It’s 9 a.m. on a Monday morning, and Denise Austin has energy to spare. This shouldn’t surprise viewers of her long-running morning TV shows, “Getting Fit” and “Denise Austin’s Daily Workout,” but years later it’s still a common thread of conversation between the enthusiastic fitness expert and her fans.
I get so many letters from women all over the country who say, “I’m so tired, Denise. You always have so much energy–what’s up with that? How do you do it?'” she says, laughing. “So I thought, ‘I should write a book about that.'”
And she did–just in time for the New Year. Get Energy! Empower Your Body, Love Your Life offers worksheets and checklists to help readers evaluate what’s sapping their energy, as well as stretches, snacks, quick workouts and tons of other tips to continuously replenish that stash.
“The average person sits for more than 7.5 hours a day,” she says, “That’s the worst thing for your energy level–you lose the circulation between your upper and lower extremities, so you don’t get the oxygen your body needs to get more alert.'”
While most office workers can’t avoid a mostly sedentary day, taking frequent breaks, improving posture and moving around more in the evenings should give their energy level a boost, she says. “Of course you have to eat right and drink lots of water,” she says, “but food isn’t the enemy. It’s sitting still.”
And though most of us know it, it bears repeating: Lack of exercise is the No. 1 reason we’re all so tired. But as has always been Austin’s philosophy, the workout tips she lays out in Get Energy! are extremely realistic, and she uses case studies from real-life readers to show how her plan can be adapted to suit a variety of lifestyles and schedules.
“I always tell people to try to work out 30 minutes a day, Monday through Friday, when life is already regimented–whether you’re getting up and going to work, or getting the kids off to school, you probably have a routine on those days,” she says. “That doesn’t take that much when you think about it. People can even divide that up, maybe do 10 minutes in the morning, 10 at lunch and 10 in the evening, so they don’t feel so overwhelmed about how they’re going to get 30.”
To that end, Austin has also recently released two new workout videos, Quick Burn Cardio and Shrink Your Fat Zones Pilates, each of which offers multiple short workouts that can be mixed and matched to create a 30-minute routine. A free Denise Austin mobile app available at the iTunes store features exercises and advice that can be accessed on the go.
“It’s about getting fit where you already are,” she says. “The last thing people want to do is leave their family and go work out. I know– I’m a mom.”
Austin also returned to TV, joining the daily Lifetime show “A The Balancing Act” with a 15-minute workout every Monday and a “Daily Dose of Denise” sprinkled throughout the week. It’s all part of her career-long campaign to persuade worn-out women (and men) that no matter how frazzled they feel, their body and health are worth investing in.
“I honestly believe energy makes you feel better about yourself and live your life in the most exciting way,” she says.
Want more of Denise’s wisdom and tips? Check out her blog at DeniseAustin.com or follow her on Twitter at @DeniseAustin.
Still tired? Try some of these tricks from Denise’s book.
