Some people have a good, balanced exercise program that they keep up religiously three or four days a week.
Some people workout five, six or seven days a week! Most people, it seems to me, struggle hard to keep up a regular work out program and are fortunate if they do make three or four days a week.
In this article I would like to discuss how often we exercise and provide a couple of tips that can help us maintain our goal of a consistent exercise program.
How often we work out partially depends on the exercise program we use.
For instance, if we are power weight lifters we should not lift more than every other day.
When we use our muscles to the extreme we actually tear them.
And muscles usually need at least 40-48 hours to rebuild from minor tears.
When they do rebuild, they are stronger.
I know many weight lifters who are so extreme they do not lift more than twice a week and still show dramatic improvements.
If we walk for exercise, it is beneficial for many to go four or more days per week.
If you are particularly targeting specific areas of the body there is another philosophy that is valid.
For example you might target your abs on Monday and Thursday, your lower body on Tuesday and Friday and your upper body on Wednesday and Saturday.
This could be an excellent way of keeping up some cardiovascular work nearly every day without overextending any muscle group.
   The big issue for many people is maintaining a regular and consistent exercise program.
Granted, this is hard to do.
So many things happen to disrupt our schedules.
We may have to work late, the kids may have athletic or scholastic contests that we cannot miss, there may be car problems, etc.
I would like to provide a couple of strategies here that may help.
   Many of us work out at a gym.
A gym can provide very good equipment for a solid workout.
The problem is that most of us have to drive (or walk) at least a short distance to get our gym of choice.
For me, I could never exercise regularly in the morning before going into work.
It just would not happen.
I am not a real early riser and I do not think I ever will be.
In my job, exercising at lunch time would not fly either, even though there is a YMCA less than 1/10 of a mile from my workplace.
I just would not be able to do it during work time.
So to use a gym, my only solution would be after work.
When I complete a day at the grindstone, like many of us, I want to get home.
Going to a gym consistently after work would be hard for me too.
   Strategy 1: If you are able to make it to a gym regularly, it is an excellent idea considering the good equipment that most workout facilities have.
There is also a benefit of the friendships you can gain with others pursuing the same goal as you.
If you are not able to make it to a gym at all, a good piece of home exercise equipment can make the workout process considerably more fun and easy.
The Tony Little Gazelle and Rock and Roll Stepper are two pieces of equipment that are very good and do not cost a fortune.
If you are unable to make it to a workout facility regularly, consider the purchase of good home-gym equipment.
   Strategy 2: If your regular workout program is at a gym, have a backup plan at home for those days or nights when you just cannot make it.
If you are paying for a gym membership you probably do not want to buy a lot of equipment for your house, but you do not need expensive gear for your backup plan.
There is always jogging, walking, push-ups, sit-ups, burpees, stretches and several other good exercises that you can do at home for no cost at all.
Many people get bored stiff doing these exercises as a regular routine, but this is not a regular routine.
This is your backup plan for when the normal situation falls apart.
The key is to keep doing something.
Do not let your entire schedule crash because you could not make it to the gym one day.
   Strategy 3: Attempt to get your kids involved.
If you don't have kids try to get your spouse or a friend.
Whether you work out at home or at a facility doing it with another person can help you maintain the schedule.
After all, you do not want to disappoint your friend, your spouse or especially your kids by telling them you are too tired!   Strategy 4: Consider the type of exercise you are doing and whether you should do it more or less frequently.
For example, if you are a power lifter and you only exercise two days a week I would consider doing something light two or three more days per week.
If you are a walker and your program is to walk 3 days a week for 15 minutes, you may want to increase that to 30 or 45 minutes over time.
If you are weight lifter targeting the upper body five or six days per week you may consider backing off a little or doing an alternate exercise on a couple of days.
   Strategy 5: Many people do best when they try to work out at about the same time.
It might be the morning, at lunch time or right before supper.
What time it is done at is not as important as getting it done.
   Strategy 6: Don't be overly discouraged if you feel you don't have enough time to do your entire workout.
If your program lasts 45 minutes and you only have 15, I suggest doing something different for 15 minutes or maybe just your first series of reps.
Do something, even if it is not for as long as you would like.
   To Wrap it Up Exercising is a good habit that helps almost everyone.
The benefits provided are too long to list in this article.
Exercise is most beneficial when it is done on a consistent basis.
Consider if it is best for you to work out at a gym or not.
Remember to have a backup plan for when things don't go as planned.
Try to get someone else involved so you can help each other with the scheduling.
Consider the type of exercise you are doing and whether should be doing it more or less frequently.
If you do best exercising in the morning or evening, put it on your schedule.
Don't be discouraged and completely neglect your workout if there is not enough time for the entire routine.
A short workout is usually better than nothing.
With the winter time upon us, exercising regularly is more important than ever.
Remember, you can do it.