Move more each day

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Maybe your day is already crammed with to-dos. Or there’s no gym nearby. Or you just aren’t feeling it. Whatever the reason, you’re finding it a challenge to add a chunk of time to work out. So don’t.

Wherever it fits in your day is the right time to be active. Every minute counts for health benefits so if a minute is all you have, great! If you’re a newbie to physical activity, this approach can help you build up to more heart-pumping activities that deliver health benefits like lower blood pressure and cholesterol, better cardiorespiratory fitness—and weight loss.

As your Weekly notes, there’s an amazing phenomenon that can happen when you pat yourself on the back for your activity—whatever it is, however long it lasts. One study found that when people thought of their everyday activity as exercise that was good for them, it was: They showed a drop in weight, blood pressure, body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index. How’s that for proving how mindset matters?

These ideas will probably spark your own:

• Park your car in the spot farthest from the building entrance.

• Get off the bus or train a stop early and walk the rest of the way.

• Do toe raises or squats while brushing your teeth.

• Hold a plank position or do sit ups or march in place or do wall sits or…. while watching TV.

• Make work phone calls while walking around the block.

• Take the stairs (at least part-way) instead of the elevator.

• Use a basket instead of a cart if your shopping list is small; bring in the groceries one bag at a time.