That's Fit

Did you miss your workout today? Or is it just too cold to go out for a walk or a run? You can still squeeze in some physical activity, you just have to be a little creative. Exercise doesn't have to happen in a gym, nor does it have to involve expensive props or even workout gear. As long as you can get that heart rate up, you're burning calories. So if you're stuck inside but still want to get moving, try some of these ideas:

• Run up and down your staircase.
• Sit down and stand up repeatedly during commercial breaks.
• Give your child a piggy-back ride and do lunges.
• Do jumping jacks.
• Jump rope (if you don't have a downstairs neighbor).
• Do push-ups -- try doing them against the wall if you're just getting started.
• Pull out an old fitness DVD or video.
• Turn on the music and dance.

Don't let excuses get in between you and your workout. Just get moving -- you'll be so glad that you did!

As fabulous as we at That's Fit think this blog is, the truth is there are hundreds of wonderful blogs on healthy living to be seen all over the blogosphere. So in this feature, Fit Links, we'll introduce you to some that have caught our eye.

One of my favorite features here at That's Fit is Deanna Glick's Working in the Workouts. Too often, busy lives and hectic schedules leave little room for daily, scheduled workouts and exercise starts to fall low on the list of priorities. But daily physical activity is important to good health, so even when your life feels like it's being lived in the fast lane, it's still important to raise that heart rate every day.

Katie at Sister Skinny talks about her Adventures In Mallwalking with three small children. It doesn't sound like she accomplished her workout, but I have a feeling she burned more than a few calories! Workout Mommy took her whole family to the track, using the extra weight of the stroller as resistance and trading off with her husband so that she could get a solo workout as well. And for those of you don't have kids, but still have trouble finding a physical activity that fits your lifestyle, Comrade GoGo talks about her decision to forgo the gym and breakout on her own.

How do you work in the workouts?

Back in the days when I was single, without children, and employed full-time, I almost always had a gym membership. Whether it was the small women-only gym in my home town, the bigger corporate gym near my apartment in the city, or the community center that I passed on my commute to work, I always had somewhere to go to burn off that extra energy. But with my schedule, responsibilities, and budget today, a gym membership is out of the question. So my workouts take place either in my home or on the streets and sidewalks surrounding it. Sometimes I miss those days of putting on my headphones and losing myself in 45 minutes on the elliptical machine, but exercising at home has its perks too.

If exercising at home suits you, here are some excellent tips on how to create your own home gym. Whether you want to go small (think a jump rope, stability ball, and some dumbbells) or large (like a treadmill and a Bowflex machine), there are a lot of different options for creating a workout space with all the materials you need to reach your goals. One thing I'd add to the list would be videos or DVDs, especially for beginners who might not yet have "all the right moves."

It doesn't matter where you exercise, just that you do it. Finding a time, a place, and a routine that fits your lifestyle will help ensure that you stick with your program for good.