1440 Minutes - Can You Spare 30 for Your Health?

The problem lies in what these pastimes consist of...

Like most people you are probably exhausted when you get home from work and are looking forward to just crashing on the couch and maybe grabbing a quick snack before dinner. On occasion there's no problem with that, but in general this type of a routine can quickly lead to packing on the pounds and to poor health. After time it also has a cumulative effect where you find yourself in a "rut" and unable or unwilling to break the cycle.

But what if you were to dedicate just a few of those minutes each day to your health?

How about taking just 30 of those 1440 minutes and exercising? After your commitments you would still have an additional 5 or more hours to yourself.

I know... you're tired, you're hungry and you need an energy boost by the time you get out of work and the last thing on your mind is "hitting the gym."

Here's the ironic part about working out. When you first begin to exercise you may be tired and run-down, but by the end of your session you will feel and look reenergized. You will also be less apt to snack on unhealthy foods after your workout since you won't want to jeopardize all the hard work you just put forth. Your mental clarity and mood will have also improved and you will find that you are consciously and subconsciously making more positive and healthy choices in your life.

What you can expect out of a short, intense and efficient 30 -45 minute workout:

• Increased energy levels
• Increased muscle tone and definition
• Improved cardiovascular function
• Decreased risk factors for many health related diseases
• Increased productivity throughout the day
• Improved mood
• Spiked metabolism to keep you burning fat all day long
• Better postural alignment
• Less neck, shoulder, and lower back pain
• ... and the list goes on and on

So I guess the question is why aren't you spending 30 of those 1440 minutes a day exercising and choosing to improve your health?

You don't need a lot of time and the only motivation you need to muster up is actually getting yourself to your workout destination. Once you're there I guarantee you'll get yourself in motion, and when you do you will begin to feel the transformation take place within your body.

Here's the plan:

Choose a time at least 3 days a week that you are going to dedicate at least 30 minutes of your day to exercising. It can be before, after or on your lunch break, but make it a routine and stick with it.

Start out moderately and don't burn yourself out within the first few weeks like most people anxious to get back into the gym and get healthy do.

Set reasonable goals that you can achieve in those first two weeks. It may just be that you want to make it to the gym 6 times in 2 weeks. That's not unrealistic at all, and then from there you can begin to set more challenging short and long term goals which you plan to achieve with your new workout routine.

Remember, time is not an excuse. Yes, we all use it, but that still doesn't make it right. Find the time, prioritize your schedule and tell yourself you are worth 30 minutes a day.

You owe it to yourself to choose your health because without it everything else suddenly becomes meaningless...

Committed to your success

Stephen Cabral

Author of Fatlossity - the Complete, In-Home, Step-by-Step, Weight Loss System
http://www.stephencabral.com/fatlossity

Stephen Cabral is a national health & fitness correspondent with over 10 years of credentials and media appearances. He holds national and international certifications in strength & conditioning, personal training, yoga and nutrition. For more information on his Free Trim, Tone & Tighten Newsletter seen by over 100,000 readers each week go to http://www.StephenCabral.com