What Can YOU Do in a Fit 15?

One of the biggest challenges we have in achieving our fitness goals is finding the time to work out.  I’m not talking about procrastination, either, where you say with sheepish conviction, “Oh yeah, I can’t go to the gym after work, I’ve simply GOT to dust the top of my refrigerator!”  No, this is for all of us who have a bona fide personal commitment and desire to exercise, but genuinely struggle with carving out an hour to either do something at home or at the gym.

Well, fitness fans, rejoice!  I’ve got a solution to your problem!  Take 15.  Yes, 15 minutes is a workable, focused chunk of time that can give your heart rate a decent pump, and give you a micro-workout.  For example, today my schedule was booked all day.  However… I found myself with a small but precious segment of about 20 minutes around lunchtime.  It is an absolutely gor-gee-ous day here in New Jersey, so I pried myself away from my laptop, grabbed my trusted sneakers, and took a fast 15-minute walk.  Can I confess here that my body feels so much better, my head feels clearer, and I have a real sense of accomplishment that I achieved a few steps (pun totallly intended) towards my daily 10,000 steps goal?!?!?!  In only a meager 900 seconds?  

Maybe your 15 will be in the morning, maybe in between chores and children/grandchildren, maybe after work, maybe after dinner.  But you are smart and I am sure you can sleuth your way around your “mystery when” to find those 15 minutes.  Maybe it’s between TV shows and surfing social media?  Grab that calendar now, girlfriend, and find your 15.  Then go take a walk around the block, up/down the stairs, in the mall, park or up/down the stairwell in your office complex.  Even walk around the grocery store parking lot – just find the time and place and do it.  Do some squats, jumping jacks, run in place, shadow box, blare the music and dance like a wild woman, lift some weights, do some pushups and a couple of planks.  See what I mean?  Sound like a plan?  Seize those minutes and make yourself proud, make yourself healthy – find your 15 today.  Life, health and wellness… 15 minutes at a time!!!