Why exercise?
Staying healthy doesn’t mean eating lettuce and spending hours in the gym. It’s about being active and eating well. Ok, so some of you may think what’s the difference?! The point is you don’t have to follow strenuous routines that leave you gasping for breath, you just need to get your heart rate up – even a quick jog would do this! No matter what size or weight you are everyone can benefit from a little exercise. Although you may have to drag yourself off the sofa, after a bit of aerobic exercise you’ll feel great! Yep, the rumours are true, exercise can make you feel happy, boost your self-esteem and improve self-image and confidence. If there were a pill you could take that promised all of these things, we’d probably all buy it, so why aren’t we all jumping to our feet to do some exercise?! What are you waiting for?!
Keeping fit has other benefits too. By becoming more active you will improve your overall fitness levels. This will also give your metabolism a boost and allow you to burn calories more effectively. If you become more active in your daily life you’ll feel healthier and will have more energy. Although you sometimes just want to veg out and watch Hollyoaks and EastEnders a bit of exercise could leave you with more of a rush than the latest soap.
If a home work out isn’t your thing and you can’t afford gym membership here are some cheap, less demanding alternatives (which you may already be doing!)
Walking – get off the bus a couple of stops early and walk for the rest of your journey.
Taking the stairs – even simple things like using the stairs rather than the escalators when you're out shopping will burn calories. If you’re feeling extra good, you could try running up them.
Dancing – when you’re at a party or in a club, head straight for the dance floor. Or, even if you're at home, by yourself or with friends, turn the radio up and burn some calories.
Cleaning – yep, next time you have the dreaded task of cleaning your room/car/garden think of the added health benefits!