If you’re anything like me, you got started in the fitness industry because you enjoy being active and physically fit. You understand that eating right and working out is the key to leading a long, healthy life. You love having a sexy, trim physique. You’re probably talented in several athletic sports too. Yet, you find that owning a business sucks up every waking moment – including the time you used to spend improving yourself at the gym!

Suddenly, you’re hunched over a computer for hours on end. You’re grabbing convenience foods just to keep yourself fueled enough to go on. You chose to be an entrepreneur, but you suddenly feel like the lifestyle you created has turned into a monster. You wonder how you can possibly cram in time to exercise when you’re working 14 hour days, seven days a week. You’re sedentary, you’re overworked, and (not surprisingly) you’re not operating at your peak performance.

It’s important for you to keep in mind the proven, scientific benefits of staying active, even if you only have 30 minutes a day to commit to your fitness:

  • You’ll be more creative. Studies show that exercise affects every aspect of cognition, including creativity.
  • You’ll have more energy. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your brain, cardiovascular system, and cells – and reduces fatigue by up to 65 percent!
  • You’ll have better concentration. Studies also show that brain chemicals like dopamine control our level of focus – and exercise boosts these chemicals.
  • You’ll live longer. By now, there should be no question that regular exercise adds years onto your life. Just take a look at the research.
  • You’ll sleep better. Stanford scientists say that exercise re-charges the brain. Also, individuals who exercise fall asleep 15 minutes earlier and sleep 45 minutes longer.

I’ve been through the excuse-making game too, gang. I know what it’s like to feel like you’re “too busy” or “don’t have time.”

In fact, I have a title in every single weight class!

But once I committed to eating and exercising right again, I regained control — so I’m energized, creative, focused and refreshed every day. I am at the top of my game in business, family and everything else in life. You can be too, but you’ve got to be real with yourself and realize you CAN afford to make that time for fitness.