Hey, couch potato! Try Joy’s TV workout

Though I enjoy a little TV time just as much as the next person, I also realize that watching a lot of it isn’t so great for our waistlines. The average American watches 2.88 hours of television per day — and most of that time is spent vegging out on the sofa with very little movement.

If we all spent the same amount of time walking or doing other forms of exercise, we could each burn at least 500 more calories a day. OK, I realize that’s a lot to ask and not very realistic, so I say why not dedicate just one half-hour show (or half of an hour-long program) to exercise?

It’s actually a fantastic way to fulfill your exercise commitment for the day. You get so absorbed into the drama unfolding in your favorite show that your workout is over in the blink of an eye. Plus, you get to exercise in the privacy of your own home, with nobody else watching (except maybe your kids).

And I’m giving you a half-hour routine composed of simple, easy movements that don’t require any equipment or tools, so you can do this workout anytime, anywhere. Your living-room floor becomes your home gym — and Dr. House, Ugly Betty, McDreamy, or detectives Benson and Stabler become your exercise coaches. Of course, if you do have a treadmill or other piece of cardio equipment, you can always spend 30 minutes working out on your machine in front of the tube … but I think my TV Time Floor Workout is just more fun!

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Here’s how it works: The average 30-minute TV show has 22 minutes of show time and 8 minutes of commercials. This time allocation is ideal for breaking up your routine into intervals of low-intensity and high-intensity cardio. You’ll do low-impact aerobics during the actual show (so you can still concentrate on what’s happening!), and you’ll get your heart pumping during commercial breaks by doing jumping jacks and jogging in place. If the schedule I’ve outlined below doesn’t fit your show’s format, just tweak it as needed. Don’t worry about following my instructions exactly — the most important thing is to just keep moving.

Give this workout a try — I think you’ll find it totally doable and maybe even, dare I say, a little fun. Plus, you’ll burn way more calories than you would flopped on the couch!

Remember to stretch and hydrate afterward. Great job!

Joy Bauer is the best-selling author of “Your Inner Skinny.” For more information on healthy eating and weight loss, visit www.JoyBauer.com.  

Find out if Joy's Life Diet is right for you at JoyBauer.com