If you know me now, you know I am past the deep end, obsessed, and some would even say excessive about fitness. I am now an ultra-runner – I race a couple of 100+ milers each year. I also own a few businesses in town and have a young family. How can I find the time to fit fitness into life? I will tell you my story of where I started and how I ended up here.
There is a path forward, making fitness a priority in your life and maintaining a comfortable level. Many options are available to help you find what works best for you. Fitness goals are attainable by making small changes that will yield great benefits.
About 7 years ago, I was working a desk job as a mechanical engineer. Co-workers and I would go out to lunch at Mexican or burger restaurants three to four times per week in order to blow off steam created by our mildly stressful job and our bosses. We would pick up donuts at the fantastic local bakery which served “until they ran out” for the day. The food was good, company better, and I was content. However, I was also tired at 2pm every day. I nodded off in staff meetings and was a bit overweight. Overall, I felt like I was a healthy person. I didn’t know then what healthy was. I didn’t know how to make exercise and diet part of my daily routine or how to make it stick.
Fitness wasn’t a big priority because everything was “fine.” I had been running a few miles recreationally since I was 15 years old for stress-relief, a bit of alone time, or for a little bit of exploration. I was mostly consistent with it over the years, but plenty of times I would stop for a while, then restart, then stop again. Life would get in the way. School, work, family, and other hobbies. I signed up for a couple of short races and sprint triathlons for fun. Then, I finally realized that fitness wasn’t a priority for me and I decided I wanted to lose some weight.
I started to make small changes in my life. Instead of going out to lunch three times a week, I started swimming with a co-worker. I kept up running a few days a week, and began thinking about the quantity of what I was eating. I still enjoyed the same delicious foods, but I was more aware about what and how much was going in. It worked – I started to lose weight. I ended up losing about thirty pounds in 6 months and I have stayed at this weight since. What was different than my other previous attempts? Priority. I made exercise and mindful eating a priority. I hadn’t done anything extreme at this point. I wasn’t working out 7 days a week for hours at a time. It was in total just 3-5 hours per week.
The Big Question
How do you fit in 3-5 hours per week when you are so busy? We all have the same 24 hours in a day. Work, sleep, family, kids’ activities, school, health issues, and injuries all happen – it’s life. So, break it down into manageable numbers. We are talking about 26 to 43 minutes per day. If you don’t want to miss your favorite show – get off the couch and binge watch while you are walking or running on a treadmill, stationary bike, rower, or elliptical. You can do mindless exercise to your favorite music or listen to an audio book (my recent favorite). Is this a life-changing experience? No, it’s not. It’s just a smart way to get the work done. You might say, “But I hate the [insert piece of stationary gym equipment here]”! That’s understandable – but you may hate [insert medical condition, not being able to run around with your kids, losing your breath walking up the stairs, and other health problems here] more.
Make Fitness Personal
Ask yourself, why do I want to be healthier? For myself or my family, take your pick. Make that your reason to get past the annoyance of getting it done. Motivation will lead to discipline. Here is the good news. It gets easier. I’ve read that it takes three weeks of doing something daily to make it a habit. Can you commit to 21 days to make your life and health better? Working out 3 to 6 times per week will be just fine to maintain your body. You may even like it. Longer walks or trips to the gym may become fun. This is a habit that will actually make you happier and put you in a better mood. WIN!
There Are a Lot of Fitness Options to Choose From
You can find a group of like-minded people, or a workout buddy and have them hold you accountable. Local, free groups, like Holly Springs Run Club, F3, FIA, are all available to do this for you. Find them on Facebook and go to a group workout. You’ll probably make friends, become active, and have fun doing it all at the same time. I know many members in these groups personally and they are all very open and accepting. They will answer questions, give you motivation and go at your pace.
Gyms are another option where you’ll have access to high quality commercial equipment, professional coaching, advice from other members, and other services you can only get at a fitness facility. Also, a person is more likely to use something that they are paying for. Home gyms are also somewhat popular. These spaces may work for some people because they can be convenient. However, speaking from personal experience, there are a few things to consider. These include budget, space, and the variation in equipment. You will be limited at some point due to available space or your bank account. I am the type that gets bored easily so a single stationary bike at home will soon become a clothes rack after the initial purchase excitement wears off. We recently turned the spare room into a playroom and the weights I bought off of craigslist a few years ago now sit behind a pile of toys.
Finding time to work out may present a challenge for you, but getting it in is not impossible. Find your why, stop making excuses, and go for it. The hardest step is the first one. That’s got to be a quote from someone, and it is true. Begin with attainable goals, be realistic, and don’t get down on yourself. You will have minor setbacks, and that is completely normal. Your goals should be for you alone. Do not compare yourself to others because you are not on the same path as anyone else. If you commit to fitness, I can tell you with high certainty that life stress will decrease, you will have better moods, your body will adapt to changes, you’ll become stronger, and you will actually start liking it. You will experience firsthand the benefits to devoting this time to yourself. I wish you the best with your journey, and if you ever see me out running, give me a wave.
Derek is a Holly Springs resident and local business owner. For years, he has owned and operated 55 Autoworks, an automotive repair business in the Industrial Park in Holly Springs.
Derek has also just opened Body Shop Fitness at Town Hall Commons in downtown Holly Springs. Body Shop Fitness is a 24-hour access gym.
