We are big proponents of the philosophy, "any exercise is better than no exercise." In fact, when we see others exercising at the gym at 5:00 a.m. we're not only encouraged, but inspired by their effort to even get up and show up that early. Yet, it's a real bummer when those same heroic folks consistently make their exit at 5:20.

Since exercise is our business, we notice when other people come and go at the gym, what they do and for how long. Interestingly, it's these same folks who often complain that they aren't seeing results from their efforts. There's a good reason for that. The 20-minute workout is only a bare minimum, not the ideal. At 20 minutes, you've just made it into a cardiovascular conditioning zone for your heart and lungs. You've just barely dipped into fat-burning mode, and more than likely you haven't even broken a sweat. If weeks or months go by with this same level of activity, don't be surprised if your progress comes to a halt. It's time to step it up a bit, moving beyond "just enough to get by."

The 20-minute workout can be effective and does have its place in our hectic lifestyles, but only as a rarity rather than the norm. If you've stalled out at this level it means your body has adjusted to this exercise plan, and it's time to stretch out of your comfort zone. Exert a bit more effort. Remember that there are four parameters you can change about your workout routine to make it more effective: mode, frequency, duration and intensity. If you're short on time, make the workout intense. If you're consistent in your frequency, try an expanded workout at least part of the time. If you've been repeating the same exercises over and over, do something new.

Book Dan Polimino to speak at your next meeting or event today. For program information contact us at info@BookDan.com, visit www.BookDan.com or call 303-683-4795.