I don’t have time. That’s the main problem with my life. Just lack of time. Plain and simple. I don’t have time to get all the laundry done on the weekends. I don’t have time to read books for enjoyment. I don’t have time to bathe my children as frequently as some would deem sanitary.
Time: It’s my nemesis.
It’s also my excuse for why I cannot get in shape. I don’t have time to go to the gym. I don’t have time to go for a long run. I don’t have time to do an hour of yoga in my living room. Then one day, I had an epiphany.
I may not have a long stretch of 30 minutes or more of child-free time to commit to a full workout, but I just might be able to scrounge up that much time throughout my day in smaller chunks.
Realizing that 7 minutes here, 10 minutes there and then a quick 5 minutes before dinner added up to a decent workout was a turning point for me. I decided to try to find a way to incorporate small workouts where I could throughout my day.
I had my method, now I needed the content. What would I do when I found myself with 10 minutes of potential workout time on my hands?
I went to where I go for nearly all of life’s pressing questions: Pinterest. There I found a plethora of workout routines, tips to get fit arms and the daunting WOD (Workout Of the Day). I started pinning away feeling a bit overwhelmed.
I then stumbled upon an ad for Workout for Women. It was an app. A FREE app. I decided to download and check it out. What did I have to lose?
It was simple. It was doable. It was perfect for me.
The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to use. There were simple categories of types of workouts with tabs ranging in everything from fat loss and high intensity to a specific body part like arms, butt or thighs. There was also a whole section labeled "Beginner" and another called "7 Minute."
I immediately zoned into the short workouts. After all, time was my issue.
I clicked on a 7-minute butt workout and was thrilled to hear a not-at-all-obnoxious woman’s voice say the name of the exercise and start the countdown to begin. I was also relieved to find an assortment of various simple moves — all of which required absolutely no equipment, which is key for me. There was even an animation modeling each movement as it occurred in the workout, with an option to click and watch a more extensive tutorial on how to do the exercise correctly.
It was simple. It was doable. It was perfect for me.
It’s been a few months since I began my new workout regimen. Some days, 7 minutes is all I can squeeze in, but most days I find myself looking for time to do more workouts, harder workouts. Working out has gone from a daunting thing that filled me with guilt and frustration to an attainable and regular part of my day.
This app has made exercise — a concept that seemed near impossible in my current life situation — a reality. I’m noticing changes in my weight and the way my clothes fit, but more importantly, I’m noticing a huge improvement in my energy and my attitude.
Working out regularly, even if it’s just for a quickie, does wonders for the body and mind. So, much like the lemons and the lemonade, if you don't have time, make the most of the few minutes you do have. It'll be worth it, I promise.
