Busy, 50 And Getting Fat

Like many people I lead a very busy life with competing demands on my time. This has inevitably led to me taking far too little exercise and in the year in which I turned 50 (shock horror!) I have gained 6 kgs in weight and can no longer squeeze into most of my clothes. Quite apart from feeling fat I am fully aware that my sedentary lifestyle is doing my health no good at all which is bad news at my age and it is time to make some changes.

Excuses

For far too long I have been using my busy life as an excuse for inactivity, True, I have to juggle full time work, running a business, housework and maintaining some sort of social life but I have to be able to fit in some exercise. In my younger days I managed full time education, a part time job and participating in several sports and I found the time then so I will have to find it now. I have now made changes as when I really came to think about everything there were solutions that could be accommodated by my lifestyle.

Regular Exercise

Opinions seem to vary as to how much exercise we need but I believe it is safe to say that at least 3 hours each week of proper vigorous exercise combined with some regular walking would be a good start. I know it is recommended that we walk 10,000 steps per day which would take up a great deal of time. I may not be able to manage that distance every day but I have decided to walk as much as I can by leaving the car at home when possible and taking a stroll when I can fit one in. Even If I don’t achieve 10,000 steps, for someone who works at home and so has days when 200 steps would be a result, I think this regime will be a big improvement. To make up for the lack of steps and to incorporate more vigorous exercise into my week I am also doing 45 minute sessions on my exercise bike in front of the television at least 4 times per week. This way I can still chill out and watch my favourite programmes and so the invasion of my time does not seem so hard to take.

Fun on the Slopes

I have so little spare time that taking exercise always got cast aside in favour of seeing my friends but an obvious solution had been staring me in the face – play sport with my friends! Here, for the first time in my life, being hopeless at a sport is proving to be a benefit. I took up skiing earlier in the year found it very tough going. I need practice and so do two of my closest friends and so we are hitting the indoor slope together. At least once each week I get 2 hours of exercise, a lot of laughs and the privilege of seeing my friends.

Improvements

As it turns out, no matter how busy you are you can find ways of incorporating exercise into your day. Believe me, if I can do it then anyone can but it might involve having to do two things at once. Let’s face it most of us have had to perfect that technique anyway! My new regime has just started but I am hoping that in a few weeks I will be able to squeeze my shrinking body back into my nudie jeans and Monsoon dresses and feel all the better for it.

About Author

Sally Stacey is a keen writer and business woman who divides her time between writing and running her bridal shop.