We all know that exercise is essential for our health, but it can be difficult to fit in to our lives when there are constant conflicting demands on our time. The good news, though, is that it's easy to slip exercise in the back door — make use of these 10 tips, and see a new you.
#1 Walk to work
Walking is one of the best forms of exercise, being relatively low impact (ie is good for your joints) and great for the cardiovascular system. Build exercise into your day by walking to, or from, work — don't forget that the longer days start soon, so there's no excuse. And even if you haven't got time to walk the whole way, get off the bus a couple of stops before you need to and get those feet in action.
#2 Be active on the escalators
Don't just stand there — get moving. Walking up escalators in train stations or department stores can really get your pulse racing. Similarly, for short hops, don't take the elevator at work — walk up the stairs instead.
#3 Do more housework
Always a pleasure and never a chore… that's housework. Take solace in the fact that it's a good way to keep fit. Vacuuming or dusting the house will burn up the kilojoules — anything that keeps you active will do the job.
#4 Window shopping
Forget that quick lunchtime sandwich in front of your computer, go shopping instead! A 20-minute walk around the shops will get your circulation going, making your post-lunch concentration even better. And you might even spot something with which to reward your good exercise habits…
#5 Walk the kids to school
It's not just your heart that will thank you for walking the kids to school instead of driving them — what about theirs? Childhood obesity is on the rise and the sooner your kids establish their own patterns of exercise, the better.
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#6 Take the kids to the park
Your kids will love you for getting them out and about and your heart will love you for it too. Pushing them on the swings builds strength in the upper body. Alternatively, take the dog for a walk or if you don’t have one, 'borrow' one from a friend. There's nothing like an energetic mutt to keep you trim.
#7 Leave the phone alone
Instead of picking up the phone, walk around to your colleague's desk and talk to them face-to-face. It's just as quick and, as a bonus, it gives you a break from your computer screen.
#8 Join a fun run
Get a group of friends or colleagues together and join a fun run. The camaraderie of doing exercise together is a great motivator — so much so that you won't notice those kilometres slip by.
#9 Don't just sit there
Can't miss your favourite show? Use the ad breaks to do some sit-ups, push-ups or jumping jacks or buy yourself a swiss ball to sit on instead of your couch to get a core-strengthening workout — while still watching the telly!
#10 Eat well
Make sure you have each of the food groups each day, and pay particular attention to fruit and vegies. Drinking plenty of water will also make you glow with health. When you eat healthily, your body automatically wants to respond in kind — that extra exercise will be effortless.
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