Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Making Exercise FUN!Exercise is good for you, but it can also be FUN!
Here are some suggestions to spice up your workout:
Plan a short trip. Visit a beautiful place where you'll be motivated to be more active than usual.
Involve your family and friends in an activity. How about a family game of Frisbee? Challenge your neighbors to a softball game. Instead of the usual Sunday BBQ with your in-laws, how about a group hike? Or at least take a group walk after the BBQ!
Try something new. Try getting involved in a sport or form of exercise that you have not tried before.
Try something old. If the last ballet class you had was in the third grade, it's time to try it again okay!
Jump rope. Now I will admit, I found this to be quite challenging, but challenge is good right? It's amazing how easily I was able to do it as a child. Go figure.
Involve your children in your quest for fitness. They will benefit from spending quality time with you, and it will improve their health. Suggestions: visit the zoo, walk around your neighborhood, visit a community park, or walk in the mall! The good thing about walking is that you can do it almost anywhere, anytime.
Buy a step counter (pedometer). This is my personal favorite. I've been wearing mine everyday lately and yesterday I even go 10,176 by the time I got home for work! It is a great tool to help you increase your activity. They are inexpensive as well. Prices can range from $5-$50. It is possible to even get them for free from you health insurance company. Being that the Obesity Prevention program is within the Bureau that I work for, I was able to get one from work. First, wear the pedometer for a week to determine a baseline average number of steps you take. Next, set a goal to increase the number of daily steps by 200-500 (or whatever goal you set) for the next week. Once you are able to accomplish this goal, set another one! The more you can walk, the better, since walking is a great way to whittle off the pounds.
Buy yourself something new. How about some new walking shoes, a new exercise video, or a new exercise outfit? Having something new can motivate you to use it! Now that I got my income tax refund, I will be buying myself new walking shoes and a new exercise video. I'm even thinking about getting myself an elliptical trainer for my home!
"On your way to a happier, healthier you!"
