I read a terrific article about healthy living in the Washington Post called, “5 Years of Fitness Reporting and 1 Lesson: Just Move.”
Here is what the author states:
“After five years of studying the scientific literature on fitness and health, wading through countless government reports, interviewing experts and trying every form of exercise I could, it’s pretty sobering to realize that the entire endeavor can be reduced to two words: Just move.”
First of all, I really like the title. Secondly, the subject matter could not be more like what my programs advocate. Just move. I have blogged about people who successfully began living an active life one step at a time.
If you are someone that struggles to move more, here are some tips that will help bring activity into your life.
- Clean house. Pick up a broom, vacuum or a dust cloth and start scrubbing and moving. It’s that easy to move. Just start cleanin’. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, moderate housework uses anywhere from 3.0-6.0 METS per minute or 3.5-7 calories per minute. And if you take it up a notch, you are up to greater than 6.0 METS and more than 7 calories per minute. Put on some earphones and move and groove.
- Pull weeds. Garden. Plant pretty flowers. You get the drift. Go outside and plant some pots. That means you will have to go to the nursery and move there, too. Walk the isles and take in the vivid colors. Then carry the plants to your car and then to your yard. And pick up the pots to plant. All that fun stuff will cost you a whopping seven calories per minute. That is equal to 420 calories in an hour. Or if you are doing some heavy shoveling you go up to the vigorous category at greater than 7 calories per minute. There is your weekend project!
- Get a dog. Go for a walk. A well-known albeit anonymous quote states, “If your dog is fat, then you aren’t getting enough exercise.” There is something so satisfying about taking your BFF out for a stroll. It’s good for them and good for you, too. That is another roughly 420 calories per hour.
These tips have one goal; that is to get you up and moving. The small steps are where the magic happens; your first step toward a healthy life.