Make It Work(out): 10 Secrets Every Fit Person Knows

By Kelli Calabrese, MS, Fitness & Exercise Specialist, for GalTime.com

Time is a precious commodity and with the fast-paced world we live in, and most people push their personal needs—including exercise—to the bottom of their to do lists. You may not have thought of it this way, but exercise saves you time and will most likely add longer and stronger years to your life.

Not to mention, taking a little time for exercise will—surprisingly!—help you manage other areas of your life. Some of the positive effects of exercise include lifting your mood, boosting your self-esteem and reducing your stress. It gives you a healthier focus. 

Don't know where to start? Here are 10 tips to love your body and make time for exercise:

1. Make an appointment .
Schedule activity in your planner one month in advance, and keep that commitment the same way you would any other meeting. Schedule other activities around your workout session. If it’s necessary to cancel a workout session, reschedule it immediately.

2. Plan ahead.
Cook on Sunday night for the week, so you can head to the gym after work and still come home to a healthy, cooked meal. This will help you stay on track with your meal plan and exercise schedule. For best results, both your meals and activities need to be planned.

3. Workout at lunch.
A workout break will refresh you for the second half of the day and is known to boost brain power. You will be more productive after recharging your body with exercise than working through your lunch and eating at your desk.

4. Get support.
Let your significant other know your exercise schedule ahead of time, so there are no conflicts or guilt when it's time to out. Inform your employer of your goals and ask for some flexibility in your schedule.

5. Stick to your schedule.
Set your watch or phone to go off when it’s time to exercise. Then stop what you are doing and take 30+ minutes to exercise. You will be more productive finishing up tasks after you worked out, versus trying to work through a situation knowing you did not keep your workout commitment.

6. Make an investment.
Consider signing on with a personal trainer, joining a gym or purchasing home gym equipment. Making an investment will help you make a time commitment.

7. Always be dressed to move.
You never know when the opportunity will arise to go for a walk or hit the gym. Keep your sneakers in your car at all times, lay out your workout clothes and pack your gym bag the night before. Eliminate excuses, and ALWAYS be prepared for opportunities to exercise.

8. Engage in intermittent sessions.
Take several 10-15 minute walking breaks throughout the day. By the end of the day, you could have completed 60 minutes of cardiovascular activity! Bonus: the health benefits are the same as continuous exercise.

9. Eliminate time wasters.
Take a look at your 24-hour schedule and see where you can eliminate some time wasters. Can you multi-task, be more efficient or watch less TV? You only need to dedicate two percent of your week to exercise. You are worth it!

10. Set yourself up for success—get up 30 minutes earlier.
Then you don’t have to make excuses for the rest of the day. After all, morning exercisers (and those who exrcise with a partner) have the highest compliance rates.