Chris Freytag | pg.5

Yeah, I know … the calendar week starts on Sunday. But I’ve been a big fan of Mondays for years. I have been doing a local Monday morning NBC TV segment in Minneapolis for five years, and I email my free weekly fit-tips on Mondays.

Propel Fitness Water used to run ads with the slogan, “FIT HAS A FEELING!” That slogan has really stuck with me because I believe it’s true: There is a feeling that comes with exercise. While you may not be able to put your finger on it, it’s there. When my alarm clock starts buzzing at 4:30 am, there is a feeling that makes me get up. It’s deep inside, but as tired as I may feel, I love getting out of bed to work out!

I am an addicted multitasker. Sometimes I feel really good about that — and sometimes not so much. Many of us can survive on very little sleep to pull off an important project at work, prepare a holiday dinner for 20 relatives, coordinate the entire family’s events while still doing laundry, paying the bills, helping with homework … Yet often we feel it isn’t good enough; we should have been able to do more … like fit in a workout. Ironically, guilt, failure and regret leave us feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed. So when you find yourself in “not good enough” mode, take a deep breath and take action.

“The difference between a myth and a fact is good science.” I love this phrase. You see, fitness and weight loss don’t need to be complicated, but I often overhear conversations between gym-goers discussing fitness advice that just isn’t true. We get confused from media and hearsay. Let me try to shed some light on several urban myths by looking at the science.

Is there a best time of day to work out? I get this question a lot — and an article in The New York Times earlier this month validated my opinion: Exercise at any time of day beats no exercise at all.

People always ask me about staying fit on the road. For many of us, traveling is part of the job; and with the spring break and summer travel seasons arriving, it’s a great time to share my travel workout secrets and tips. Here’s how to make sure your hard work at home doesn’t go by the wayside on the road:

This cold winter has left many with the eternal sniffles — and wondering if they should exercise through a cold or lay off until it’s passed.

According to the American Council on Exercise, the average adult has two to three respiratory infections every year. That can really throw a wrench into what I hope is your regular exercise regimen. Sometimes light workouts are OK when you’re sick and may even help ease some symptoms.

I get a lot of questions about getting back into shape postpartum. Let’s face it, having a baby changes your life in many ways, including the changes your body goes through during pregnancy and afterward. I have three kids so I know how hard it is to get back into your normal lifestyle routine after having a baby … you’re tired, hormonal, busy trying to feed, bathe, etc. I know it’s a struggle. Here’s my best advice for getting back in shape after having a baby:

It’s not only during February (‘Go Red’ and Heart Health Month) that the benefits of regular cardiovascular exercise are always in the news. Study after study shows that exercise does everything from strengthening your heart to lowering your blood pressure to just plain making you feel happier. Yet the news on how long or how hard you should exercise always varies.

With all the demands in your busy life, no doubt you feel a huge sense of accomplishment if you simply get in a walk on any given day. And you should! But one form of exercise isn’t enough. So instead of trying to fit ANY form physical activity into your schedule, focus on getting FOUR kinds of exercise — including core training as well as cardio, strength training and flexibility moves. You don’t necessarily have to add MORE workouts into your week; first just make sure that you’re alternating between these four types of movement in your routine, or combining them into any given workout.