Exercise

Exercise is important for maintaining physical fitness and can contribute positively to maintaining healthy weight, building and maintaining healthy bone density, muscle strength, and joint mobility, promoting physiological well-being, reducing surgical risks, and strengthening the immune system.

Finding an Exercise program that works for You

I'll be the first to admit that before I woke up to my own weight crisis, I hated exercise.  It wasn't always that way, as a child and a younger adult I exercised a lot.  Probably to the point that I made myself really sick of it.  So when it came time to get active again, I really needed to soul-search  and get to the root of my dislike for exercise.  I found that it wasn't exercise that I disliked, it was the activities I had chosen in the past. I often did what my friends did, running, hitting the gym, the treadmill, etc... all boring to me! Now, I've found something that really works for me - dancing and walking.  Both activities are so much fun that I don't even realize I am "doing my body good!"

Easy Exercise Ideas

Inadequate physical activity can lead to serious health problems. Start now - make exercise part of your daily routine. At any age, increasing your daily activity can make a difference.

Our bodies are designed to be active and all activity / exercise will develop and firm the muscles of the body. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore. Read on to find ways you can become more active, lose that fat and have some fun… Look for something that interests you!

Walking

Make a determined effort to walk throughout the day. Get off the bus or train a stop or two before your destination and walk the rest of the way; park your car in the furthest space in the parking lot; walk up and down stairs - no elevators; walk the children to school; walk to the local corner shop for your newspaper or milk, etc.

Housework Can Do the Trick!

Turn those tiresome chores into healthy positive ones! Turn on the music and clean the windows, vacuum, dust, wash up, iron and burn off those calories. 

Get Out In the Garden

Mowing the lawn, weeding and digging all count. 

Clean Your Car

Time you ran your car through the wash? Why not wash it by hand? It's cheaper, better for the environment and a great form of exercise. Put your back into it and you'll get a better result!

Play Actively With the Kids / Get Some Friends Together

How about heading for the park for some scenic walks, catch the ball... or dusting off the bike for a leisurely ride? Exercise at a pace where you can still talk.

The important thing is to become active so that your heart is pumping blood at a slightly increased rate and you are burning off those pesky calories, go for it!