How to exercise when you do not have time to go to the gym

You don't have to go to a gym to get exercise, even if you sit at a desk or a computer screen all day. You just need to have the get-up-and-go (i.e. the determination) to make the time to do something else physical instead.

You can get a workout in any number of ways. Simple changes in your routine such as avoiding the elevator (lift) and walking up the stairs instead. Try getting out two floors below your own floor and walking up two flights. And next time try three flights of stairs. You'll burn fat that way, and build muscle. that's for sure! (Please read my safety warning at the bottom of this article!)

Some other ways to fit a bit of extra exercise into your daily schedule might include:

• Park your car further away from work so you have to walk a little bit further from now on.
• Take the dog for a walk, or borrow your neighbor's dog and take it for walkies instead.Take a ball or a frisbee, and throw it for the dog to retrieve.
• If your local shops are less than a mile away from your home, leave your car behind and walk there and back. (Don't do this in a dangerous neighborhood, okay?) :-)
• Get off the bus one stop before normal and walk the extra distance to where you're going. As you get fitter, give yourself the extra time and keep increasing the distance week by week.
• Put some elbow-grease into doing some housework. Have a big tidy-up weekend.
• Throw out some junk and have a garage sale. You'll get a chance to socialize a little and might even make some money.
• Wash the car, then offer to wash the neighbor's car
• Mow your lawn, then do the same - help a neighbor...
• Go to a local youth club or community center and offer to help out at something, anything. You can make friends and burn some calories as well! 

Do just some of these things, and you will feel much better about yourself as well. Do more and the improvements will multiply.

That takes a little self discipline, and it's something that most of us have been lacking in at one time or another. I know I have. Not always, but some of the time, and on different occasions. A lot depends on my state of health and my mood that day.

Lack of exercise is a habit, and it's a bad habit... just like eating the wrong foods, and possibly eating too much as well.

The good news is that we can all wean ourslves out of the bad habits with a little effort. Not much. And we can teach ourselves good habits, like deliberately getting some exercise as part of our everyday routines.

Now me, I hate formal exercise routines such as going to a gymnasium. I find it easier if the exercise that I do has a purpose that's separate from getting fit or weight loss.

I haven't played any sport for about a year, but my girlfriend and I do go for dancing lessons together. Ballroom, waltz, cha cha etc. It's fun, we get to socialize a bit and it helps us have a little bit of fitness in our middle-age.

You younger guys and gals should have no trouble keeping fit!

Safety Warning

Most multi-storey office buildings have locks on their fire stair doors. Often you can enter the stairwell, but all doors on the inside may be locked. And sometimes the exit at ground level or in the basement may even be alarmed!

Don't get yourself into trouble with the building security staff, who may think you are a thief or intruder. Check with them first, before you try exercising in the stairwells. Also find out exactly how the stairway doors open and close before you get on the stairs.

You don't want to trigger an alarm, or to be on the 50th floor and then find you are forced to walk all the way down to get out of the building. Do you?

Walking is a great exercise, but like eating and drinking, it all works out best when it's done in moderation!