New Approach To Workout Times

Now that we considering a proactive approach to our wellness, I know it can seem daunting sometimes, There is so much to consider. So much goes through your mind, like when to workout, in the morning before work or in the evening after work. The thought of getting up even earlier in the morning, jogging / walking when it is still dark out there does not really appeal, and when you get back, you are tired from the stress of the day and have dinner to make besides, you don't really know how to go about it, you've tried it before and couldn't stick with it.

These are concerns however, are they enough? Lets start with time, it is the most frequent excuse. Lack of time or When is the best time to work out? Morning? Afternoon? After work? Well it all depends, I for one don't have a particular workout time, sometimes in the morning, or in the evening, it all depends on my schedule and my mood (we all know how PMS can be).



For starters, like every other important thing, you have to make the time to work out, If you are a morning person, then go for mornings, it might mean waking up a few mins earlier but you will get used to it after a couple of times. What can you do? Go for a jog, a brisk walk. I know this might not sound like a safe option however; a lady I know, Eniola who had this problem, decided to organise a walk group with a couple of her neighbors and friends that live nearby. They have enjoyed safety in numbers and extra motivation for over 1 year now. Why not try her strategy?

You don't even have to leave your compound to work out. Do you have a compound or a flight of stairs? Well that's all you need, walk / jog/ run around your compound, up and down your flight of stairs (this is actually how I started working out myself I must add that good music helps too!). You can also join a gym and work out on your way to work in this morning. If you are not the outdoorsy type, why not invest in a couple of aerobic DVDs' and workout in your house or get a personal trainer (you can also do this as a group). My favorite is the skipping rope. You'll get a fantastic cross training workout (this is quite high impact so get an all clear from your doctor if in doubt).

Working out at home after work I agree can be tricky, you can't always determine how the day will go. However you can workout before your get home, join a gym near either your home or work, join an aerobic group class in a gym, or in a creche, I know a couple of them that run aerobic classes (okay so I manage them) for mummies in the evenings so you can have your little ones watched while you work out.

If you have to go home immediately after work, change into your work out clothes complete with trainers, my housemate funmi used to do this and found that she was able to snatch 5mintues here and there in between her chores. The same options of working out in the morning can apply, walk around your compound or up and down your stairs, dance to your favorite music and have your kids join in (put some of their energy to good use) or get a personal trainer to come round the house ( they are not as expensive as you think).

In all of this, you need to start slow if you haven't worked out in the last 2months. 10mins twice a week should do, build up to 20mins upwards. As we go on, I will show you exercises that you can incorporate into your program and day.

Let me know how you get on. Remember, love your body, it will love you right back.