| So what is stopping you? Given all the | | | | walk farther, or get a cordless phone. If you |
| benefits, just about everyone wants to | | | | must stand in one spot, march in place, |
| exercise, but too often, obstacles get in the | | | | raising your knees high. Or rise to your |
| way. What if you really rather not | | | | tip-toes. Do this five times, then do five |
| exercise… at all? Then don't. You do | | | | knee bends. When you get ready, do ten. Or |
| not need to engage in that formal activity | | | | keep a small three-pound weight or a canned |
| known as "exercise" to get the benefits. Just | | | | food item nearby and do some weight training |
| a little more oomph behind the things you do | | | | curls and presses. (For curls: With your arm |
| anyway every day, find a few activities you | | | | straight, hold the weight down by your hip. |
| enjoy and find ways to get your body moving a | | | | Then bend your elbow and bring the weight up |
| little more often. Here are some of the | | | | to your shoulder. For presses: Start with |
| activities that you can find it useful during | | | | your arm in the curled position, then |
| your daily living. | | | | straighten it over your head.) Do five of |
| | | | each. When you feel ready, do ten. |
| 1. Play With Children | | | | |
| | | | 4. Cancel "food dates" |
| Kids love swings and merry-go-rounds, and | | | | |
| pushing them provides great arm exercise. | | | | Instead of meeting friends for lunch, coffee |
| Join in older children's games. Play tag. Go | | | | or dessert, make dates to take walks, go |
| roller skating. Jump rope. Climb a play | | | | dancing or go for bike rides. Or make a date |
| structure. Take a swim or a bike ride or a | | | | to visit a health club. Most health clubs |
| rowboat outing on a lake. You will have so | | | | allow free one-time visits to check out the |
| much fun, you won't notice that you are | | | | facility. Try several. |
| exercising. | | | | |
| | | | 5. Take The Stairs Instead Of The Elevator |
| 2. Sweep Some Snow | | | | |
| | | | If you are out of shape, start by walking |
| Unless you are in reasonably good shape, | | | | down. When you feel ready, walk up partway |
| stick to small accumulations of dry, powdery | | | | and work up to climbing all the way. When |
| snow, the kind that can be swept with a | | | | climbing stairs no longer leaves you winded, |
| broom. Snow shoveling can be very strenuous, | | | | climb a little faster. |
| and every winter people experience heart | | | | |
| attacks from overexertion. If you are out of | | | | 6. Mow The Lawn |
| shape or have heart disease or significant | | | | |
| risk factors for heart disease (family | | | | Pushing a power mower provides surprisingly |
| history, smoking, diabetes, obesity, elevated | | | | good exercise. Or for a somewhat more |
| blood pressure or cholesterol), do not shovel | | | | strenuous workout, retire your power mower |
| heavy, wet snow or major accumulations. | | | | and invest in a push model. You may even find |
| | | | that the lack of fumes and a quieter machine |
| 3. Make The Most Of Phone Time | | | | make this onerous task more pleasant. |
| | | | |
| Do not sit while talking on the phone-pace. | | | | 7. |
| Invest in a longer handset cord so you can | | | | |