7 Tips You Can Use to Fit Movement into Your Busy Lifestyle

You had the best of intentions with your exercise, but when life gets hectic, it can feel like you have zero time. And because it’s something you do for yourself, it’s easy to shove it on the back burner. However, if you want to keep your health in tip-top shape, you’ll need to fit more movement into your day-to-day. 

How is it possible when your lifestyle is too busy? The key is to keep moving in any way possible. These seven tips will show you how, even when you feel like you haven’t a minute to spare. 

1. Make it part of your commute 

City dwellers have a unique opportunity to use commute time as a form of movement. Country dwellers may need to be a bit more creative. If you can walk, run, or bike to work safely, do it. You can then check your workout box off for the day! 

 

2. Get more out of mundane errands 

Another way to move more is to use that time running errands as part of your exercise time. While this is certainly easier in the city, in a suburban sprawl, you can start parking your car further from the entrance. This forces you to take more steps which all contribute to your overall fitness. 

 

3. Put it on schedule 

Use your daily planner to help you make time for your workouts. Just like you’d schedule a meeting with your team or a client, put your workout in there and go for it. I have had clients put their workouts on their Google calendars as "meetings" so their time is blocked and no one can bother them.

 

4. Involve the kids 

For parents, it may feel like you never have a moment to yourself. When little kids are busy hanging all over you, load the smallest into a stroller and head to the park. Everyone will love the fresh air and you’ll get your workout in a fun way. For bigger kids in those endless activities, find ways to keep active at practice and games. You can run around the field or move your own way while they’re otherwise occupied with the coach or instructor.  

 

5. Set your alarm a little earlier 

You can’t make the days longer, but you can get up earlier to use more of those 24 hours in your day. Get up before your children to get a workout in first thing. Without kids, you have more leeway, but getting up earlier will ensure you make time for that workout. And with it out of the way, you’ll have more energy to propel you through your day.  

 

6. Rethink your workouts 

You’re less likely to make time for workouts if you don’t like the exercises you’re doing. We make time for what we enjoy, so be sure you do workouts that you like! You can still get healthy by doing bodyweight exercises and using the great outdoors as your gym. And, if you’d prefer the gym, find one close to home or work so that you are more likely to fit it into your schedule. 

 

7. Take the stairs or the long way 

Whenever possible, use the stairs rather than the elevator. At the office, don’t take shortcuts to get around. The more steps you take, the more activity you get which builds up to more movement.  

 

With these seven tips, don’t forget to tune your mindset in so you focus on movement. When you think about it as a chore, it will feel like one, but when you shift your way of thinking to see it as something you enjoy, you’ll be more inclined to take the time for it that you deeply deserve and stick with it. 

Which tip speaks the most to you? Or, is there another tip you have for getting more movement in your day? Let me know in the comments below!

Why managing your stress is important

Did you know that medical research is primarily male dominated with more male research participants and a higher percentage of male researchers than female researchers? As a result, much information is gathered from male participants and then extrapolated for the female. 

This process leaves gaps in the research as males and females do not always have the same experiences with diseases. It is becomes more of a gap when there is a biological life stage that affects only women, such as perimenopause and menopause.

Many times, society and the medical profession sees menopause as a disease that women must manage. This can cause tension in the workplace and at home as well as uncomfortableness when discussing symptoms with family or a health care provider. 

However, menopause is a natural process that all women go through and thus should not be stigmatized.

In addition to a lack of understanding in the medical field, society has a stigma against perimenopause and menopause. You may have noticed how the media rarely shows older women as sexy and vibrant; instead, the older woman is used to promote products for incontinence, medications, and home health care systems. Researchers have noted that women going through menopause may experience feelings of shame and many health care providers miss the signs of women who may be in need of extra support. 

Unfortunately, women who feel as though they have little to no support become more susceptible to depression and feelings of isolation.

The menopausal transition can be a time of stress for many women. Women who started having children in her late 20s or 30s are entering perimenopause as her children are entering their teenage years. Women who either had children younger or who never had children are entering perimenopause at a time when there may be shifts in career and family dynamics. 

Additionally, women entering the workforce not only face the same stressors as men, they also face unique stressors of balancing expectations of work and home life. The societal division of labor, both paid and unpaid, into “men’s” jobs and “women’s” jobs has led to systematic discrimination in training and promotion. As a result, there is unequal pay with women of child bearing age generally being out of the workforce and thus not receiving raises and promotions.

However, with more women entering the workforce, jobs that were considered traditionally “female” or traditionally “male” are becoming more integrated. At the same time, the workplace culture and societal expectations are not integrating as quickly. As a result, working women tend to continue with the bulk of the home and childcare duties, which can lead to less job satisfaction or choosing careers that allow her more flexibility for the family. This can lead to fewer women in management and leadership positions, lower salaries, and lower sense of self-work and self-efficacy.

What does this all mean?

In a nutshell, it means women need to find a way to help manage stress. This may be taking time for a bubble bath with soft music and a glass of wine, a weekly date night with the spouse, a weekly meeting with other women, exercise and nutrition, etc. 

Every person is unique in what helps her relax and unwind, and it is important to find what is the best combination for you.

I would love to hear how you manage your stress levels! Head over to the Facebook page or hit "reply". I would love to hear from you!

Not sure where to start? Click HERE and set up a complementary consult.

 

Women and Exercise

Women face some unique challenges when it comes to their physical and mental health. Aside from the hormonal shifts throughout the different stages in their lives, women today find themselves balancing a career, family, social obligations, as well as their own overall health. It is these obligations to others--primarily family and friends--that tend to override obligations to the self.

That is not to say that women are not motivated to take care of themselves. They are and their motivations change over time. For example, women in mid-life are less motivated to exercise by the need to look good than by the need to improve and/or maintain health. As women age, exercise becomes important for managing weight gain, menopausal brain fog, feelings of depression, and risks of osteoporosis. 

The recommended minimal amount of time a woman should exercise is approximately 150 minutes per week. That is roughly just over 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but lack of time is one of the top barriers to doing what is necessary to exercise and partake in self care. 

It is very easy to get through the tasks and obligations for the day, only to realize you have not gotten time for yourself.

How can you make sure you make time for self care?

There are several strategies I recommend for clients. Here are a few of my favorite:

1. Focus one just making one small change -- like getting to your workout each day. Just showing up is half the battle, and chances are, once you show up, you are going to do SOMETHING. So, focus less on how tired you might be or how hard the workout might be, and focus solely on the logistics of getting there.

2. Ditch the “all-or-nothing” mindset. Something is better than nothing. As women age and our hormones shift, high intensity workouts that leave you collapsed in a puddle of sweat are counter productive. Instead, moderate cardio mixed with weight training and meditation work are what will help you feel and look better.

3. Choose your vocabulary wisely. This is a big one. How we talk about ourselves affects how we feel and act. Instead, choose words with positive connotations. For example, a tough workout is “intense” versus “uncomfortable” as it carries a more empowering, can-do mindset. Try shifting to the more positive vocabulary for a week and notice how your mood improves in general.

4. Put yourself on the calendar. When your workout time is on the calendar with a reminder, you are more likely to actually exercise. It is even better if you put your workout time in the morning before the day gets busy.

5. Hire a trainer or a health coach. You are less likely to forget if you are paying someone your hard-earned money. Plus, you now have someone who will hold you accountable. Your trainer/coach will not only be expecting you at certain times, he or she will have a plan that the two of you have created to help you reach your health goals.

In summary, exercise is important for a woman’s mental and physical health. However, women are unique and how she exercises changes throughout her lifetime. If you are having difficulty working in your exercise time, try one of the strategies outlined above. 

I have a few complementary consult times still available to help you get started. Click HERE to schedule your slot.

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Let's talk about perimenopause and menopause

 

Menopause is a normal, natural life event that occurs when a woman’s period stops. It commonly happens between the ages of 40 and 58. Smokers can start menopause up to 2 years earlier than non-smokers. Menopause happens because the ovaries naturally stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

A woman “officially” reaches menopause 12 months after her last period. However, changes and symptoms can begin several years earlier. Some of these symptoms include changes in the monthly cycle and hot flashes. The time from when these changes start to actual menopause is called “perimenopause.” 

Perimenopause often starts between age 40-50 and can last several years (4 to up to 14!). It begins with changes to the regular menstrual cycle. During this time the ovaries’ production of estrogen and progesterone decreases.

Perimenopause and menopause are unique to women. However, this stage is often seen as a taboo subject and is not well understood; even though, menopause can be a risk factor for biological and psychological health. As a result, women going through menopause can feel frustrated and isolated. Psychological resilience thus becomes important for perimenopausal and menopausal women as a protective factor against depression and anxiety.

Süss and Ehlert (2020) identified six categories of resilience factors: core resilience, spirituality, control, optimism, emotion, and self-related resilience. These resilience factors help women manage symptoms with less stress and better satisfaction which in turn leads to better psychological health. This perceived self-efficacy correlates with quality of life and general well-being. As perimenopause and menopause can co-occur with other life experiences such as divorce, caring for teenage children, and occupational changes, self-efficacy becomes important to help women through the menopausal transition.

Perimenopause and menopause are times of great transition and the hormonal changes affect women physically and psychologically. Physically, women undergo hot flashes, weight gain, irregular periods, incontinence, bone density loss, and hair loss. The hormone changes can cause mood swings, irritability, memory loss, and even depression. While hormone replacement therapy is helpful, and sometimes necessary, there are additional actions women can take to manage the effects of hormone fluctuation.

Nutrition during menopause is confusing as there are many fad diets that may not be suitable for all people. Understanding how to make small, sustainable changes can help women minimize weight gain, reduce the intensity of hot flashes, and improve mood. Fats, for example, are an important aspect of nutrition; however, not all fats are healthy. The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in fish, nuts, and avocados are very beneficial to weight loss, vitamin absorption, and protection against disease. In addition, fats may help protect against depression and cognitive decline as a woman ages.

The loss of estrogen is also linked to bone loss in perimenopausal and menopausal women. Exercise during menopause not only can help slow weight gain, it can also help moderate mood and help slow the rate of bone loss. However, the type and duration of exercise is important to moderate cortisol levels. Adjusting to less cardio and incorporating strength training exercises helps women burn fat without adding stress to their system. An added benefit of strength training is it helps build muscle mass, which increases the metabolism and reduces fat.

Weight training for women is also important as it helps build bone mass. As women age, they need not only calcium rich foods, but also weight training to help prevent osteoporosis. Estrogen helps protect bones; however, estrogen drops during perimenopause, making perimenopause and menopause risk factors for osteoporosis.

Understanding hormones, nutrition, and exercise during this period can help women reduce risk for injury and disease. If you have questions about how you can more naturally manage the symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, drop me a comment below. Or, if you are on social media, come follow my Facebook page or Instagram account. I also have some limited availability for one-on-one virtual trainings. You can sign up for a complementary initial consultation by clicking here.

Fast Workouts for Busy People

When it comes to scheduling exercise into your calendar, it can often feel like shoving a puzzle piece where it doesn’t fit. You understand that exercise is crucial and quite necessary, but it can feel frustrating to struggle with actually finding the time to fit it in.   

If carving out an hour to make it to the gym isn’t feasible, there are plenty of ways to fit in a fast workout that still yields results — wherever you are. Prioritizing a few days a week at the gym and the rest of your workouts at home sounds a lot more doable, does it not? Take the pressure off and find what works for you and your schedule with these fast workouts for busy people — 15 minutes or less, wherever you are.

1. Planking 

Planking is a great way to target a lot of muscles in a short amount of time. When you assume the plank position, you are working out both your arm and your core muscles, and when you plank with your feet pressed against the wall, you are also targeting your glutes and legs. While you will only be doing them for a few minutes at a time, you will see the rapid results with this exercise. 

2. Burpees 

Burpees work well as a kind of cardiovascular exercise that also tones muscles. If you're not sure what a burpee is, it's simple to explain, but not quite as effortless to do! You will want to get down on the ground as if you are going to do pushups, do one, and get back up and jump in the air.  Repeat this for as many reps as you can. Now, keep in mind there are many, many variations of burpees. The one described is the basic version. I would love to hear your favorite version! Just drop a comment below.

3. Lunges & Squats 

Lunges and squats are both exercises that are very easy to accomplish, and you can get creative with working them into your day. You can do squats while you brush your teeth morning and night, lunges around the kitchen while dinner is cooking -- anytime you are standing still during the day, fit in some squats or lunges to pass the time. 

4. Sworkit App 

There are tons of in-home workout apps to choose from, and Sworkit is one that I use and adore. Customize your own HIIT workout, even choosing how long you have to fit an exercise in, and you’ll get a fantastic workout you can do in the comfort of your own home that has been customized just for you.    

5. Stairs  

Whether you have them in your house or somewhere nearby in your neighborhood, using a staircase to get in some great cardio is a fantastic idea. Run up the stairs, walk down, and repeat. Get in as many reps as you can, and you will have a heart-pounding workout in 15-minutes or less. 

So, no matter what workout you do, make sure you pick one that you know that you are going stick to. Working out really can be fun if you find some methods that you actually enjoy, rather than dread. For example, my favorite workout is doing a quick, full-body routine on the TRX; my least favorite is running. It really is all about finding what you enjoy. 

What's your favorite type of workout?  Drop a comment below and let me know; I'm always looking for new ideas. 

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