Yeah, yeah… You don’t have time to workout. You’re so, insanely busy that you can’t fit in 20 minutes on a mat in front of your tv with your favorite exercise DVD. Blah, blah, blah. Listen, sister, we both know that’s a load of hooey. Time isn’t the issue. Everyone has an extra 20 minutes, or can make room for it. Sometimes it’s a bit of the ol’ laziness, sometimes it’s simply not knowing what workouts to do (or which won’t make you cringe). Often times it’s a legitimate (albeit pretty suppressed) fear that if you just make the time, you’ll be out of excuses for why you’re out of shape, or a little heavier than you’d like to be. You would actually have to start living the most fulfilled and awesome life you can, which takes some work and commitment. Whatever your reasons, make it a point to cut the crap with yourself. Today. Right now. Not tomorrow, or after this weekend, or when work calms down. Now.

Don’t know where to start? A big mistake we tend to make with our health is getting super ambitious, biting off a little more than we can currently chew, and then petering out when we lose interest or focus. How many times have you vowed to start working out 5 days a week, or to cut out sugar completely, or to eat greens twice a day, everyday? How long did that last?

The trick is to ease yourself into big lifestyle changes, that you can then build on until you get where you want to be.  Start making movement a part of your everyday life.  EVERYDAY.. not just on your workout days.  Do some stretches when you wake up, some leg lifts or pliés on the subway platform, bicep curls while you’re on the phone, and walk, walk, walk.  Up the stairs, down the street, walk more, walk always.  Check out 5 Great Mini-Workouts You Can Do Everyday!

Once your body starts to get the hang of regular, daily, intentional movement, it starts to crave it, which makes motivating yourself to work out that much easier.

• Give yourself manageable workout goals.  Don’t have a gym membership?  Don’t wait until you get one… (that’s another excuse in and of itself!).  Pick up some workout videos or hell, even get on YouTube and search for any workout you like and GET MOVING!
• If you’re starting at zero, shoot for 15-20 minutes just three days a week, and build your way up from there.  Schedule those 15-20 minutes into your calendar and make it a non-negotiable event.
• Commit to your consistent routine for a few weeks, and then add on.  Make it 20 minutes 4 days a week, or up your workouts to 40 minutes.

Don’t start by worrying about the how’s or when’s right now.  Just. Start. Moving.  Losing weight, getting fit, eliminating cellulite, aging gracefully and slowly, and decreasing risk of all kinds of illness will not happen any other way.  You owe it to yourself to start today.

Stay tuned for my upcoming series of posts focusing on all things exercise.  The best workouts, videos, and guides out there, sorted for your workout personality!

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Natasha Uspensky, CHHC

Holistic Health & Nutrition Counselor