I’m a busy mother of two pre-schoolers and work a part-time job, so I find it very difficult to exercise regularly. What can someone in my situation do to get in shape? –Jane in Belmont, NC
Jane, you don’t need a full-blown two-hour workout program to reap the benefits of exercise. Since you don’t have much time to yourself, instead of trying to exercise for 30 minutes a day, break it up into shorter intervals. Try waking up just 15 minutes earlier and do crunches, push-ups and jumping jacks. Think about multi-tasking as well. While you are microwaving a meal, you could do some arm raises with cans of soup, or lunge down the hall while carrying a bag of groceries. Remember, every little bit helps!
–WCA Wellness Coach
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Other Questions:
I have really bad knees, how can I exercise without causing more damage to my knees? Thanks—Louise in NC.
I'm a 43-year-old working mom looking to make the most of my limited exercise time. My mother has had three back surgeries and one knee replacement primarily due to arthritis. I would like to avoid a similar fate. I wouldn't mind losing ten pounds, but prevention is my primary goal rather than weight loss. I have heard that Pilates is an excellent approach to avoiding back problems. What recommendations do you have? —Cheryl in Asheboro, NC
Is Splenda® Sugar Blend a good choice for diabetics to use when recipes call for sugar? —Kim in Albemarle, NC
Why is it that some people cannot eat fiber foods such as oats, wheat, barley, bran due to bloating? —Linda in Horry County
Is it a good idea to begin exercising again, after not doing it for a while, during times of great stress? —Bill in Charlotte, NC
Please tell me some abdominal exercises that will not strain the back. I am not overweight. I am conscientious and I swim laps every other day. —M.J., Monroe, NC
How can I eat healthier when I go out to restaurants for lunch? –Alex in Kannapolis, NC
When I quit smoking, I gained a lot of weight. I’m wondering what I should do to remove the spare tire I gained around my midsection? —DeAnne, Fayetteville, NC
I would like to know how I can become more motivated. It seems to be hard for me to burn off fat or lose weight in my midsection. —Robert, Wilmington, NC
Is there a list of healthy carbs that I can refer to and also a list of bad carbs? —Joe, Huntersville, NC
I know that the skin on chicken is unhealthy as it has a lot of fat and cholesterol. I was wondering if fish skin (salmon skin specifically) has the same negative properties, or if it’s actually healthy. —Henry of Eastchester, NY
If a medication that you need tends to make you gain weight, what should you do? —Janet in Asheboro, NC
When I’m not dieting, I don’t eat much. But when I begin to diet, I want to eat up everything in sight. I just want to know how to control this habit. —FeFe in Statesville, NC
I enjoy walking for exercise. I am 46 and walk regularly 2-4+ miles on pavement at a pretty good pace. Do I need to worry about my knees? –Linda in Charlotte, NC
