Move Every Day, Without Exception!
If you want to improve your overall health, you need to commit to moving your body every day. You need to get into the habit of being active daily. Without exception, you wake up each morning knowing you’ll do something physical. That doesn’t mean you have to crush your cross-fit workout every day, but you do something active, even if only for a few minutes.
Studies have found that just 10-minute brief workouts interspersed throughout the day are better than nothing and will provide benefits. Even just 1 minute on the hour of something active will do wonders.
Easy tips on how to increase your daily activity without actually “exercising”
Walk the dog
It’s true that dog-owners are healthier because they are forced to take Spot for a walk a couple times per day. Whether you own a dog or not, get your steps in! Take a short walk before work, at lunch, or after dinner.
Park the perimeter
Are you always looking for the perfect parking spot closest to your destination? Do you sometimes find yourself frustrated or circling the block waiting for a parking spot to open? Make it a goal that you’ll begin to always look for the farthest parking stall or you’ll park at least one to two blocks away from where you’re going.
Stair-buster
Have you taken the elevator or escalator up or down just one flight? Commit to always taking the stairs if you need to go less than 5 flights.
Active errands
Leave the car and walk, run, or cycle to do quick errands.
One exercise at a time
Do a few light exercises like knee bends, toe taps, squats, heel raises, wall pushups or tricep dips while making dinner or during TV commercials. Wrap an exercise tube around a pole or staircase and every time you pass, commit to doing one strength exercise.
Set the clock
When working, get up and stretch every 60 minutes. It’s a good mental break and your back needs a release after sitting for an extended period.
Chose the more active option
Choose to stand more than sit. Choose to sit more than lie down. Get in the habit of choosing the more active route of performing any daily task.
Getting healthy doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently.
Get in the habit of being someone who regularly looks for ways to be more active rather than sedentary!
Finally, consider this. For those of you who feel you don’t have enough time to exercise, if you really look at your schedule, we’re confident you’ll find the time. It comes down to making the time – making exercise a priority in your life. There must be a compelling reason for you to want to make the time. You have to feel that you and your health deserve it.
Are you going to wait for the by-pass, osteoporosis, diabetes, or obesity to set in before you find the motivation to start exercising? Find a reason today and you’ll find that fitting exercise into your schedule will be a lot easier than you imagined!
Here’s to your best YOU in ’22!
Yours in health & fitness,
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan
Sherri McMillan, holds a master's degree in exercise physiology and has been inspiring the world to adopt a fitness lifestyle for more than 33 years. She has received numerous industry awards including 2010 CanFitPro International Presenter of the Year, 2006 IDEA Fitness Director of the Year, 1998 IDEA Personal Trainer of the Year, 1998 CanFitPro Fitness Presenter of the Year and 2005/2006 ACE Fitness Educator of the Year - Runner up. She is a fitness trainer, fitness columnist for various magazines and newspapers, author of five books and manuals including "Go For Fit - the Winning Way to Fat Loss" and "Fit over Forty" and the featured presenter in various fitness DVDs. She has presented hundreds of workshops to thousands of fitness leaders throughout Canada, Australia, Mexico, Jamaica, New Zealand, Germany, England, Spain, South America, Asia and the U.S. She is the owner of Northwest Personal Training in downtown Vancouver, the founder of WHY Racing Events & WHY Community, participates in various community fundraisers and can be found running, biking, or hiking around the community. Find more information at nwpersonaltraining.com.