How to Fit Fitness In



So, exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, I said. That's what you have to do to improve and maintain a good level of fitness and start burning calories.

First of all, here are some myths and truths about fitness:

Myth                                                                              
Exercise makes you lose weight   
Truth                   
It does to a certain extent and it also tones muscles. 
BUT if you don't combine exercise with a lower calorie intake, it will not help you lose weight.

Myth 
You must sweat and suffer to get fit 
Truth                 
No. Even moderate exercise will make you fit and slim. 
In fact moderate exercise is a better fat burner than the vigorous  variety (which I will talk about at a later date).

Myth                                     
A supple person is fit
Truth.                                      
No. A supple person is supple. Only with regular exercise can that person be both fit and supple.

Myth 
Thin people don't need to exercise.                  
Truth
Everybody needs to move!

Myth 
If you exercise you can eat what you like.
Truth         
Absolutely not. Diet and exercise go hand-in-hand for weight loss and good health

   Now that we have sorted out all the myths and truths about exercise, let's get some of that into your daily routine. 30 minutes a day is essential for good results.
                                                                      
But I don't have the time, I hear you say, I have a job/children/husband/housework, etc, etc. Okay, I hear you and I know how hard it is to find the time. But you have to first of all think of exercise as something essential to your day and make it as normal and indispensable as brushing your teeth, something you simply cannot skip, even on a Sunday. Get into the mindset that this is so important to your health that it might save your life. (It might one day).

If you think of those thirty minutes a day not in a block but something you can do in short spurts, it will become easier. Instead of walking for a full thirty minutes, split it up and do ten minutes in the morning, ten at lunchtime and ten in the evening, voila, you have you thirty minute's walking...

If you are stuck at home on a rainy day with kids, run up and down the stairs a few times, morning, noon and night. Or put on some music and dance for ten minutes. the children will love it and maybe even join in.

If you are in an office all day, or a stay at home mum or even working from home, it is possible to get that thirty minutes in somewhere, somehow with a little ingenuity.

Here are few things you might try to keep yourself on the move:

At home:

Do housework yourself instead of having a cleaning lady or asking someone else to do it. Twenty minute's vacuuming burns a lot of calories. In fact think of any kind of housework as an excellent way to keep off that couch.

Work in the garden, mow the lawn (not with a ride-on), rake leaves, weed and dig.

Do that ten minute walk to get the paper or anything you need (except sweets) in the corner shop.

When watching TV, sit up straight instead of slouching, as a straight posture makes you burn more calories (true, I swear).

And here is a toughie: don't use the remote, but get up each time you want to switch channels. That should make surfing a VERY healthy thing....

Stand up while talking on the phone

Park as far as you can from the supermarket and carry the bags instead of using a trolley (within reason).

Play with the children and join in their games of football or catch.

Put on music and disco-dance for twenty minutes.

At the office:

Discuss work while taking a walk instead of meeting in the office

Walk down the hall to speak to someone instead of using phone or e-mail.

Take the stairs instead of the lift/elevator.

Walk to the office and home again-at least part of the way.

When travelling, walk around as much as you can while waiting for the plane.

Stay at hotels with a fitness center and/or pool.

Join a fitness center near the office and try to do a short workout before office hours or at lunchtime.

At play:

Plan family outings and holidays that include physical activity (swimming, walking, tennis)

See the sights in foreign cities by walking

At the beach, get up and walk rather than lying down

Never use a cart when playing golf

Put up a badminton net in the garden and invite your friends over
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those are just a few thing you might try. You might even think of other ways to sneak in a bit of acticity into your day.






2 comments:

  1. Good stuff. Must try the dancing. Two left feet, so it should be interesting, but both my left legs will hopefully benefit.
    Roisin Meaney

    ReplyDelete
  2. They will, and the rest of you will too.

    ReplyDelete