Squeezing in a workout is hard for those of you with tight schedules. With these exercise, health and beauty products, you can easily make the transition from gym to real life, even if you don't have time to shower.
For the home exerciser, it can be a pain going from one exercise to another if you constantly have to adjust your dumbbells or try to find the weights you need for each exercise. That's where adjustable dumbbells come in - just turn a dial and voila...your weights are ready. I particularly like the Bayou adjustable dumbbells for the average exerciser because they go up to 50 pounds (plenty for most of us) and they aren't quite as bulky as other versions. One downside is that you have to pay extra for the rack, but it's definitely worth it, especially if you don't have much exercise space.
If you're short on time, a quick way to get in a workout is to let someone else make your routine for you. There are any number of MP3 workouts you can try, but I like this site because it's simple to use and you don't have to subscribe to get the workouts (although they do offer membership options). They don't have a ton of workouts available, but they do offer a variety of downloadable workouts for running, cycling, strength training, stretching and more. The workouts have music and offer cueing and instruction from trainers. The trainers are sometimes a little chatty, so listen before you buy.
Another way to save time is to work with a personal trainer, who can come up with workouts to fit your schedule, goals and available equipment. Online training is even more of a timesaver. Plus One Active offers individualized training where you get complete, printable workouts you can take with you to the gym.
If you don't have time for both a workout and a shower, now you can skip the shower part without having to go back to work smelling like an old gym sock. AftaSport offers a full-body wipe saturated with a special alcohol-free, hypoallergenic, no-rinse body cleansing Aloe lotion that goes on moist, dries instantly, and absorbs sweat and odor. These are great for long camping or backpacking trips as well to defunkify.
If you do opt for a quick shower after a workout, you'll want this shampoo. This is a fast-lather, fast-rinsing and fast-drying shampoo and it protects hair from heat. This shampoo is perfect when you don't have a lot of time to primp.
When you don't have much time, the last thing you want to worry about is hauling out a lot of equipment for a workout or packing a bag for the gym. Resistance bands make a great option for when you want to maintain a little muscle mass while squeezing in a short, effective workout. This resistance band kit includes three resistance bands, each with a different level of tension so you can work all of your muscle groups. There's a door attachment for working upper body and instructions included. Even better, bands fit well in your suitcase or even your desk drawer at work for whenever you have a few minutes to exercise.
If you're really short on time (as in, you only have about 10 minutes), check out my article on Timesaver Workouts. The key to getting the most out of your workout time is to work as hard as you can. These sample workouts will help you do just that.
