The first, and easiest, change to make on your journey to fitness is to add "lifestyle physical activity" to your day. This means being more physically active as you carry out your usual daily activities. Here are nine suggestions for ways to add fitness to your day:
- Park in a faraway spot and briskly walk to your destination
- Take the stairs instead of an elevator
- Rake leaves instead of using the blower
- Play tag with the kids instead of computer games
- Go golfing, bowling or dancing for fun
- Walk down the hall instead of using the phone or e-mail to discuss an issue with a colleague
- Take a walk during a morning or afternoon break — and ask a friend to go with you
- Do indoor chores — wash the windows, scrub the bathtub or reorganize your closet, for example
- Do some active outdoor chores — mow the grass, work in the garden or wash the car
Making these changes is an easy way to improve heart and respiratory fitness, mood and muscular fitness and to reduce body fat.
