What's Your Excuse?

[marie]

Would you like to be more physically active, but have excuses not to be, or maybe your are not sure if you can be more active than you are?

Well, you don't have to run or do push-ups to get the benefits of being physically active - and you can have fun and feel good doing it.

Use your imagination or try some of these suggestions if you are able to:

• Dance to music - Dancing on your feet is a good weight-bearing activity. Dancing while seated lets you move your arms and legs to music while taking the weight off your feet. This may be a good choice if you cannot stand on your feet for a long time.
• Swimming and water workouts - puts less stress on your joints because you do not have to lift or push your own weight.
• Walk outdoors.
• Be active with friends.
• Go ice skating or roller skating.
• Play golf.
• Do some gardening or yard work like mowing the lawn or raking leaves.
• Wash the car.
• Do some housework.
• Sit less.
• Walk more while doing your errands.
• Park further away from the grocery store or mall.
• Walk to each end of the mall when you go shopping.
• March in place during TV commercials.
• Take 2 to 3 minute walking breaks at work a few times a day.
• Put away the TV remote control and get up to change the channel.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator but make sure it is safe.
• Stand or walk, rather than sit while talking on the phone.
• Play with your kids, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, etc.
• Walk to your coworker's office instead of using the phone or emailing.
• A shopping trip can be exercise - it is a chance to walk and carry your bags.
• Get off the bus or subway one stop early and walk the rest of the way but be sure the area is safe.

Any physical activity is better than none, start where you can and gradually increase the amount of physical activity you do.

It is recommended to do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of the week. And don't worry if that sounds like a lot to you, because it doesn't have to be done all at once. You can break up the 30 minutes of activity by doing 10 minutes of activity three different times of the day. A few minutes of activity here and there can really add up.

Remember that physical activity does not have to be hard or boring to be good for you. Anything that gets you moving around - even for only a few minutes a day - is a healthy start to getting more fit.

Have fun trying different activities you really enjoy.

[Anonymous Bot]