Tips for Lunchtime Fitness

You can get more out of your lunch break than food. With imagination and resourcefulness, it can be the key to fitting in fitness.

1) If your company has a fitness room, for heavens sake, use it. Many corporate fitness facilities today rival even the finest health clubs, so you’d be silly not to cash in. For a cardiovascular workout, use either a stationary bike, stair—climbing machine, treadmill, rower, or cross-country skier. For a strength-building workout, use free weights (barbells and dumbbells) or one of those bizarre—looking weight machines (studies are equivocal about which of these two approaches is better, so let your preference be your guide). Ask the instructor at your facility for assistance in putting together a workout suited to your cardiovascular or strength-building needs and put together a workout on your own.

2) Explore the great outdoors. This may not be feasible in certain urban environments, but if your place of work is in a reasonably safe and natural setting, kick off your heels or wing tips, lace up your walking shoes, and get strolling. An advantage of walking for your lunch time exercise, as opposed to doing something more strenuous such as jogging or getting a tough cardiovascular workout at the fitness center, is that you can do it after you eat, thus boosting the number of calories you burn. You also spare yourself the time and trouble of having to shower.

3) Explore the great indoors. If weather conditions are unfavorable, or you simply don’t like the locale of your place of work, stroll the corridors (if your complex is large enough) or head for the nearest mall.
Maybe even do some quick grocery shopping while afoot on your midday spree. You’ll be increasing the calories you burn by carrying those bags, and you’ll save yourself from having to do it at night.