Consistency is the Key

Hey everyone! I wanted to quickly address one of the most important things when it comes to fitness: consistency.

Time is often an issue when it comes to consistently working out. Either people don't feel they have enough time, or more likely, they aren't willing to sacrifice doing what they want in exchange for a little cardiovascular discomfort. However, we don't need to spend two hours in the gym every day. We are all busy (mother of two, here), and if we believe a luxurious amount of time is required then it’s easy to drop exercising altogether for the day when our schedules get tight. One day turns into a week and the cycle spirals into longer than we'd like.  

Even if it's just 15 to 20 minutes (3 to 5x per week), you need to maintain consistency to make fitness a permanent part of your life. A "workout" doesn't have to be long and drawn out. Quick, high-intensity workouts can be very effective. 

15 to 20 minutes doesn't seem very long when you are taking a nap or a break at work, but when you're exercising for that amount of time, it can make a huge impact.

For example, a 20-minute walk, with a focus on good posture and body mechanics (engaging your core, landing softly with each foot, etc.), is beneficial on many levels. Especially in the morning; that can be a good stress relief and an energizing boost to get your day started.

Give it a try! Here’s a short workout circuit you can power up/down to suit you:

Do these 4 exercises back to back for 15 minutes. Take breaks as needed, but challenge yourself and track how many times you go through the circuit. A stopwatch is helpful here, but if you don’t have one, there’s plenty of free apps for your smartphone and there’s other web-based ones like this.

Here’s the circuit:

1. Jumping jacks (high-impact). Sub side taps/arms to side if needed (low impact) - 1 minute

2. Squats (high impact) - add heel raises or jump squats for added intensity - 30 sec

3. Alternating rear lunges. Step back without lunging if needed (low impact), or add upper body movement (rotation or pulls) for more intensity - 1 minute

4. Hover (forearm plank position) on knees or toes for added intensity - 30 sec

And remember, I'm always here to help you out! If you have any questions about consistency and this workout split, need me to help you create a some workouts that’ll fit in to your busy schedule, or or anything else, let me know! 

-Maria