Fitness Column - How to find time to stay in trim

The Colonel says: Stephanie, this common problem is one the majority of us face.

It’s difficult trying to strike a healthy balance of work, play, keeping fit and spending time with the kids.

We all feel guilty if we spend too much time opting for one over the other.

Working out for just 20 to 30 minutes a day can be squeezed into your day, you could even get the family involved! You just need to work out where you can find the time each day to be more active and you wouldn’t have to change a great deal!

If you usually take the kids to work in the car, maybe you could walk them in and jog home.

Is work within walking distance, walk, jog or cycle to work instead of driving, get fit and save the planet in one fell swoop!

If you sit at a desk all day there are plenty of different exercises you can do.

If you are feeling sleepy try some lunges or assisted press ups using your wall or desk.

Lazy weekend in with the family?

Why not go for a bike ride or a long walk, you get to spend time with the family do something healthy and relax.

Even if you are at home with the kids all day, YouTube some yoga videos and get together and stretch it out.

Yoga is great for relaxing your body and mind, it might even chill the little ones out for half an hour!

Exercise will become part of your routine in no time once you work out where there is room for manoeuvre!

The Colonel has written a new book on behalf of Wigan town centre gym Xerercise4Less.

Eat Clean Train Dirty offers advice and guidance on the most effective ways to train and the best diet to complement exercise.

It features easy-to-follow training programmes, step-by-step run throughs of how to perform key exercises, nutritional plans and healthy recipes that support fitness goals, as well as advice and top tip articles.