Sharon Gronowski is among the growing number of executives who covet the lunchtime workout. As Gronowski heads to Fitworks Fitness & Sports Therapy in the M.K. Ferguson Plaza in Tower City Center, the single mother of two children, ages 5 and 7, explains why she exercises during her lunch hour.
I dont work out in the evening because of my kids, says Gronowski, director of convention services for the Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland. Im up at 5:30 a.m. to begin with just getting ready for work and getting them ready for school.
Her lunch-hour routine includes 15 to 20 minutes of cardiovascular exercise and 30 minutes of free weights. I do it for my health and as a stress reliever. After a workout, Im more energized, I feel better about myself and, in turn, Im more productive at work and with my family, she says.
Too many drive-through breakfasts, luncheons, after-work networking receptions, cocktails with clients and dinner functions have left business executives such as Gronowski squeezing more and more into their busy schedules. If not for the discipline usually reserved for important deals, these executives would be squeezing more of themselves into their business suits.
Getting started and staying on a fitness routine remain the toughest hurdles for most executives. To help, area fitness experts suggest that busy professionals tap into the discipline and self-motivation their job requires.
Whatever you do for exercise, find a way to schedule it every day, just like you would your work, family time or even eating, says David Gilbert, president of the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and an avid runner. If you make exercise an add-on, then its the first thing to go when things get busy.
Some executives who must forgo lunch hours for meetings find that the only free time they have is after work. But that option appeals to many professionals, especially those who work downtown. If you normally get stuck in traffic on the way home, you might as well work out right after work. Youll get home at the same time anyway, says Rick Zimmerman, downtown YMCA director of corporate sales.
Unlike its many family-oriented suburban locations, the newly renovated downtown YMCA on Prospect Avenue boasts a large corporate clientele, says Zimmerman.
When time crunches prevent trips to the gym, executives can benefit from making small changes. For instance, walking to meetings instead of driving, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator, can raise ones basal metabolic rate (the number of calories used by the body when it is at rest).
You can start by fitting in some uncomplicated exercises either in the office or at home, says Bally Total Fitness personal trainer Steve Cox. Many executives have shower facilities in their offices, so its not too difficult to squeeze in a workout in the office or a quick run outside when they know they can shower and get ready for that next meeting on time.
Cox recommends simple in-office or in-home exercises such as 20 minutes of jumping jacks, running in place, or doing tricep dips on a chair or abdominal crunches on the floor.
And remember to stick to a routine, says Laura Mimura, Dix & Eaton account executive, personal trainer and group fitness instructor. If you dont stick to that routine, you wont do it all.
Mimuras clients are primarily women professionals s a judge, two lawyers, a junior investment analyst and a small-business owner. Mimura says executives can be vulnerable to their best business instincts when it comes to working out, insisting if they cant work out regularly, they would rather skip it entirely. That take-no-prisoners mentality may work wonders in their business life, Mimura says, but not when it comes to staying fit.
Although there are times when executives simply cannot schedule a work out, the 20 minutes of aerobic exercise or 30 minutes of lifting weights is better than skipping the entire routine, and it will allow you to maintain the health benefits, she says.
For those who consistently miss trips to the gym, Mimura recommends that they purchase a few inexpensive pieces of equipment, including a Resist-A-Ball and a series of dumbbells. The 12- to 26-inch vinyl Resist-A-Ball (about $30) can be used for squats against a wall, push-ups, leg raises and abdominal crunches, while using the weights will help isolate and tone muscles. Mimura also discourages big purchases such as treadmills unless running or walking is already part of your daily routine. Purchasing the equipment wont give you the commitment. It needs to be there before you buy it.
To establish a routine, try adding a workout entry into your day planner or PDA. Rather than waiting for schedules and waistlines to bulk up, the workout is assigned a greater, but consistent, time value.
You cant view exercise as an option. I view it as essential to supporting all of the things I do all day long, adds Dennis Lafferty, executive assistant to the managing partner at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue. Lafferty belongs to The Club at Key Tower, an invitation-only club that caters to the citys executives with its dining, meeting and athletic facilities. I believe exercise not only keeps me physically fit, but also mentally fit and that allows me to be more productive with work and family.
Novice exercisers can prevent the frustration of on-again, off-again workouts by setting realistic goals and picking an activity theyll enjoy, Mimura suggests. If youre just starting out, dont try to do too much. If youve never tried aerobics, dont start with a kickboxing class. Instead, try a basic, low-impact class. Make sure to start slowly and gradually build up your strength and endurance.
Mimura suggests water aerobics for individuals who are overweight and just starting to exercise. Water aerobics is easy on the joints and the knees because theres no impact.
Its important that you like the form of exercise that you choose, because if you dont, youll eventually quit, she adds.
And a complete lack of exercise can jeopardize your long-term health. According to Dr. Brad Gascoigne, a pediatrics physician at University Mednet, evidence suggests that aerobic exercise and weightlifting strengthens the heart and bones, increases muscle tone and enhances the bodys metabolic rate. Plus, exercise can improve emotional well-being, sleep patterns and lead to more productive senior years.
Regular exercise allows for people to live into their 70s and 80s more independently, Gascoigne says. If youre physically fit as you age, youll need less assistance for a longer period of time. That means you can stay in your home longer.
The key is to take simple, manageable steps toward regular workouts such as identifying a time that fits your schedule. For many executives, the best time to work out is early morning. Its not often that someone wants to schedule a meeting at 6 a.m., says Lafferty, who runs downtown before heading to the office. Working out in the morning is also less disruptive for my family. n