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No thanksAre you having a hard time getting motivated to be active? Do you keep thinking, "I want to be more active and I know it's good for me, but I just don't know where to start?" There are many ways to be active and burn calories without having to go to the gym or be involved in a sports team. The key is to find something that you enjoy and you are comfortable doing...something you can stick to.
Consult your physician before starting a new exercise routine.
Here are some other ways that you can be active and some great ideas on how to incorporate more physical activity into your life:
Yoga is about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits.
Pilates is an exercise method, designed to elongate, strengthen and restore the body to balance. Pilates can be beneficial for just about everyone, regardless of age and fitness level. Many people who regularly do Pilates often feel stronger, longer, leaner, and more able to do anything with grace and ease.
Dancing is a great way to keep us young. It benefits the heart, cardiovascular system, increases our lung capacity and burns calories fast. In fact, dancing can also help prevent osteoporosis and arthritis. Dancing also requires us to work on balance. This strengthens our muscles, protects our core and will make us less prone to injury in our daily lives. So go ahead, try the swing, the mambo, a waltz or just dance around your living room and enjoy the benefits.
Commuting by bus to work or wherever you are going is a great favour that you can do for the environment. But one favour you can do for yourself is to get off the bus one stop earlier. Just walk those extra few steps to your destination. You'll notice the benefits.
Just park your car in the furthest parking lot. Those extra steps each day will really add up over the week.
We've all taken the escalator because it's more convenient. But did you know that even two flights of stairs climbed per day can lead to 2.7 kg weight loss over one year (Brownell, Stunkard, and Albaum, 1980). So get climbing...
If you're having a company event or perhaps just a social get together with family or friends, trying including a little physical activity as part of the event. Try
Find activities that can involve at least most people and provide lots of options. Being active and eating good food can make any social event a fun and energetic one.
Working in the garden is a great substitute to going to the gym or walking on the treadmill. Gardening can help strengthen your bones in the same way weight training at the gym can. While gardening your body needs to shift and move - using many different muscle groups and challenging your joint flexibility and strength. So turn the soil, plant, dredge, dig and weed for about and hour and you're likely to burn just as many and if not more calories than an hour of brisk walking. Plus, you'll get some fresh veggies in exchange for your effort.
When done properly, shovelling snow can be a fantastic way to burn calories and strengthen those muscles and joints. It can provide quite the intense workout. Make sure you warm up and stretch first
Raking leaves gives you a perfect opportunity to get outside, get some fresh air, and get in a good workout. It's is a great moderate-level physical activity which helps to build upper-body strength, as well as strength in your back and stomach. Raking leaves is also an aerobic activity which will speed up your heart rate and breathing. This type of activity can help keep your heart and lungs healthy.
Yes, you will have to get up a few minutes earlier in the morning but when you get to work, you will likely have so much more energy to take on the day. If you live in a bike and walk-friendly community, take advantage of the opportunity to save gas and get in your daily physical activity.