Last Updated on May 15, 2024
“If you think of exercise as a 60-minute commitment 3 times a week at the gym, you’re missing the point completely. If you think that going on a diet has something to do with nutrition, you don’t see the forest through the trees. It is a lifestyle. I know it sounds cliché, but you have to find things you love to do.” – Brett Hoebel
Exercise is important to anyone’s healthy lifestyle, but it’s essential for someone with diabetes. Luckily you don’t have to spend hours in the gym or run a marathon every weekend to be in shape. There are a lot of ways that you can exercise within the comfort of your own home or even in your office.
With just 30 minutes of exercise a day you can lower cholesterol, lose weight, and reduce the risk of several diseases. Exercise can improve your mood, boost your energy levels, and improve your sleep habits. With all these benefits, why not exercise?
One of the main reasons that most people avoid exercise is “a lack of time.” Between a job, errands, kids, friends, cooking, and everything else, most of us don’t have time to head to the gym. You don’t need a room full of machines and heavy weights to be active and healthy. Here are a few ways to exercise with a busy life:
- Bodyweight exercises – these exercises require nothing more than your own body. Things like pushups, sit-ups, lunges, etc. These types of workouts are great because you can do them any time and anywhere. You can make it a goal to do one set during every commercial break while you are watching TV.
- Walking/Jogging/Running – these are great activities that require nothing more than a pair of comfortable shoes. They are great ways to begin your health journey. You can explore your neighborhood, local parks, or even just walk on a treadmill while you enjoy your favorite movie. Inviting a friend is a great way to help make those walks more enjoyable and creates accountability. If you are stuck at the office, try walking in place while you wait for that fax to send.
- Take the stairs – taking the stairs instead of the elevator is a simple way to get your heart pumping. If you have any extra time during the day, you can walk up and down a couple flights of stairs for an excellent cardio and leg workout.
- Do an exercise at your desk routine – you can still be active while sitting at your desk. There are a countless number of workout plans and videos that can be done at your desk. These routines include exercises as simple as calf raises or desk pushups. The hardest part of these routines is ignoring the stares from your coworkers if they catch you.
- Walking meetings – if you have a meeting with a coworker or you are catching up with a friend, suggest to them that you walk while you talk. You can walk around the parking lot, your office building, or a track. Researchers believe that the benefits of walking to meetings go beyond the obvious physical aspect. It is also believed that they help to create more intimate conversations and reduce the amount of distractions during meetings.
You should always be cautious when exercising. If you plan on doing any exercise that is extra strenuous consult with your doctor before you begin. You should closely monitor your blood sugar levels before, during, and after any workout. It is always a great idea to have a bottle of water and some type of carb snack in case of emergencies. You should also start slow when beginning to exercise to see how your body will handle the exertion.
If you do start to feel symptoms of hypoglycemia during an activity, stop immediately and treat yourself as you normally would. These signs should never be ignored. If you have gone for a walk or run, call someone and tell him or her where you are. After 30 minutes if you still feel the symptoms of hypoglycemia, and you don’t think you can walk back to your house or car, ask them to come and give you assistance until you have recovered.
With the many benefits of exercise, do not let a busy schedule keep you from being healthy. There are countless ways that you can cram in a few fun activities into any schedule. Find an exercise that you enjoy doing and go for it. Being happy and healthy is more important than a few funny stares you might get while you run in place at the copier.
