staying in. I hope you have a great weekend full of activity. 🙂
veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
This hit home. There are many days that I don’t have time for a run (should I be rearranging my schedule…yes…but that is for another discussion) but the point is I do have time for planks, etc on that day and I should be doing them! Thanks for a good reminder!
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Michelle I will have to get a plank routine going for myself. I hear lots of good things about them. And it looks like something I can do in my office on my lunch break! Thanks for catching my post. I hope you have a great weekend. 🙂
veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Great tips Veronica! It’s so important to make fitness a priority and to fit in what we can. I used to think that it wasn’t “worth” working out if I couldn’t workout for at least an hour. What?? That’s crazy. For me now, it’s more about having an active lifestyle and being efficient with my workouts with HIITs, etc.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted…Friday Round-Up: Coffee Talk Edition
Christine you are so right! It’s a lifestyle. Making the most of any activity that can incur physicality is a way of life. I noticed with very healthy people(like my mom who is almost 70) they make the most of any exertion they do.
Veronica recently posted…Newly Weds
Great advice! I often find myself falling into the trap that I don’t
“have time” fpr a real workout, so I might as well do nothing. Then I just feel worse. It is hard to get motivated – but I love your encouragement that it doesn’t have to be big. It just has to be something.
Leah Davidson recently posted…Oh the Places You’ll Go….
Great advice! Any little bit does count. Even if we can set a side a few moments a day, there will be results. It’s much better than sitting around.
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Thanks Veronica for the practical tips! Anything worth having is worth working hard for! We must MAKE the time, if we want the results, right! I guess it all comes down to “how big is our want to”. Thanks again for sharing! Have a lovely evening!
Michell recently posted…Michell’s Weekly Pearl…
Great advice, Veronica! No excuses. Thank you for sharing.
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Great post! Thanks for reminding us that we really don’t have excuses to not exercise – as long as we are able to move. The media has brainwashed us into thinking that we must have the latest workout video, the latest equipment or the gym membership – to be successful. Those things are good, but not necessary to exercise.
Veronica, You are so inspiring and you are right. We can all find time for whatever we want to make a priority in our lives. And we can get fit anywhere. I love that you found a way to do it, even when it wasn’t “easy” for you!
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