Without a doubt, the number 1 reason given for not reaching our health and fitness goals is…?

lack of time

“There is no time to exercise.”

“There is no time to prepare meals.”

“There is no time to eat healthy.”

Yes, we live in a CRAZY world and almost everyone seems to be running from one thing to another.

But here’s the thing, we all have the same 24 hours in the day, so how come some of the BUSIEST people also have time to take care of themselves?

It’s about how we use our windows of opportunity.

So what exactly is a “window of opportunity”?

This is how I define it:

“A brief period of time that can be used productively or non-productively to move us closer to OR further from our health and fitness goals.”

Here are some problems that many of us face…

Situation 1:

He works 6 days a week, 12 hour days and struggles to find time to exercise. You are also constantly stressed and wish you had more of a social life.

Window of Opportunity: 60 minutes at lunch time.

Option a) You work during your lunch hour to catch up on projects. He also checks his email and messages his friends through Facebook.

Option b) You go for a quick walk to a nearby park and meet a couple of friends for a quiet lunch.

Situation 2:

You’re a stay-at-home mom or dad who “don’t have time” to exercise.

Window of opportunity: 60 minutes or less during baby’s nap.

Option a) You catch up on chores and/or watch Days of Our Lives.

Option b) You carry the baby in the stroller and do a 20 minute interval workout around the neighborhood OR do a 30 minute fat blast workout from the comfort of your home

(By the way, I have a son and often work from home, so I can definitely relate to this one!)

predicament 3:

You don’t have time to eat healthy, so you tend to eat on the run/buy food instead. (Although you know that it is the most expensive option)

Window of Opportunity: Immediately after work – 30 minutes.

Option a) You come home and plop down on the couch after a hard day at work.

Option b) While you cook dinner, you make more for lunch the next day and also make some quick snacks.

Conclusion:

Every day we have windows of opportunity. Every day we face choices. We can use these windows wisely or we can waste our most valuable asset: our time.

The only question is, “Are YOUR choices moving you closer to or further from your health and fitness goals?