Get Moving!

First of all, if you were expecting the previously scheduled interview with publicist Jeane Wynn today, Jeane sends her sincere apologies. An unfortunate combination of personal, family, and congregational (her husband is a pastor) crises converged on Easter weekend, but Jeane promises to reschedule as soon as she possibly can.

So instead you have moi. And today I’d like to talk about . . . well, actually I would rather NOT talk about . . . the dreaded E word.

Not E-mail.

Not Edits.

Not contest Entry form.

Nope. Exercise.

Blame the guilt trip my doctor gave me during my annual physical last week. If you have no problems fitting exercise into your daily routine, read no farther. But if you’re like me, a veritable computer-potato, then maybe together we’ll discover a few ways to motivate ourselves to get out of the chair and onto the treadmill (or whatever exercise floats your boat).

There are 6 main reasons I don’t get enough exercise:

1. I don’t like to huff, puff, and/or sweat.
2. Exercise feels like an inefficient use of half an hour.
3. Sitting at my computer, I get stuck in the inertia of immobility.
4. I might have to go out later and don’t want to be too tired from exercising.
5. It’s boring.
6. I usually strain something and then hurt for the next six months.

Maybe you have a few favorite excuses of your own. It’s tough to admit there are logical rebuttals to each of these, but here goes.

1. Sweat, huff, and puff less on a slow or medium-paced walk, which still offers some benefit.
2. Multi-task. Listen to a recorded conference workshop while you exercise. Try reading while on the treadmill (this works for me only if I don’t go too fast).
3. Set a timer for every 30-45 minutes while at your desk. Then take a five-minute break to run up and down the stairs a couple of times or do some stretches.
4. See rebuttal #1. Go for a short walk or try yoga.
5. Try different activities. A dance workout video. Free weights. Exercise ball. Swimming. Walking the dogs. I do best on the treadmill while listening to music that makes me want to move.
6. Don’t try to make up for six months of inactivity in a single week. Start slowly and build up. If you feel a twinge, back off.

Here’s a website where you can estimate how many calories different activities burn per hour. My problem is I want to get exercise done and out of the way--if I do it at all. So 20 minutes tops is about all I can talk myself into.

You’d think with all the benefits exercise has to offer, it wouldn’t be so hard to get motivated. The Mayo Clinic lists seven key benefits:

1. Improves your mood.
2. Combats chronic diseases.
3. Helps you manage your weight.
4. Strengths your heart and lungs.
5. Promotes better sleep.
6. Can put the spark back in romance.
7. Exercise can be fun! (In their opinion.)

And if those reasons aren’t enough, here’s one more we writers should take to heart:

Exercise boosts brain power!

Your turn. What are the most effective ways you’ve found to work exercise into your routine? Do you have a favorite workout? Any videos, equipment, etc., you recommend?