Tuesday Tips #5 - Walking

Well, we just talked about the benefits of drinking water, which we all know about. I've been doing much better this week, and hope I can keep it up and not fall off like I did before.

Today I want to talk about another very helpful way to reduce many health risks as well as to manage stress and release tension - walking. Even if you, like me, have little time to go to the gym or participate in an exercise program, we can at least walk more. Now that the weather is better, I hope to get back to walking around the neighborhood and getting in that mile plus a day, but some days we are so busy with life that we may have some trouble fitting in the time. We shouldn't, but sometimes we just don't get to it.

So how are you doing with physical activity in your home? Do you walk around your house briskly or are you sluggish about it? It makes a difference, you know. Some of you may remember a post I made some time ago about not sitting too much. I still remember that one and try to get up and down from the chair and move around every chance I get. It's not only about losing weight (which I need to do) but about helping our bodies and minds to function better.

I wanted to pass along these tips I just received from the American Heart Association. As they said, it's convenient, comfortable and safe to work out at home. So here are some things to think about:

• Do housework yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it. [They had to tell me that?]
• Work in the garden or mow the grass. Using a riding mower doesn't count!
• Rake leaves, prune, dig and pick up trash.
• Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner, or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes. [This is an excellent idea, but difficult for moms with small children at home.]
• Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving. [Do people still have corner stores?]
• When walking, pick up the pace from leisurely to brisk. [Take a brisk spin around the mall once, then do the leisurely shopping thing.]
• Stand up while talking on the telephone. [Uh-oh.]
• Walk the dog. [Our Fro would sure appreciate this one.]
• Park farther away at the mall [or any store] and walk the extra distance. Wear your walking shoes and sneak in an extra lap or two around the mall. [Oops. I just said that.]
• Keep exercise equipment repaired and use it! [For those of you fortunate enough to have it.]

The brochure from the Heart Association has nice photos of families out walking together. Of all the activities we can do as a family, this is one of the best. Let's all strive to do this more!