Exercise is fun! It’s invigorating; it boosts our energy and speeds up our metabolism. Everyone has a choice to live actively at whatever level is comfortable with you. This level may change and evolve throughout your life. Choosing to live an active lifestyle does take some discipline and a level of commitment. However, there are many ways to include exercise into your everyday lifestyle. To truly enjoy living actively, exercise should never feel like a chore!
Women Rock 10K Run, Chicago, IL 2014
A few months ago I contacted a few girlfriends of mine from high school. We planned a weekend get together in Chicago. This weekend also included running a 10k race. It was fun keeping in touch over the summer as we trained each motivating one another along the way. Then we gathered together for a fun kid-free girls weekend, exercise included! It was a great success! We loved cheering for each other during the race, sharing the moment of success together and most of all, supporting one another throughout the entire process.
What are the keys to enjoying exercise; to continuing it long-term and it becoming a permanent happy part of your lifestyle? Make sure that whatever you chose to do, you enjoy it and it makes you feel good! Talk to people, make friends and get involved in what you are doing. This helps to commit you to the activity and you look forward to it more. Variety is one of biggest factors in the longevity of an active lifestyle. Sure, a couple times a week you may find yourself in the gym but there are so many other ways to include daily exercise in your everyday living. Here are some examples:
· Play a Sport – Join an adult league, there are plenty of them and they are so much fun plus you meet new active friends!
· Take up a New Outdoor Activity - biking, running, hiking, bird-watching, golf, tennis; there are often clubs of people who love these activities too.
· Have Kids? Coach a Kid’s Sports Team – It will not only keep you on the go but also your kids; an active lifestyle is not just for adults
· Try New Classes – Travel around, try to new fitness facilities and new techniques. I know it can be intimating but most of the time, they are quite fun! You meet new people to work out with and the time goes quickly!
· Choose Family Activities Centered Around Exercise – This is a good goal for families to include on the weekends. Bike rides, walks/hikes, a baseball or a football game, there is so many opitions.
· Sign up for an Event– Just like I mentioned above there are so many walk/run/swim/bike events throughout the year. There are also a lot of fun themed events that support every level of exercise. Do it with friends OR do it alone and make new friends. There are often fun kid events associated with them too so the whole family can get involved.
Think about the exercise you are doing now. What is your family doing? How can you make it better? How can you make it more enjoyable? Plan to improve it TODAY; just one step forward can start your enjoyment of exercise for the rest of you life.
Welcome to my Blog; THE DIETITIANS WAY. Yes, I am a Registered Dietitian with a professional education in nutrition, health and wellness. I however am also a mother, a daughter, a wife and a business owner. I’m a real person just trying to live a healthy wholesome life, just like you! My business and my blog are all about that. Making healthy living apart of your lifestyle, making it easy, affordable and do-able. The Dietitians Way is part education, part guidance, part real-life trial and error. I hope you continue to join me on this journey, find my knowledge helpful and smile from time to time. Thank you for your support!
Sincerely,
Christine Spettel, RD, CD
Lifestyle Nutrition