Easy Exercise Tips
Getting into the habit
By Veronica Shine
Many experts state 60 minutes a day is needed for a successful exercise plan. Regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle as exercise burns calories and helps to promote weight loss. But let's face it, you don't always have the time available to devote exclusively to doing your workouts. Instead you can break up a plan into small portions during the course of the day, keep a steady variety and get in those 60 minutes and maybe even more.
Cover the Basics
Stretching, aerobic exercise, resistance training are the main three components needed for a complete program. Stretching is an important part of every workout because tones the muscles and strengthens flexibility, while the purpose of aerobic exercise is to improve cardiovascular fitness. Resistance training is used to develop muscle strength and endurance. Remember you don't need to join a gym to do these. If your exercise plans and goals are at the bottom of your priority list, you will never reach them.
By making small changes in your daily routine to move more will give you results. Once your body is used to daily exercise, you can slowly start to increase the amount and intensity of your exercise.
Here are 15 resourceful ways to get that beginning burn:
·Before your shower in the morning, do five minutes of stretching.
·Live in apartment? Forget the elevator and use the stairs.
·Commuting by train or bus? Contract your stomach and your shoulders several times. Walk a few blocks out of the way and then back to your destination after you get off.
·Commuting by auto? Park it the furthest point possible and walk.
·On breaks at the office, spend 5 to 10 minutes climbing stairs. During lunch walk even around the block.
·Do calf stretches while riding in elevators when you can't walk up the stairs.
·Pedal your exercise bike while watching TV and during commercials, jog in place.
·Put away your remote and change channels by getting up and walking to the television.
·Cooking dinner? Do standing push-ups while you wait for a pot to boil. Stand about an arm's length from the wall and push your arms and body towards the wall.
·Try a little housework with music. Many forms of housework such as dusting, cleaning the kitchen and washing down the bathroom add to your program.
·Answer the phone and stretch your back. Stand with your feet astride and stretch side to side while talking.
·Dance to fast music 10 minutes a day in the privacy of your home.
·Prune, weed, dig in your garden or mow the lawn with a manual mower for great stretches.
·With a sponge in your hand, wash and wax your car.
·Add exercise to your social life with your friends. Join a dance class, play tennis or have bowling get togethers. Be active.
Look for simple ways you can add exercise to what you already do. Keep a planner and be creative in coming up with different ways to fit exercise into your life. You will be glad you did.