Life is Busy….is that an understatement or what?!  I have 2 children (ages 7 & 4), and between baseball practice/games, working as a physical therapist assistant, playing league Volleyball, answering health/fitness emails, maintaining a business facebook page, marketing, the kid’s school VIP weeks, and various other appointments, I can barely wrap my mind around what to make for dinner and continuously stare at the laundry that needs folding.  However, I still manage to get a daily workout in….whether it’s once the kids go to bed or sometime throughout the day.  The kids know that when it’s Mommy’s time to workout, they must keep busy.  I don’t care if they are in the basement with me playing….they just need to try and not interrupt.  I need at least 30 minutes and if they are having a good day….I get 45-60 minutes. Working out is as much of a mental release for me as a physical one.  I am a much better Mommy and more fun when I get my workout in for the day.  I realize this and let go of the ‘guilt’ of working out a long time ago.  My kids are learning the importance of exercise….and it’s need in their lives along with mine.  I can hear it now as they talk to their kids….”Your Grandma used to always workout!”  Ha Ha!

But, I was chatting with my cousin the other day and she said, “Working 60+ hours and putting the finishing touches on my upcoming wedding is really stressing me out.”  She needed to be up at 5:15 the next morning for work.  Her statement got my mind racing.  You see, I work a PRN status.  This means, that the company I am employed with contacts me and asks me if I am able to work that day or the next.  They can call at any time and I can say “YES” or “NO.”  I like to say “YES” but that can be difficult due to having to find a sitter at the  last minute.  Therefore….it’s easy for me as a health/fitness coach to say, “A workout is only 30-60 minutes/day and you should be able to get that in!!”  After chatting with Audrey and really thinking about it…I realize…..that can be really harsh to say and some people are working sunrise to sundown (esp. in this economy) and literally have no time to squeeze in a hard workout.  YES, they understand it’s good for them physically and mentally to work out…..YES, they want to do it….but there just isn’t enough hours in the day!!  I GET IT!  🙂  (As a therapist I struggle getting my patients do to their quick home exercise programs….let alone a hard workout!)

So….you may not get time to workout and may be exhausted.  NEVER FEAR….options are HERE!  🙂  There are plenty of ways to get little workouts in and YES….it does matter!  Something is better than nothing!  When you cannot get a workout in….focus extra hard on your nutrition and water intake.  Then, try to add in a few of these ideas.

• You have to get to work, right?  Are you close enough to ride a bike somedays?  If so…do it!
• Driving?  While sitting at the stop light do isometrics.  These are exercises which contract the muscles, but no joint movement.  Such as butt squeezes or posterior pelvic tilts (fancy name for tightening lower abs and pushing your low back against your lumbar support).  Do as many as you can while at the stop light or hold them 10 seconds and repeat throughout an entire song.
• Do squats while brushing your teeth.  Make sure to keep your butt back and knees behind toes to protect those knees!  Push up through your heels.  You can get into the squat position and stay there a few seconds, or do them one legged and stay shallow.  (I should blog about different kinds of squats!  lol)
• Wall sits.  Helping your kids with homework?  Put your back against the wall, feet about 2 feet away from wall and slide down until your knees are 90 degrees bent.  Hold 60 seconds and repeat 3x.  (BURN QUADS, BURN!)
• Do pushups or abdominal crunches or planks during commercial breaks on your TV shows or during movies.  How many can you do?
• Stretch hamstrings/calves while sitting on floor folding laundry.
• Run sprints with your kids!
• Make your own circuit with jumping jax, tuck jumps, high knee running in place, squats, and push ups.  Do each one for a minute and then repeat 3-5x with a 30-60 second rest between reps.

Get the point?????  (I always do the car exercises and random squats throughout the day)  🙂 Every little bit helps….seriously!  Then, on the weekends or whenever you have time…..get that hard workout in…the kind where you are tired, out of breath, and a little sore the next day.

Be creative!  Post your creativity on my facebook page so others can learn and be motivated too!  I would LOVE it!  www.facebook.com/yourfitnessinfo 

If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please contact me at bashford.lisa@yahoo.com

Life is busy…..so the next time you are driving somewhere…think of me and squeeze those buns!