Experts recommend 30 minutes of exercise five times a week, but this doesn’t mean you need to hit the gym every day or take up marathon running – unless you want to.
Making a few simple tweaks to your daily routine means you can easily fit in more exercise, and build a healthy body for life. It’s time to dig out those trainers…
Reclaim your cardio
Cardio exercise is anything that raises your heart rate. You could try:
- walking to work or getting off the subway or bus a stop early
- cycling to school with the kids
- putting on an exercise DVD while dinner is cooking
- swimming with the family at the weekend
- taking yours or a neighbour’s dog for a brisk lunchtime walk
Recharge your resistance
Resistance exercise means either using weights or working against your own bodyweight. You could try:
- doing squats during the TV ad breaks
- press-ups against the kitchen counter while waiting for the kettle to boil
- picking up the kids during playtime; they make great weights!
- setting a goal to do X sit-ups, then increasing it by a couple every day
- doing some tricep dips using your sofa
Find your flexibility
Staying flexible will help your muscles work more efficiently. You could try:
- some gentle shoulder shrugs and rotations when you get out of bed
- stretching your arms and legs slowly in the shower when your muscles are nice and warm
- following a simple yoga or Pilates DVD at home
- reaching towards or touching your toes after a walk in the park