As you pursue a medical weight loss plan, time will become your ally. You need time for meal planning, prepping, and cooking, and you also need time for your daily exercise. But this part of the program can present a challenge for some of us, who live busy lifestyles without much free time. These four tips can help you overcome that obstacle and fit exercise into your day.
Make up for lost time on weekends. Maybe you can only fit twenty or thirty minutes of exercise into your days during the week. Make up for it on the weekends by taking the family on a hike in a nearby state park or on a public trail. You can spend more time with your loved ones, set a great example for the future, and burn enough calories to compensate for shorter sweat sessions during the week.
Skip the gym. Yes, really! There’s no rule that states exercise can only be performed in a gym. If you don’t have time for driving to the gym, body weight exercises like push-ups, planks, crunches, and lunges can be performed at home (or the office, or anywhere else you might be). You can cram a few minutes of cardio into a busy schedule by simply keeping a jump rope handy.
Include the kids. If childcare is your obstacle, include the kids in a non-traditional exercise routine. Play a game of tag or soccer in the yard, go for a family bike ride, or play together at a nearby playground. Older kids can play while you walk the baby in a stroller. As a bonus, playground equipment is often ideal for practicing moves like pull-ups.
Try short bursts of activity. If you don’t always have time for an hour-long workout, break it up into smaller sessions. Several times per day, try to fit in a ten or fifteen minute walk, hike up the stairs at work, do a a few pushups, or perform some jumping jacks.
If you’re struggling to fit exercise into your medical weight loss program, remember we’re here to help. Let’s discuss your particular challenges at our next checkup, and we’ll help you design a solution that suits your lifestyle.
