The thing is, I don't think there is a best type or time to exercise. It is simply not a "one size fits all." I know there are articles about the exercises that may change your body composition, or the best time of day for "fat burning? or "muscle building" or "calorie consuming." But the reality is, there are no guarantees on any of these claims. No one, with any solid reputation, makes the unrealistic promises you see in these claims.



In the end, you have to decide what it is YOU like to do? When do you have time to do it? If you see an advertisement stating you must run for an hours six times a week to lose weight, but you despise running-do you honestly think you will stay with this exercise? Do you really want to punish yourself by making your body run, when you hate running?

Perhaps some magazine said that the best time of day to exercise is between 7 and 9 in the morning. But what if you have to be at work? Or you just cannot get out of bed on a weekend to jog (when truthfully, you hate jogging to begin with?).

My advice? Find the activity you like, and do it when you have the time. Most importantly, you need is pick something you enjoy, so you don't feel like you are being tortured while you do it. I mean, how many times do you want to feel tortured?

Look for a time during the day for that activity. It may be a short walk 3 times a day, it may be 15 minutes during your break at work, it may be walking the dog at the end of the day. Whatever it is, as long as you are doing something you like, and you have time to do it-you are on the right track.

When I was in graduate school, I actually used to jog 4 times a week around the golf course. I am fairly sure I was feeling the peer pressure from all my healthy nutrition colleagues. Now I am older, my knees hurt, and I have learned I love walking. I bought a wonderful pedometer that I wear every day, and I walk. Guess what? I am now one of those people who walks around the parking lot, up the extra flight of stairs, and sometimes (please don't tell my husband), I'll walk back and forth across the floor to make those extra 100 steps before I go to bed.

But I found an activity I like, I have a wonderful little pedometer that gives me this immediate feedback I seem to crave, and-I just do it.

And so should you!

Good luck.

Copyright (c) 2008 At Peace With Food