The throngs of people that show up at gyms in January and vanish within weeks make new year's resolutions about fitness a cliché, but I'm going to tell you my plan for 2007 anyway. After all, the fine (few) readers of this blog aren't like all those January gym membership people. We stick to our goals and just need a good plan and some motivation to make them happen.

My fitness plan starting in 2007 is simply to do at least thirty minutes of aerobic exercise every day, 365 days a year. That will total over 10,950 minutes or at least 7.6 days of exercise in 2007. This may sound like a lot to some, but not when you consider the average American spends 26 days a year just watching TV commercials! Surely your health is at least 30% as important as the Aflac duck.

The beauty of the thirty minutes a day plan is its simplicity. There are no decisions to make, you will exercise today (and tomorrow) for 30 minutes. With an X times per week plan, it's too easy to say you're tired today and will exercise tomorrow. Pretty soon you've taken all your off days at the beginning of the week and you haven't scheduled enough time to get the exercise done later in the week. On the other hand, if you know you have to do thirty minutes every day, you'll work that time in to your daily routine.

What happens if you're sore, stuck in an airport, or don't have time for a shower afterward? Just walk. Everyone except Dean Karnazes needs some rest days. Instead of letting them throw off your exercise routine, just walk for thirty minutes. Grab your spouse, co-workers, cell phone, or audio book and use that time you've already budgeted to catch up or listen to something interesting.

What if you go on a two hour bike ride one day; can you take a few days off? Nope. The plan is at least thirty minutes a day, not 120 minutes some days and zero for three days afterward. Stay consistent and make exercise an integral part of each day. If you have extra time for a long run or bike ride, go for it! Take a walk tomorrow if you get too sore.

The best part about this plan is that you'll get the good feeling exercise gives you every single day. Over time, your fitness will improve, your energy level will increase, men will see their feet again, and women can wear their "skinny jeans" again. If you need any more reasons, the Mayo Clinic has a long list of the benefits of thirty minutes of aerobic exercise per day.

Posted by JoshC at January 10, 2007 7:38 AM

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