Use What You Got!

August 5, 2009 on 1:56 pm | In The Heart of Your Home | No Comments

There are many different ways for people to stay fit and have exercise programs. Here are a few simple and practical ways to add to your desired fitness.

Take more time to walk. Start your morning off by walking to enjoy peace and quiet and the fresh air while it’s cooler.
When walking switch your pace up by starting out slower and then increase your speed sporadically by power walking and then slow back down.

Keep yourself focused by bringing along an Ipod, walkman or CD player to enjoy your favorite tunes, or even broaden your horizon by listening to a book.

Track your steps by using a pedometer you may also want to keep track in a written form, such as a journal or calendar.

The most important thing is focusing on the length of what you are doing instead of how fast, that way you don’t over do anything or get bored easily.
1. Walk to:
* A friend’s house.
* Stairs instead of using an escalator or elevator.
* A church for Sunday services.
* A nearby high school and utilize the track.
* Around the block once or twice before getting the mail.
* The outside aisles, when grocery shopping or browsing a store when window shopping.
* School with your children.
* Talk about what happened today with your family after dinner.
* A nearby park with your pet and children.
* Work if you live close enough to do so. If not park in the farthest parking spot away from your work building.
* The farthest coffee machine or pop machine at your job and that includes the bathroom as well.

2. Invite a neighbor or a family member to join you on your walk or at the gym. If you do not have either of those ask a co-worker to join you before or after work or even on your lunch breaks.

3. Propose to your co-workers a weight loss challenge. Challenge each other to see who walks the most and create an incentive for the winner.

4. Volunteer your time by walking dogs for an animal shelter, join in on a neighborhood meeting group in your area and get together volunteers to walk the area picking up any trash.

5. Look in your area for community walking and running events which are normally 5k or 10k. Even put together a charity walk a thon or at least participate in one.

6. If you live in a bigger city and don’t necessarily drive, try getting out of your cab or bus a few blocks before your destination.

7. On days when you can’t go outside if you have a treadmill utilize that or if you don’t have one you can make plenty of trips up and down stairs. You can also run or march in place while watching T.V.

9. If you’re the adventurous type try taking a trip hiking, skiing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking and water skiing.

10. Keep your eye open on flyers or in the newspaper for garage sales in your area that you can walk to.

11. Doing household chores is great for exercising. Whether walking up or down stairs gathering laundry, mowing, scrubbing floors, vacuuming or taking care of your flower beds.

If walking isn’t your thing, you may want to take a bike ride by yourself or with the family.  How about joining a class of some sort, maybe: water aerobics, aerobics step class, yoga, swimming, tai chi, judo, or karate. 

There are many different ways for people to stay fit and have exercise programs. Here are a few simple and practical ways to add to your desired fitness.

Take more time to walk. Start your morning off by walking to enjoy peace and quiet and the fresh air while it’s cooler.
When walking switch your pace up by starting out slower and then increase your speed sporadically by power walking and then slow back down.

Keep yourself focused by bringing along an Ipod, walkman or CD player to enjoy your favorite tunes, or even broaden your horizon by listening to a book.

Track your steps by using a pedometer you may also want to keep track in a written form, such as a journal or calendar.

The most important thing is focusing on the length of what you are doing instead of how fast, that way you don’t over do anything or get bored easily.
1. Walk to:
* A friend’s house.
* Stairs instead of using an escalator or elevator.
* A church for Sunday services.
* A nearby high school and utilize the track.
* Around the block once or twice before getting the mail.
* The outside aisles, when grocery shopping or browsing a store when window shopping.
* School with your children.
* Talk about what happened today with your family after dinner.
* A nearby park with your pet and children.
* Work if you live close enough to do so. If not park in the farthest parking spot away from your work building.
* The farthest coffee machine or pop machine at your job and that includes the bathroom as well.

2. Invite a neighbor or a family member to join you on your walk or at the gym. If you do not have either of those ask a co-worker to join you before or after work or even on your lunch breaks.

3. Propose to your co-workers a weight loss challenge. Challenge each other to see who walks the most and create an incentive for the winner.

4. Volunteer your time by walking dogs for an animal shelter, join in on a neighborhood meeting group in your area and get together volunteers to walk the area picking up any trash.

5. Look in your area for community walking and running events which are normally 5k or 10k. Even put together a charity walk a thon or at least participate in one.

6. If you live in a bigger city and don’t necessarily drive, try getting out of your cab or bus a few blocks before your destination.

7. On days when you can’t go outside if you have a treadmill utilize that or if you don’t have one you can make plenty of trips up and down stairs. You can also run or march in place while watching T.V.

9. If you’re the adventurous type try taking a trip hiking, skiing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking and water skiing.

10. Keep your eye open on flyers or in the newspaper for garage sales in your area that you can walk to.

11. Doing household chores is great for exercising. Whether walking up or down stairs gathering laundry, mowing, scrubbing floors, vacuuming or taking care of your flower beds.

If walking isn’t your thing, you may want to take a bike ride by yourself or with the family.  How about joining a class of some sort, maybe: water aerobics, aerobics step class, yoga, swimming, tai chi, judo, or karate.