Exercise Tips
Creative Ways to Workout
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Try the “Three Bite” Strategy – Made popular by the recent book, French
Women Don't Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano, it is commonly accepted that the first three bites of any food are the most enjoyable. This is contrary to what many people practice which is, “It tastes so
good, I must eat more.” Try the three bite strategy for one week with desserts or any other food that you would normally eat until it’s gone. Most people are pleasantly surprised to find they can
be satisfied with less food than they thought.
Incorporate as many colors as possible into your meals – As most of the color variety in our food comes from fruits and vegetables, you are sure to have a balanced, and quite healthy, meal.
Bring your lunch to work two days a week – and eat it outside. It is easier to control the nutritional quality of your food when you know exactly what’s in it. This is also a great way
to bring a little relaxation into your workday, enjoying the outdoors along with your own homemade lunch.
Organize an area of your home each month – It certainly burns more calories than watching TV and you have the side benefit of a clean and organized living space.
Grow your own vegetables or herbs – This carries a double bonus: you can grow your plants without chemicals and gardening will put more activity into your day.
Make a list – Do you ever find yourself lying awake in bed, thinking about everything you didn’t get done that day or making mental lists for the following day? Experts recommend
writing out a list before bed of all that you need to do the next day. This can help you get to sleep quicker and sleep more peacefully, which is more important to health than most of us
realize. Our bodies need rest in order for our muscles to recuperate and grow; so get a good night sleep if you want the maximum benefit from your workouts.
Try applesauce – as a replacement for one third the butter or oil called for in cake and brownie recipes. Applesauce keeps it moist so you don’t miss anything in the texture or
taste. What you do miss out on is hundreds of fat calories!
Instead of sending an email to your officemate – walk over to their office. Look for ways to be more, rather than less, active.
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Shape Up For Summer Fun
Most parents are so busy keeping their children busy during the summer that they forget to have fun too. Kids go to camp, join leagues, and take classes… why not us? Many cities
offer adult leagues such as softball and soccer and classes like sailing, scuba, water skiing, and rowing. Do a Google search or call your town’s parks and recreation department to find an array of opportunities.
Now is the time to start shaping up for all of these sports. Many water sports require upper body strength and balance. Here is where strength training comes in. While training the leg
muscles is important, make sure to develop a routine that includes working your chest, back, shoulders, arms, and your abdominal muscles. If you’re new to strength training, hire
a coach or trainer to make sure you are exercising properly to get the most benefit (tone and strength) without injury. It is worth the investment.
If you are a strength-training veteran, shake it up. Using free weights and cables give a more real-life workout, mimicking the actions of many sports moves. Take up Pilates or
work on the exercise ball. Many traditional free weight exercises performed on a bench can be taken to the ball, adding a new dimension to the exercise.
Does tennis or soccer interest you? Start training with lateral movements and side-to-side drills. Interval training (pushing hard for a minute or two, followed by recovery, repeating
the cycle) during your normal workouts will help you train for those sports that require a lot of start and stop movement where short, intense bursts of energy are required. Your
workouts will also be more fun and burn extra calories.
Do something different this summer. You might actually have fun getting and staying in shape. Isn’t that a dream come true?
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