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Diet and Exercise TipDo you think there is just one diet and exercise tip that would be the most important tip of all? It's a real challenge to come up with the one diet and exercise tip that will really motivate everyone, and if I had to choose just one tip that would be the foundation for an effective diet exercise program it would be to make time for yourself. Think about it... This is the hardest thing for us to do. We're parents, we have jobs, partners, friends and responsibilities. We may even have part time jobs! But if we're going to improve our lifestyle - fitness and diet, overall health - we have to do it! We have to make time for ourselves. Not just for selfish reasons, but for the benefit of everyone around us. Fitness, diet, and an interest in master's running gives us the extra energy we need to be better parents, partners, and employees (or employers!). Make Time for Yourself - but How?I have two suggestions that are part of this diet and exercise tip and have worked for me - in real life. Depending on the season and my cross training schedule I'll switch from one to another.The After Work Sneak and Sweat! During my running season and winter cross country skiing cross training season I'll haul a 'gym bag' to work with all my running or skiing stuff, and I'll pack skis or whatever else I need in the car. I'll haul the bag up to my office when I arrive at work (this is an important psychological step!). We don't have any fitness facilities in our building so I'll change into my exercise gear right after work, and head down to the car and out to the parks. I can be at a downtown park within 20 minutes even in rush hours, and I'm running, skiing or biking 40 minutes after the work day is done. I'm usually home by 7:00 or 7:30 - in time to make dinner with my overtime-working parter! This is the pattern for two or three days each week. On the weekend my partner and I set a couple hours aside for running or skiing together.Yes, this is a lifestyle adjustment, but it pays big dividends. If you want to see a real lifestyle commitment watch this inspiring cross country skiing video made by an Olympic level cross country skiier! Can't do it after work? How about this... The Early Morning Caffeine Crusade!OK, you think this will kill you but I promise it won't. At least it hasn't killed me yet! This is a great fitness diet exercise tip! Set you clock 60 minutes earlier than usual, and set your coffee machine up the night before. Use the timer if you have it - again - this is a psychological thing. Who likes old coffee when they can have FRESH coffee! When the alarm goes off get out of bed and get a coffee!!! OK, now you're awake. No point crawling back to bed. Now start a pre-planned early morning workout: This is when I do my indoor Concept II rowing. I'm not a physical early morning person so I don't kill myself. I row five or six thousand meters, watch the news or maybe videos on rowing, cross country skiing, or cycling. It's motivating, and the 25 to 30 minutes goes by quick! I take another fifteen or twenty minutes and do some stretching and simple core exercises, maybe lift a few light free weights. I've worked out and had a couple of coffees by my regular wake up time.The advantage of the early morning workout is that there is no one up to mess with your schedule!!! Worst case scenario, you'll be dropping into bed 30 minutes earlier that night! I'll guarantee you'll have more energy during the day if you just get up one hour earlier and work out! ConclusionIt's a diet and exercise myth that fitness improvements just happen by chance. Make time for yourself - that's the number one diet and exercise tip!I can't resist just one more: Have fun with your workouts! Top of Diet and Exercise Tip Back to The Benefit of Running
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