Movement

How many of you are on the go so much that you are having a hard time fitting in a trip to the gym or a so-called "REAL workout"?  Well, I have some good news for you because the things you do daily just might be adding to your fitness regime without you even knowing it.

The old 10,000 step rule might be occurring during your daily routine, and you have not even bought a fitness tracker yet.  My daily routine consists of walking the dogs, pointing the kids in the right direction, getting the house in order, attending to my business all day and then planning dinner and the events of the evening and so it is not always easy to fit in a workout routine.  But I am not worried about it because during the day I am constantly moving and doing things, so I don't even realize that I am working out and conditioning my body.

I know that many of you can relate to this and so the point is that regardless of whether you are actually taking a workout class or just doing random things throughout the day, as long as you keep moving throughout your day, you are going to reap the benefits.

Now, let's talk about some simple things to incorporate into your daily routine to stay fit as time permits - especially for those of you that need to sit throughout the day either at a desk or driving.  Remember that taking a break from sitting and standing up or moving around is important regardless of what your responsibilities are.

  1. Carve out some time for a walk before, during or after work to get your steps and movement in. Make this a priority as it could be the most essential time for you to spend caring for yourself.
  1. Take time during the day or evening to find a space in your home where you can lay on a yoga mat or carpet and start with stretching and elongating your muscles and then begin to address the different areas of your body to tone. I have a little set of weights that I use for doing arm exercises to keep my arms toned, and while I am working my arms I am doing squats to work my legs at the same time. I also add in planks and sit-ups so I get some ab work in too for a few minutes. 
  1. Swimming is an exhilarating workout if you have the opportunity to get in a pool, but for all of you that live in a very seasonal area, that might be hard to find year round. If you have the opportunity to swim, you will discover an excellent way to workout without really feeling the pain. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise which breaks down to 30 minutes a day for 5 days out of the week. 

When you combine your daily movement and the extra steps you take to add a few simple firming and toning routines, you are well on your way to living a more balanced, beautiful and healthy life without having to even think about it!

My favorite affirmation for movement is;

“I am finding new ways to put movement into my day to stay more balanced, beautiful, healthy and fit.”

 

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