Ways to Fit in Exercise

     Physical activity can help you lose weight and prevent a host of ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Being fit also can help you stay mentally sharp. While most people know they should exercise, you may not know where to start or how to fit it into a busy schedule. Healthy adults get 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity at least three days a week. An ideal fitness routine also includes resistance or weight training at least twice a week to improve muscle strength and endurance. 

 

1             Ways to Get in Exercise 

• Be less efficient. Making tasks hard can increase your activity, such as bringing in the groceries from your car one bag at a time so you can make several trips and put laundry away a few items at a time, rather than carrying up the whole basket.
• Shun labor-saving devices such as washing the car by hand rather than taking it to the car wash.
• Going somewhere? Take the long way and walk up or down a few flights of stairs each day, avoid elevators and escalators, park farther from an entrance.
• Be a morning person and try to exercise in the mornings.  
• Ink the deal. Write down your exercise plan in your daily planner and keep it as you would keep an appointment.
• Watch your step. Invest in a good pedometer so it can help you stay motivated. Work up to 10,000 steps a day.
• Hire the right help and get a person trainer at the gym. This will decrease you risk of injuring yourself and will make you work-out routine more effective.
• Keep records. Keep a log book of daily activities and exercise and how long.

• Find a friend who like the same activities as you do and make a date to do it together. If no buddies are available, use you MP3 player to listen to your favorite music or a good book. Choose exercises that you enjoy. You’re more likely to stick to something if it’s fun rather than a chore.