Find it hard to fit exercise into your life? No surprise if you're juggling work, home, kids and husband. Take some tips from Laura Williams, fitness expert on Pampers Village Parenting Panel. She suggests:
- Be creative with everyday tasks. Do a set of squats while you brush your teeth, flex your calves while you're driving, sashay around the house while you hoover...You can squeeze in an entire workout during the course of your normal day!
- Get an exercise buddy. Two sets of willpower are definitely better than one. You may find it easy to cave into fatigue at the end of the day, but the chances are, you won't want to let your exercise buddy down. Check out our forums if you're looking for an exercise buddy.
- Sit on an exercise ball instead of a chair. You'll get to work your deep abdominal muscles and back muscles without even realising it.
- Make a list. Research shows that list-making makes you more productive so add your exercise to your 'To Do' list. Even if you're adding something as small as, "Do 10 crunches on waking" you'll still feel great when you cross it off.
- Set it in stone. Make time for one structured exercise session a week that's set in stone - the one that you do no matter what. Dedicate just 40 minutes on a Saturday morning to a run, an aerobic class... you name it, and you'll be amazed at the results.
- Have fun on two wheels. Get together with the family or your partner and discover the joys of cycling or even rollerskating. Not only will you get fit and toned, you'll also be carving out some great quality family time.
- Discover tubes and bands. You can buy cheap exercise bands and resistance tubes from high street stores that enable you to hone and tone every muscle group without even leaving the house.
- Get online. We've got great routines you can do at home and advice on how to shape up when you don't have much time. Click through to our at-home fitness channel.
- Obey the two-day rule. If you're trying to lose weight, it's important to keep your metabolic rate up and this means doing some form of muscle-toning exercise every 48 hours.
- Take it one day at a time. Whatever your goals, start slowly and keep it in the day. Wearing yourself out by overdoing it one day is unlikely to leave you eager to repeat it the next.
