Get your heart pumping
Even if you hate to sweat or find it impossible to make the time for a workout, there is surely something you can do. Anything you can do to burn calories, strengthen your heart and lungs and relieve some stress. Feel too tired? You may not believe it, but exercising actually gives you more energy! Want an afternoon pick-me-up? Go for a brisk walk or hit your local Curves® fitness center on the way home.
- 1. Pick a few aerobic exercises you are interested in. You might even learn to love ’em once you get the hang of it.
- Hiking
- Running
- Cycling
- Swimming
- Cross-country skiing
- In-Line Skating
- Fencing
- Karate
- Dancing in the laundry room
- Dog walking
- Jumping rope
- 2. Walk – your best first step. Track your daily mileage with a pedometer. 2,000 steps a day = 1 mile. Try bumping it up a little each week.
- 3. Start slowly. If you’re a beginner, start with 10 minutes at a time. It’s enough to get you started.
- 4. Build your endurance. Each week, add 5 minutes to each session.
- 5. Work up to 30 to 60 minutes at least 3 times a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.
At moderate intensity, you’re exerting yourself but not totally out of breath. (You should be able to carry on a conversation with your workout buddy)
- Split up your sessions. Snippets are just as good as one long outing. Can’t fit in that 1/2 hour today? Break it into 3 shorter sessions. Walk 10 minutes in the morning, at lunch and after dinner.
- Work out with a group. Relive the glory days – join a tennis, volleyball or swimming league.
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