Why workouts need to be fun.

After nearly eight years as editor of Vibrant Life magazine, I've learned a few things about what it takes to have a healthier lifestyle. And one of the keys is exercise. Now, I'm not saying I get enough exercise. In fact, I don't get enough at all. And increasingly my work schedule gets in the way of what little time I had for basketball with my son.

It seems like during 2003 my days have just gotten longer at the office. And evening appointments are becoming a bit more regular too. But editing and communications responsibilities really do tie you down to a desk. And you don't get a lot of exercise hunched over a keyboard. Most days the farthest I walk is to the drinking fountain.

It was so hectic at one point earlier this year that I started thinking how great it would be if my job included some physical activity. That way I could still meet my work demands while sneaking in some exercise on the job. Well, now the American Medical Association has published a study that shows how work-related workouts may not be the best option after all.

Researchers in Germany questioned approximately 800 people about their amounts of leisure-time physical activity and their levels of physical strain at work. Overall, study participants with heart disease reported less leisure-time exercise and more work-related physical stress. Also, the researchers found that as the amount of leisure-time exercise increased, the risk of heart disease decreased substantially. For example, participants who exercised just two hours per week saw a 61 percent lower risk of heart disease when compared with those who didn't exercise at all.

In contrast, those with high levels of work strain had a fivefold increase in the risk of heart disease when compared with those who had no work-related physical demands.

Researchers believe that job related activity tends to be constant and static, while leisure activity is in shorter, dynamic bursts. They think that constant stress tends to increase inflammation in your circulatory system, which does lead to increased heart problems.

So there it is. Working outdoors all day on the physical plant crew may not be the answer I'm looking for. And my other great idea, strapping a laptop computer around my waist and walking around while answering my e-mail, is probably counter-productive too.

Instead, it all comes back to what you and I have known for quite some time. You have to make time for your health. It doesn't just happen.

So now that it's summer and the days are longer, I'm going to make some time for basketball again. And that swimming pool in my backyard needs more of my time than just cleaning the filter. Now that the water's warm enough, I need to put in some lap time, too.