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Exercise is one of things where you always feel better when you do it but it's difficult to get going with it. 

Annie (who we spoke about last week always) finds it better to exercise in the morning before life gets in the way, but then is not always able to get up early so her work out will often fall by the wayside.

My view on exercise is that it is so good for your health that you need to do it.

It's not absolutely essential for weight loss (you have to run or walk more than a marathon distance to lose a single pound of fat and so what you eat has by far the greatest effect for most people).

But exercise IS essential to keep you alive, to tone your muscles, to help you sleep and to keep your spirits up! And of course, every calorie you use up by exercising counts. This means that although you won't lose a pound of fat in a single day, you could easily do so over a number of them - in addition to those you lose by eating less.

So exercise is worth it for all those benefits.

The best strategies to make sure you fit in exercise are

Start Early

Exercise as early as possible in the day as Annie has found out - even if it's not first thing then try to get out at lunch time rather than leaving it until the evening and if it must be the evening make it before dinner rather than after. The less there is to get in the way the better.

Move and View

Exercise while you watch TV - only allow yourself to watch the show you love if you are lifting hand weights, using resistance bands, rebounding, stepping or skipping around your lounge

Small Doses

Exercise in small amounts of time throughout the day - simply move as much as you can - don't sit, when you can stand, don't stand when you can be moving around, don't use the elevator or car when you can walk or cycle. 10 minutes exercise is better than none at all

Make a Date

Make an appointment with someone to exercise - a personal trainer three times a week will make you take action - failing that a friend or tennis partner who you have an appointment to meet can work wonders as you won't want to let someone else down

Family Fun

Take up exercise with someone else in your family and encourage each other to exercise (you have each others best interests at heart after all) 

Love whatever it is you do to Exercise

Start exercising in a way you love - skiing, paragliding, horse back riding whatever might get you moving

And nowhere did I mention joining the evil gym ... Don't Join a Gym!