Ten Exercising Motivators
Exercise. It has been recommended by every major health organization in the U.S as one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body. One half hour of moderate physical exercise a day is the key to a healthier body, they say. The best diet in the world can only go so far in helping you lose weight. To really see the effects of changing your eating habits (in lost pounds and inches, that is), you need to rev up your body with physical exercise.
So why does the word bring a collective groan to dieters around the world? Maybe it’s our mistaken impression that exercise is a chore, and a boring, painful one at that. Here are ten ways to exercise that should get rid of that impression for good, and make exercise something you can look forward to:
1. Take a stroll through a favorite place. One half hour of moderately paced walking will burn 450 calories - and make you feel great. Make sure that you’re wearing comfortable shoes, and pick a venue you enjoy. Try a walk around the lake, up and down the block or around the mall - your body doesn’t know the difference.
2. Go outside and enjoy a game of tag with your children. Making exercise a family activity turns it into fun that you share with them. Besides being good for your body, you’re instilling good habits in them, and creating happy memories that will stay with them for life.
3. Go to the swimming pool. An annual membership to the local YMCA or YWCA is fairly inexpensive, and many have ’scholarships’ and financial aid available. Swimming is great exercise - it’s aerobic, low stress on your joints, and lots of fun! Swimming also tones every major muscle in your body.
4. Sign up for exercise class. You can turn exercise into a social activity by becoming part of a class. Besides making friends, you’re more likely to exercise if you’re paying for it.
5. Get an training buddy. It’s partly the same principle as joining a gym - turn exercise into a social activity. In addition to that, making a commitment to a friend for a daily exercise date will make it far more likely that you’ll stick to it.
6. Play ball! Seriously. If your company has a sports team (softball, anyone?), join up. Or join a bowling team, volleyball league or other sports group that practices and plays regularly.
7. Get a trampoline. Mini-trampolines are easy to set up, store in small spaces and provide a stress-free surface on which to bounce, dance and have a lot of fun.
8. Go for a bike ride. Even leisurely bike-riding burns calories and
exercises muscles that don’t get used in regular walking. No need for an exercise ‘routine’ - just ride your bike to the store, or back and forth to work each day.
9. Take up a new active hobby. Would you believe that gardening is exercise? Bending and stretching and digging and weeding - half an hour of energetic work in your garden burns more calories than a brisk walk.
10. Challenge yourself. If you’re the kind of person who thrives on competition, challenge yourself to meet a new goal every week. Walk one more block each day. Do six or seven more sit-ups. Take the stairs each day instead of the elevator. Goal-setting to meet challenges is a great way to commit to exercise.