Breaking the Chains of Exercise

Most of us want to exercise. We watch football on TV while sitting on the couch and say, “I can do that!”  We watch gymnastics on the Olympics and say, “I would love to be able to do that!” Then we get up to get more food.

Now, some of you reading this are in great shape. As long as you don’t spend too much time exercising, congratulations. I have one son who maxes out the Marine fitness test. He used to do hand stand pushups as a teenager. The other son runs marathons. My wife tries to exercise every night. Then there is me.

We did buy some very expensive equipment for our home gym. You should be proud of us. Yet most people use their equipment for a clothing hanger or use their fitness club membership for a few weeks and then stop.

I recently read a friend’s book entitled, “The Secret of Success – A Little Bit Over A Long Period of Time.” The author, Phillip Crone, is a sales executive and runner.  One point he makes is that if you target only 10 minutes a day for 5 days a week for 30 days then you will begin to develop the habit of exercise. Next month you can add another minute and work your way to 30 minutes…

The key to this is that most of us use the excuse that we don’t have time. But 10 minutes? I can do that. So can you.

Today, I exercised for 20 minutes and burnt 200 calories. Of course I also walked the dog for 15 minutes; twice.  I could have exercised longer, for 60 minutes, but I have a hurt foot. If you don’t believe me, I can limp even more! Yet even 20 minutes makes me feel better, less guilty, and over the years help keep my weight down, tone up, and self confidence high.

So how are you breaking the chains of exercise? Do you have 10 minutes?