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Encouraging Heroes. You can be one too.

If you’re the parent of toddlers that you spend most of the day chasing, chances are you’re getting more than your fair share of exercise and movement every day. If, on the other hand, you have a job that has you sitting at a desk most of the day, exercise probably isn’t something you get during working hours.

More and more studies are showing that people who spend hours sitting still are endangering their health.

Eek.

That’s why I was happy to see Break Pal come onto the market. Break Pal is a simple service: At intervals you set (the recommended is 45 minutes) the app reminds you to stop and do some exercising at your desk. The app is already available for iOS on the iTunes store. Simply download the app to your phone and voila! At the proper intervals, the app reminds you to do some moving.

What’s even handier is the fact that all of the exercises can be done quietly at the desk. Liz, the resident fitness expert, even demonstrates each one in a short video. You can watch it once and do on your own, or run the video every time and exercise along with her.

Here are some highlights from the BreakPal.com site:

Desk Exercises let you get in Shape Right at Your Desk!

  • Get the Same Results as if You Drove to the Gym every Day and did a 45 minute Aerobics Class. (Without driving to the gym or spending 45 minutes)
  • Have better mental clarity throughout the day
  • Get more done
  • Avoid desk related health problems
  • All with a very simple idea. Office safe exercises delivered right to your desktop

Break Pal is coming soon for Android phones, and in the meantime is available with a web based interface. They simply send a reminder email each morning so you will open a tab in your browser to the site. Then just let the timer run. When you get the reminder, stop and exercise. Easy!

They also have a points system so you can track your exercising efforts.

At $5.50 per month (for the annual subscription), Break Pal is a huge savings over a gym membership. On top of that, you can’t really put a price on good health, can you? If you’re a sit-down-on-the-job kind of person, this may be the app for you.

FTC Disclosure: I was given a free membership to Break Pal in order to do this review. All opinions are my own.