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!