The following is a guest post by  Lisa Newton who resides at Iowa Avenue, and is the founder of the Healthy Lifestyle Bloggers Network.

In my last guest post, Don’t Just Sit There Exercise, I discussed the importance of exercise. 

Several commenters mentioned that “bloggers are lazy” or they are “computer-starer-at-ers” and “exercise is boring.”  Someone also said that the “addiction of the computer and internet” played a role in not staying active and exercising.

First of all, I don’t believe bloggers are lazy.  We work hard at researching our blogs, reading and commenting on other people’s blogs, clicking our Entrecards to market our blogs, and of course, the time we spend on our passion—writing our blogs. 

It isn’t easy.  It takes time to take an idea and craft an article around a topic.  In fact, the major difference between blogging and other professions is that for the most part, bloggers work from their home.  If they choose to, bloggers can sit at their computer all day just wearing their pajamas.  I guess that’s why the Pajamas Media group developed.

Who doesn’t like that idea? 

Now that we’ve eliminated the notion that bloggers are lazy, are bloggers “computer-starer-at-ers?”

You bet we are.  It’s part of our job, part of who we are, and a major part of our day.  Does this preclude the idea of getting out of the house and getting off of your “ass” and do something? 

Nope. Why should it preclude you from it?

Regarding the issues of “computer addiction” and exercise being “boring,” I see these two items as being extremely important and topical.  Can the computer and the Internet be addictive?

It’s actually a topic of fierce medical debate and research—it’s real.

I know I’m addicted to it.  I spend hours on my computer everyday.  I have a desktop and a laptop.  I also have a phone modem for my laptop so I’m not limited to finding Internet hot spots.  But even with a computer addiction, I still want to exercise, and I make the time to do so.

Believe it or not, once you get started, exercise can also become an addiction.  Now, I’m not suggesting you become addicted to exercise, but rather you get excited about it. This leads me to the “exercise is boring” issue. 

In order to get your “sea legs” started with an exercise program, start small.

Try 5 minutes of exercise for each hour of the day that you are awake.  If you’re awake for 16 hours, then that’s 80 minutes you just dedicate to exercise, which is 30 minutes more than the government recommended time. 

Most people can do anything for 5 minutes and not get bored, so there goes another urban legend debunked.

Even professional athletes like Tiger Woods, who is currently recovering from knee surgery, have to start from scratch sometimes on their exercise regimens. Hence, building upon small routines can and will lead to a greater amount of stamina, durability, and interest in exercising to stay healthy.

To wit:

What exercises can you do in 5 minutes? 

1.  Jog in place in place for 5 minutes

2.  Do 50 sit-ups

3.  Do 40 lunges

4.  Grab your hand weights and exercise your arms top to bottom, and outward

5.  Stand up and touch your toes, hold it for 30 seconds, and repeat it 8 times

6.  Do 70 jumping jacks

7.  Sitting in your computer chair and with your legs straight, lift them to waist level, hold it for 10 seconds, and repeat 20 times

8.  Lay on your stomach, keeping your legs straight, and lift them about 5 inches off the floor, hold it for 20 seconds, and repeat 10 times

9.  Take a 5 minute walk—yes you’d be surprised, you just might like it.

10. Do 5 minutes of shadow boxing. It’s a fantastic way of getting in shape.

Now that you have at least 10 ideas to get you started, you have the knowledge to apply Newton’s Theory:

“Step away from your Computer” even if it’s only for 5 minutes, because,

After all, it’s about a healthy lifestyle!