random bursts of exercise?

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8/28/12 3:17 P

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8/28/12 7:35 A

sorry if in wrong area - new here. Left dieticians office totally disgusted. she wants me doing cardio 90 minutes per day, 7 days a week and the gym 3 days per week. K..im not new to all this, i was a bodybuilder, competed, took many 1st place titles (years ago). Now Im twenty years older, 2 kids, recent hysterectomy and yes 50 pounds overwight. On a good 12 week competition diet i dont know many people who could withstand 90 minutes everday no day off for muscle recovery for longer than 12 weeks. ummmmmmm has the rules changed and I missed something. I do 60 minutes a day, 15 days on, one day off cardio and 4 days at gym not because i have to, I actually love it. Now im losing a good 4 to 7 pounds per week, i think that is enough, i dont know. MAYBE I should stay away from dieticians, hmmmm left bewildered.

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8/12/12 11:54 P

I am walking to the gym sometimes and just doing some quick push-ups in between my 15 minute breaks.

Edited by: BIGTOSS03 at: 8/12/2012 (23:54)

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7/12/12 7:49 P

Just borrowed my daughter's jump rope and went like crazy for 4 minutes. I think the inside of my mouth is sweating, lol!

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7/12/12 3:22 P

really cool ideas! thanks so much!

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7/12/12 2:50 P

The way I look at it is that anything counts. Do what you can when you can for as long as you can. As you gain fitness you will be able to do more for longer periods of time. Today, I blowing the dust off my Wii sports for some indoor golf and bowling.

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7/12/12 7:35 A

awesome ideas

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7/11/12 6:49 P

Some of these ideas are really quick and easy. Thank you for the suggestion of dancing with music and the other one of doing several exercises for a minute at a time.

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7/11/12 3:37 P

I exercise early and tend to sit around once I get off of work. Starting today I'll be riding my bike while watching television.

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7/11/12 2:44 P

I recently read that this is the best way to make exercise a regular and lasting habit for yourself. They illustrated the point by saying, you wouldn't brush your teeth 21 times in a row, and then say "that should be good for a week".

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7/11/12 1:42 P

I have a song I like to dance to - "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" by the Randolph Family Band - and if I play it 3 times in a row it's 10 minutes. Sometimes at home when nobody's around I turn it on and let loose. It's enough to get me back on track if I've been sitting around on the couch thinking about food.

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7/11/12 1:10 P

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING,

10 MINUTES OF MODERATE INTENSITY BOUTS OF EXERCISE ARE THE SHORTEST COUNTABLE BOUTS THAT ARE PHYSICALLY EFFECTIVE.

SHORTER THAN THAT IN MINUTES OR OF LOW INTENSITY FOR 10 MINS. IS JUST ACTIVITY OF DAILY LIVING.

ASIDE FROM THAT, I DID SEVERAL BOUTS OF GARDENING THIS MORNING, BENDING OVER A LOT, AND LUGGING GALLONS OF WATER IN THE WATER CAN FROM ONE END OF THE GARDEN TO THE OTHER. I FEEL A BIT BETTER PHYSICALLY, BUT I'LL NOT COUNT IT.

ONE DOES NOT OBSESSIVELY HAVE TO COUNT EVERY SINGLE 10-MINS. BOUT OF ACTIVITY. UNDERCOUNTING A BIT IS OK.

JUST LIVE LONG AND PROSPER!



Edited by: ANNROSE126 at: 7/11/2012 (13:13)

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7/11/12 11:58 A

15 minutes of intense dancing with my 3-year old. She loves it, and it is great for both of us!

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7/11/12 7:22 A

I watch for opportunities to play with my kids...baseball, swimming, dancing around the house, chasing them on all fours and then wrestling with them...all GREAT workouts...but even better? I get to spend time with my amazing kids and invest in their lives. It's a win-win!

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7/10/12 11:46 P

I like this I'm going to start tomorrow.

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7/10/12 9:59 P

That's how energetic I am now. Just random bursts of exercise. I bounce a ball outside; take short walk and started trying to hula hoop.

Better than no exercise!

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7/10/12 7:44 P

I wear leg weights during work for about 7 hours. It loosens me up for exercise later.

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7/10/12 5:57 P

I choose a section in one of my backyard flower and vegetable/herb gardens and I pick weeds for 10 minutes a few times a day. I water the vegetables and fill in my two bird baths every other day. I don't just think that it helps, I KNOW that it helps. I also believe parking further from the door and walking in your runners quickly around the big superstores to pick up groceries counts as well. I mean, what is the alternative? Sitting on a chair and/or lying in bed THINKING about stretching and moving and walking? Start where YOU CAN and enjoy it. More than likely you will see it build into longer bursts of exercise and soon your whole day will be bursts of 'exercise' all day long! WooHoo!

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7/10/12 5:37 P

Glad to hear the short bursts of exercise are helpful.

I have a quick 2/3 mile walk (or even quicker bike ride) between home and the train station, and short walks between the train station and the office (about 4 city blocks). I also do traditional or wall squats or calf raises while I'm waiting for something to cook in the microwave.

I used to do pushups and crunches during tv commercials, but I kind of fell off on that when we started DVR'g most of our tv shows.

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7/10/12 4:34 P

Whilst watching tv I'll do about 100 air punches,and repeat this several times.

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7/10/12 2:00 P

My uncle, who is blind from diabetes and has all sorts of medical issues, stands up and "jumps" during commercials on tv while he's watching it (listening) all day. He's hit his goal weight - which is at least 150 lbs lost - and maintained just from this sort of burst of exercise and my aunt making sure he's eating healthy.

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7/10/12 12:28 P

I broke my baby toe a month ago. It's still to sore to fit iny shoe. It doesn't help that I bumped it a few times and our 55 lb puppy stepped on it several times, "ouch"! However, I love these suggestions given here. I can do most of these suggestions without shoes. I'm really glad I found this msg board.

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7/10/12 12:05 P

All the time! Wall pushups every time I am alone near a wall (bathroom); wall sits in the elevator, 15-minute desk workouts daily - everything I can do whenever and wherever I can do it.

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7/10/12 11:07 A

I brought in some hand weights to keep at work so I can fit in some strengthening exercises between calls.

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7/10/12 10:48 A

Doing the chair exercises from the video on SP Twitter.

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7/10/12 10:07 A

just randomly decided to take a quick 10 min walk around my office

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7/10/12 10:03 A

I am doing crunches while sitting

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7/9/12 6:07 P

Jumping or jogging in place.

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7/9/12 4:16 P

Pushups, situps and squats during commercials, 10 or 15 each during the breaks. Not every day, but useful if I didn't make it to the gym that day so I don't feel like a total slug.

(Although I'm not sure "planned" equals "random.")

Edited by: THEBIGJOE at: 7/9/2012 (16:17)

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7/9/12 3:18 P

My random exercises: Using my 2 lb weights to strengthen my arms, chest and back while watching TV or talking to my hubby. Spontaneous line dance contests with my kids using a personalized YouTube playlist (they love this!). Running to my car from the building to the parking lot. I actually plan to take up running gradually as I learn more about it.

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7/9/12 2:00 P

I like to do wall pushups in the elevator

- Message Posted by: VANLENORE - 7/3/2012


Hey, me too!

I have a couple of steps by the elevator in the basement of my apartment building, and I usually enter the building by the basement door (its the way our parking lot is set up, we're on a hill, its weird). The laundry room is also in the basement. If I don't take the stairs, I do a couple of quick steps on the stairs while I'm waiting on the elevator.

I dance in my car. Like, at the light, boogie my butt and pump my arms. I look like a goof, but whatever.

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7/9/12 1:50 P

I have a 8lb ball that I use for arm and leg lifts, I started doing these a few weeks ago, I do these while I watch tv in my room or while reading blogs. It all helps and it makes a person feel great about their day.

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7/9/12 11:13 A

That's great! It definitely will do a lot of good because you are burning calories and working your muscles. All your small five minute sections will add up and you should start to see results. I don't think it matters if your exercise section isn't in one huge chunk because you're still working out your body. That is also a much more reasonable way to do it when you have a busy schedule and makes it more likely that you will exercise because it's not too hard to fit in a few five minute workout sessions. I've seen that encouraged on several places on this site. Good job!

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7/9/12 9:01 A

music usually gets me going-whether at work or on the subway, i find a way to move along to it. little dances help get me through the day.

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7/9/12 8:15 A

Lots of great ideas; I particularly like the idea of the dumbbells by the kettle to do arm lifts until the kettle boils. Super!!!

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7/9/12 6:05 A

I love your idea about music making you move more. So true and I'd never thought of it as a way to keep up fitness. Thanks!

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7/9/12 6:03 A

I own an elliptical trek and when I want I can jump on for 20 minutes to get some exercise. It's great it is always there and there is almost no reason I can't do at least 20 minutes in any day. I call it my "no excuses" machine.

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7/8/12 11:54 P

lots of great ideas that I can incorporate into my desk job. Thanks everyone for posting.

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7/8/12 10:51 P

I'm a single mom, of a crazy active 4 year old little girl. I totally get not having the time to work out for a even 45 or 60 span at once. I incorporate my workout into my whole day. The one thing I do take time to do religiously, is a warm-up/ stretching routine, first thing in the morning, and I stretch again at night before bed. I make this possible by having my little girl do it with me!! (at least in the morning). Then throughout the day, I keep upbeat music playing as much as possible (KidzBop, anyone?) This keeps me moving at a faster pace, keeps a beat in my step, and I find myself dancing around as I clean up the house. Plus it makes things much more fun! Then I get out the hula hoops, jump ropes, roller skates, and dumbbells. We get to play during time I would have to take away from her to do a normal exercise routine. Playing with our 2 (big) puppies in our large, hill of a back yard is always good cardio, and going swimming is the best (as long as I dont find my way to the raft to fast!)... Winter time is great for sled riding, ice skating, and taking snow hikes. Her and I carry our water bottles around, she helps me choose what we will prepare for meals and snacks, and have more fun all day, then we ever would if I weren't making an effort to be active. Its all in perspective for me. I feel great, and she loves the attention. Plus she is learning healthy habits.

Edited by: PITTSBURGHNIC at: 7/8/2012 (22:52)

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7/8/12 10:08 P

I've gotten a lot of good ideas from this thread so I guess I believe it adds up!

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7/8/12 9:26 P

my aunt and gramma are always saying that whenever we go to a store or something

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7/8/12 9:11 P

Ive been doing yoga I sit at my laptop all day and play games literally so I have been getting up and stretching in bwtween which feels SO good Ive been having really bad back and neck pain I stay hunched over all night been doing it for years my computer obsession is gotta end soon.

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7/8/12 12:45 P

My husband and I work for the same company and can take two 10 minute breaks throughout the day. We take one at 9am and one at 2pm and walk around the building.
It helps get in a little exercise, but also helps our backs/legs from being sore from sitting in office chairs all day and helps clear our heads on stressful days.

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7/8/12 11:58 A

Take the stairs...park far away from where I am going...walk whenever I can...

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7/8/12 11:47 A

Random exercise is better than nothing...but it can't beat a good solid 60 minute workout every morning.

NOTHING makes you feel better physically, mentally, emotionally--so don't gyp yourself! Workout every day--you'll be AMAZED at how fantastic you feel...and how much better your life gets!

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7/8/12 1:07 A

They do say if you can't do 30-60 minutes of exercise at one time, you can break it into 10 minute segments. My energy level and my back make that plan a requirement in just about everything I do, exercise, shopping, housecleaning, forget the yard. I do the best I can and I keep moving. Slowly, But I'm moving.

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7/7/12 10:04 P

I play chase with my dog all through the house, out the mud porch and into back yard then we head back into the house. By the time we are done were both "panting" and I'm laughing. It's a workout without the ho hum of a workout. I have no idea how many calories it burns but it sure is fun.

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7/7/12 6:56 P

My 4 & 6 year old boys love to say "tag you're it" and then run away expecting me to chase them down... lol... it's like the shuttle run from elementary school: sprint-stop-sprint-stop!

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7/7/12 1:55 P

I work on the second floor. So whenever I need to go to another floor, I take the stairs. I park in the farthest spot. I feel all these little things are things I NEVER used to do. When I have to push beds, I view it as an opportunity for a wee bit of strength training. So every little bit counts.

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7/7/12 1:44 P

I do a load of laundry just about every day - when I go downstairs to the laundry room I do some "strength training" using my laundry soap jugs for weights! LOL I never get interrupted and it doesn't take long to get in some arm toning and throw in some squats/kicks using the machines to steady myself. I do one set putting the clothes in the wash, another when I transfer to the dryer, and the third when the clothes are dry. It may not be much, but I feel like I accomplished something :)

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7/7/12 10:22 A

It is not so much that I don't have the time rather I do not like the audience. I try and get before the bf (only one tv) this morning I got in ten minutes before he got up. So, I find myself doing wall push ups, squats, when I go downstairs to do the cat boxes I do the stairs a couple of extra times.

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7/7/12 8:27 A

There is this 9 minute exercise cycle (created by Jillian Michaels and used in her videos) that burns 100 calories and requires no equipment that I do whenever I have free time.

If you can find 9 minutes once, twice, etc. during the day...that is the equivalent of going to the gym and it is SO easy! Here you go:

March in place (for one minute)
Jog in place (for one minute)
Do jumping jacks (for one minute)
Long jumps (for one minute)
Jog lightly (for one minute)
Jumping jacks (for one minute)
Squat and kick, alternating legs (for one minute)
Jog lightly (for one minute)
Long jumps (for one minute)

Now shake it out...you just burned 100 cals!

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7/7/12 7:03 A

Sometimes I use exercise as a way to "slip away" from daily routine. Ten minutes working out is MY time and I try to savor the solitude. Works to make exercise less work and more like a mini vacation.

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7/7/12 6:40 A

Most of my employees are smokers, I am not. So instead of a smoke break twice a day I take a walk break. We work on the 4th floor of a 5 floor building so I take 2- 10 minute breaks and walk the halls climbing the stairs between each floor. It helps me reach my 10,000 steps each day and really helps break up my day a bit.

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7/6/12 11:48 P

I'm attempting at getting myself familiar with this website and am finding it difficult in getting my spark page going??
Anyway I do this by playing with my fur~baby as he too has a low thyroid issue like his momma. He Loves to be chased and I do so in spurts. He's such a ham!

Edited by: GOCONNOR4 at: 7/6/2012 (23:50)

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7/6/12 3:00 P

I promised myself I would start to do spontaneous bursts of activity when I began working from home....thanks for the inspiration and great ideas!!

A co-worker recently lost 100 pounds - he credits stationary cycling during long training sessions and conference calls!!

Edited by: THISTIMESFORME at: 7/6/2012 (15:05)

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7/6/12 2:23 P

I do squat jumps spontaneously to get my heart rate up throughout the day. My ex trainer taught me this and it works for me :)

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7/6/12 2:23 P

I do squat jumps spontaneously to get my heart rate up throughout the day. My ex trainer taught me this and it works for me :)

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7/6/12 11:05 A

When I watch TV, I find that I can't sit still, so I'm usually doing some planks, push-ups or squats while watching.

It's always good to move around a little more! :)