Post by hh on Jul 15, 2008 3:12:11 GMT -5
Every good fitness plan should, of course, have some special time set aside for exercise. A set period, every day preferably, when you devote all your energies to doing cardio, yoga, weight training, or whatever else you like to do to get your heart pumping. This doesn¡¯t mean, however, that you should eschew exercise time when you are out of the gym. It is important to remember that fitness isn¡¯t something you do in the gym, it is a lifestyle. And one of the best ways to keep in line with the fit lifestyle is by increasing the amount of walking you get in every day. Low intensity cardio, like walking, can burn a surprisingly large number of calories over time, so if you integrate more walking into your everyday life, you can burn off fat without even feeling like you are trying to.
Here are some of the best ways to get more walking into your everyday life.
Wear a Pedometer -In 2007, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a report that showed evidence that people who wear a pedometer, which is just a small device that you can clip onto your waistband and counts your steps, tend to walk more than people who don¡¯t. It really up to speculation why this is, though my best guess is that when you have a gizmo that tells you how much you are walking, you are just inclined to walk more. Pedometers are really cheap too, sometimes costing just a few bucks for the simple models. Of course, if you want to get really fancy, you can buy digital models that also estimates your distances walked and come with software that monitors your walking habits.
Park Further Away¨C When you go to the grocery store or anywhere else when you are out and about, there is really no reason to try and fight other shoppers for a spot up close. In fact, you would probably just be better off if you parked farther away, where the parking spots are probably a lot more plentiful. This way you can walk that extra distance from the mall or store back to your car. If you go to the store a few times during the week, this can add up to a lot of calories burned over time.
Spend Time at the Mall -If the weather doesn¡¯t allow for outdoor strolls, you can just take walks in malls instead. By window-shopping with your friends, you are able to engage is an activity that is simultaneously social and physical, so you probably won¡¯t even think about the exercise that you are getting. If you are worried about overspending during your trips to the mall, considering just carrying enough cash to have a healthy lunch and leaving your wallet in your car.
Ask Yourself If You Really Have to Drive¨C Sometimes we drive the car very short distances from our home just out of habit, even if it is just a block or two. The next time you have to pick some small item form a market or drugstore that¡¯s near your home, use that as an opportunity to take a nice stroll.
Here are some of the best ways to get more walking into your everyday life.
Wear a Pedometer -In 2007, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a report that showed evidence that people who wear a pedometer, which is just a small device that you can clip onto your waistband and counts your steps, tend to walk more than people who don¡¯t. It really up to speculation why this is, though my best guess is that when you have a gizmo that tells you how much you are walking, you are just inclined to walk more. Pedometers are really cheap too, sometimes costing just a few bucks for the simple models. Of course, if you want to get really fancy, you can buy digital models that also estimates your distances walked and come with software that monitors your walking habits.
Park Further Away¨C When you go to the grocery store or anywhere else when you are out and about, there is really no reason to try and fight other shoppers for a spot up close. In fact, you would probably just be better off if you parked farther away, where the parking spots are probably a lot more plentiful. This way you can walk that extra distance from the mall or store back to your car. If you go to the store a few times during the week, this can add up to a lot of calories burned over time.
Spend Time at the Mall -If the weather doesn¡¯t allow for outdoor strolls, you can just take walks in malls instead. By window-shopping with your friends, you are able to engage is an activity that is simultaneously social and physical, so you probably won¡¯t even think about the exercise that you are getting. If you are worried about overspending during your trips to the mall, considering just carrying enough cash to have a healthy lunch and leaving your wallet in your car.
Ask Yourself If You Really Have to Drive¨C Sometimes we drive the car very short distances from our home just out of habit, even if it is just a block or two. The next time you have to pick some small item form a market or drugstore that¡¯s near your home, use that as an opportunity to take a nice stroll.