Time – we all want more of it, right?! But short of getting a time machine, the next best thing is to be smart about how you spend your time. If you’re looking for ways to save time during your busy week, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got ten (and a half) tips you’ll love!
1. Plan Your Day the Night Before
Make your lunch the night before to save time – and money – the next day. While you’re at it, why not set out your work clothes the night before. There is nothing worse than that 15 minutes of madness when you can’t decide what to wear!
2. Get Out the Slow Cooker
Save time…by going slow. Cooking healthy meals while you’re at work or even asleep? Count us in! Using your slow cooker can be a huge time saver, and is a great way to do a big cook up, and freeze meals for those days you just don’t have time to cook.
3. Exercise in the Morning
It gets the monkey off your back – and it means you can have you workout done before the school and work run begins. No more ‘I have to work late, so I can’t exercise’ excuses! Pack your gym bag or put out your exercise gear the night before so you just have to get up, get dressed, and go!
4. Squeeze in Healthy Habits
If morning exercise isn’t your thing, make an effort to squeeze in healthy habits throughout your day. Whether it be taking the stairs instead of the lift, standing at your desk or doing some sit-ups or burpees between housework, every effort adds up!
5. Easy Post-Workout Routine
On the topic of squeezing in workouts, getting a session in to or from work, or even in your lunch hour is easy with a few essentials. Ladies (and gentlemen), freshen up in a matter of minutes post-workout with face wipes, dry shampoo, and a cooling mist spray to help calm any redness.
6. Prep for Success
When you get home from the supermarket, wash, chop and store your vegies in plastic containers in the fridge. It will save you loads of time, and make it a lot easier to reach for a healthy snack, or whip up a nutritious meal at the end of a long day.
7. Sunday Cook Up
No, we’re not talking about a Sunday roast…do a cook-up at the beginning of the week (we like to set aside Sunday afternoons) to save you time during the week. Pick a few healthy meals to cook, portion out and store in the fridge or freezer. We also like to cook up a couple of batches of whole grains – like brown rice, lentils or quinoa – as a good base for a last-minute meal.
8. Shop Online
Have you discovered the miracle that is online shopping? Gone are the stressful days of walking up and down supermarket aisles! Not only does online shopping mean you don’t have to make a trip to the supermarket, online shopping is quick, easy and can be delivered straight to your door.
9. Schedule Walking Meetings and Catch Ups
Instead of meeting friends for coffee on a Saturday morning, why not meet them for a walk, jog, or exercise class? You’ll be ticking off two things for your day – socialising AND getting a workout in. Also bring this concept into the workplace – instead of meetings in the office, why not suggest a walking meeting, where you and your colleagues can get outside in the fresh air!
10. Leftovers are Your Best Friend
This is especially true if you live or cook alone. Serving size is for four? No worries! Make the recipe, portion it out, then put two servings in the freezer and keep one in the fridge for lunch the next day.
10.5 Join a Health and Fitness Program
Our 12 Week Body Transformation will do the work for you, with weekly Meal and Exercise Plans, Shopping lists and more. Or if you’re looking for a great time-saving option, Voome is the perfect source for great recipes and workouts. Healthy living has never been easier.
Hi there
Does VOOME have the excercises workouts as a video as I find videos more motivating and easier to follow
Thanks!
Maria
Hi Maria – The Voome workouts are targeted, effective and between 10 and 30 minutes. They are also tailored to your fitness level. Whilst they don’t include Workout Videos as such, they are completed using a Workout Plan format or by watching the workouts by using the Workout Player. The Workout Player is a great feature that will guide you through your daily workout. It provides clear instructions and countdown of reps and times for your Voome workout.
Voome has been designed as a quick reference point for healthy recipes and workouts. For a more detailed transformation, 12WBT is recommended as this is where you can track your progress and weight loss, have access to the Mindset Videos and Workout Videos.
Voome is a weekly subscription and you can pay either by credit card (Visa, Mastercard or Amex) or debit card (Visa or Mastercard). Simply sign up by providing your credit card details – plus your first week is free of charge! Your first payment will then be processed 7 days after signup. You can cancel your subscription at any time. If you’re keen to find out more or to sign up, please head to: https://www.voome.com.au
Wishing you all the very best with your health and fitness journey!
Leila
12WBT Support Crew
I’m also in my 60’s …am very overweight and put work before myself …and my best excuse is ‘that my metabolism doesn’t work well anymore’?? I have a few other health issues to work with but don’t want them to get any worse and I look pregnant [at 65]!! and really want to get rid of that baby. Can you beat that one?? Cheers, Jen
Hi Jenny,
At 12WBT we strongly believe that age shouldn’t be a limiting factor when it comes to becoming fit and healthy. In fact, we have had people from 15 to 76 participating in the 12WBT Program!
By completing the Pre-Season Task “Fitness Test” you will find out which programs are recommended for you. If, when looking at the components of the Fitness Test, you know that you will be unable to complete any or most of them, then the Move or Move 2 program is going to be the best fit for you (owing to their low impact, low intensity and reduced number of training days per week).
Our Move and Move 2 Fitness Programs are designed for those people who have never exercised before, haven’t exercised in a long time or who have injuries and/or health concerns that requires them to introduce a fitness routine very gently.
You are also welcome to modify your Exercise Plan if you have injuries or limitations, check with your doctor or healthcare professional for what is best for you. You might wish to take your 12WBT Exercise Plan to your doctor or other health professional and/or a trainer (if you use one) and they may modify exercises to suit you, or they may well have a completely different plan for you to follow.
12WBT members have access to a large and comprehensive Exercise Index, which provides alternatives for many exercises and muscle groups that can be used to accommodate certain injuries and there are plenty of lower impact and beginner level options if these are needed.
The Member Zone is also a fantastic place to get advice and feedback from other 12WBT members, and what has worked for them.
As weight loss is 80% nutrition, 20% exercise, even if you have to modify the Exercise Plans somewhat, by following the Meal Plans as prescribed, you can still achieve a great result. While we can’t ‘spot reduce’ specific areas of our bodies, by really knuckling down on your Meal Plans in combination with whatever exercise you can manage, this will certainly assist you with your weight loss goals all over, which will include your stomach area.
If you are keen to join us for the August Round, now would be a perfect time to sign up so you can get started on your Pre-Season Tasks in time for when the Round kicks off on Monday 3rd August. Please head to: https://go.12wbt.com/sign-up if you’d like to join us.
Wishing you all the very best with your health and fitness goals and I hope that we see you on board!
Is your 12 week program suitable for women in their sixties
Hey Mia,
Yes, absolutely! Each Round, we have a number of women in there 60’s and 70’s with us, so you wont’ be alone. We have a whole range of Fitness Program to suit just about every fitness level and there are a number of different Meal Plans – you can choose the ones that will best suit your needs and goals. For more information, head to http://www.12wbt.com or email support@12wbtsupport.com
I’m interested in doing the challenge but my living circumstances are a bit odd. I’m in Sth Sudan and food options may be a sticking point. Can I get your insights about this?
Hi Antonia,
Oh wow, how cool that you’re keen to do 12WBT all the way from South Sudan! I’d have to say that’s a first! 🙂
While you may not be able to follow the Meal Plans exactly, by sticking to the principles of the Meal Plans (unprocessed foods, reduced portion sizes, etc.), you can still achieve some great results. Our overseas members make use of the ‘Customise Plan’ tool each week, swapping meals into the Meal Plan that suits the foods they have available to them – you can do the same. If you ever get stuck with something, we are here to help through the Member Zone, email or Facebook. You won’t be alone. 🙂