by Joanne Eglash

Does this sound like your day?

Morning:  The alarm clock goes off, and you groan.  Just a few minutes more….oops, now you’ve overslept!  Just enough time to shower, dress, and grab a convenient snack on your way to the car. 

For many of us, breakfast is eaten in the car (hey, why else does a breakfast bar come in a wrapper?), after which we sit at a desk at the office.  Then we join our friends for a drive to a nearby restaurant for our lunch hour, after which we drive back to work to return to our desks. It’s a time-honored tradition for both singles and many families:  eat dinner and then watch TV. 

According to a recent study, however, we’re missing out on one of the optimal times to exercise for weight loss. Scientists in the United Kingdom compared two groups of individuals: those who were active after a meal and those who were sedentary.  Their research showed that the active group experienced less hunger after exercising.  And even though they ate more, they burned off more calories.   Another example of how exercise is a win-win game for weight watchers!

Let’s wind back the clock to the morning – and see how you can easily incorporate exercise into your day!  For example, here's how one person - let's call him Jonathan -  follows a fitness-based lifestyle:

In the early morning:
When Jonathan gets up, before his shower, he routinely completes a series of push-ups.  Not up to that routine yet?  Try doing some

At the office:
At work, propose to your friends that you take a walk to a nearby restaurant.  Or even better: pack a healthy bag lunch and walk with your friends to the park or enjoy a relaxing lunch outside.

Does your workplace provide you with an onsite gym or membership to a nearby health club?  The CEO of TriActive America (www.triactiveamerica.com) founded the outdoor exercise equipment company to demonstrate his belief in the mind, body, and spirit power of fitness.  In accordance, he provides all full-time staff members with a free membership to a local club.  Jonathan enjoys the same perks at his job, and he takes advantage of this benefit by regularly taking an hour during the afternoon to go to the gym and stay in great shape. 

At home:
Time to go home after work!  Hurray!  You join your family in dinner – how about joining your family in a walk around the block or a play session in a nearby park? TriActive America makes outdoor fitness equipment that can be installed in fitness zones in parks and thus made available to the community.  It's like having a free outdoor gym open to everyone!

Before bed can be your final fitness break of the day.  Some individuals like to wind down with a few stretches; others prefer to do a short exercise session before an evening shower.  Jonathan, for example, prefaces his evening shower with a final set of push-ups. 

Whatever forms of exercise you choose throughout your day, remember: be consistent – and make it fun.