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Fit in Your Workout During Your Lunch Hour

Q & A with Expert Trainer Chris Powell

Sommer in El Mirage is discouraged with her workouts.

"Dear Chris,

I am a single mom of two and like everyone, I work. I try to work out but I just don't see the results. Don't get me wrong… I see the energy and the way it makes me feel. But I'm wondering if what I'm doing is enough. I go to the gym on my lunch hour. So, with 7 minutes driving time there, 5 minutes to get dressed, 20-25 minutes to work out and then shower and I'm off to work again. Is the 20-25 minutes worth all the effort? Am I kidding myself that I am even doing anything?

I don't have time after work or before work. Those times are devoted to my kids. (which is not enough time with them, so I won't get started on that). So I guess I have a couple of questions... Is 20-25 minutes good enough and if it is what should I be doing at the gym? Weights? Cardio? How many days of each? My problem area is my mid section. I would like to tone my arms and I really need to tone my abs (remember I have 2 kids and I feel like it shows).

HELP ME PLEASE! I love working out but am getting very discouraged."

Hi Sommer,

Wow…sounds like one of my days. I understand! Scheduling your days in 15 minute increments is stressful to say the least. If there is anyone who NEEDS to exercise, it’s YOU! When it comes to the exercise, anything is better than nothing. To be honest, the latest in research has proven that anywhere between 20-45 minutes is the ideal amount of time that you should be exercising. Here’s the catch: The less time you have to train, the higher the intensity you need train at to achieve good results. Here are some quick ideas to change things up:

• Try some quick circuits: Pick 6 different exercises that work all different muscles of the body. Use weight heavy enough to exhaust the muscle in 15 reps. Do 15 reps of each exercise in rapid succession, your only rest is the time it takes to walk to each station.
  
  
• Interval train for your cardio: Choose your favorite cardio machine and get it going. Once you’re warmed up after 3-5 minutes, increase the intensity and go ‘all-out’ for as long as you can until you can’t go any further…then decrease the intensity until your heart rate comes back down, then repeat. Trust me… if you can do this for 20-25 minutes, you’re a champ!

~ Chris

Learn more about Chris

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