I just don't have the time .. how many times have you used that excuse when it comes to exercise? According to the Obesity Policy Coalition lack of time is the most common reason we give for not exercising. The Australian Bureau of Statistic found that a staggering 70percent of Australians over 15 are either sedentary or achieve only low exercise levels, according to its National Healthy Survey 2007-08.
But if people such as US President Barack Obama can still fit in a daily work out ''Most of my workouts have to come before my day starts. There's always a trade-off between sleep and working out. Usually I get in about 45 minutes, six days a week. I'll lift one day, do cardio the next,'' he told Men's Health magazine we all should be able to. Even former prime minister John Howard, for as much as we mocked him for them, squeezed in a daily walk.
Sure, life's a bit easier when you have a team of advisers and staff looking after such things as dinner and cleaning the house, but there are plenty of ''regular'' people who lead busy lives who can find time to exercise.
We spoke to three of them.
Joanne Brown, 37
Occupation: Fulltime stay at home mum
Family: Married to Steve for almost 15 years. Three children: Ainsleigh, 7, Makayla, 5 12, and Austin, 1.
Describe your typical week's program:
Monday: After dropping the girls at school I go straight to the gym. I am a member of Fernwood Gungahlin and would usually do the BodyPump class for an hour.
Tuesday: Lunchtime boxing class or run on the treadmill at the gym. Hockey fitness training in early evening, when I could fit it in and when Steve wasn't away with work.
Wednesday: Morning gym visit to do either RPM or run on the treadmill.
Thursday: Gym visit to do BodyPump. Hockey training from 7-8pm.
Friday: Usually the morning off, two to three hours of housecleaning.
Saturday: Sometimes a BodyPump class in the afternoon and/or a family walk.
Sunday: Hockey game.
Describe your typical week:
Most weekday mornings begin with me dropping the girls at school and then heading to the gym. After that I usually come home and try to keep my household in one piece while entertaining Austin. During this time of the day I try to get dinner cooked or organised and do a clean-up from the morning rush. Each afternoon is filled with the kids after school activities including basketball, netball, dancing, swimming, gymnastics and homework. I also try to help out in the girl's classrooms as much as I can and I enjoy being involved in the school community. We also spend a lot of time with our family on weekends, the kids love having their grandparents around.
For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times