Most people now accept the importance of an active lifestyle but with gym membership costs, expensive equipment and workout clothes it is easy to understand why the perception can be that fitness is only something for the wealthy.
However that is not the case. Here are some (completely free) ideas of what you can do to raise your fitness levels.
Walk everywhere
Walking is one of the easiest ways to get more activity into your day, lose weight and become healthier. Research shows people who fit moderate activity like walking into their daily life burn more energy than those who make weekly visits to the gym.
Try to fit walking into your routine by ditching the car for short journeys, walking all or part of your journey to work, getting off the bus or train one stop early, and planning longer walks at the weekends.
Cycle to work
Whether you’re cycling to work, school, the shops or just for fun, the humble bicycle is an easy way to get more active.
Cycling to work is one of the easiest ways of fitting exercise into your day. It’ll also save you money on petrol or public transport costs. If you don’t have a bike, you may be able to get a cheap bike through the Cycle to Work scheme.
Stair climbing
If you’re looking for an easy way to add more activity into your day, take the stairs. Stair climbing burns more calories per minute than jogging and counts towards your recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise.
Research shows regularly taking the stairs is good for strong bones, cardiovascular fitness and weight management. It’s also a safe, low-impact exercise that requires no equipment.
Park games
Remember the games you used to play in the playground? Games like “hide and seek”, “it” and “stuck in the mud” are not only good fun, they’re an excellent way for all the family to get active, too.
Denise Page, former YMCAfit director, says playground games are like the interval training athletes use. “These games involve short, sharp bursts of activity and periods of rest, which are very effective for improving fitness, especially if you’re not usually very active,” she says.
Skipping
An excellent way to keep fit, skipping can be done anywhere at any time.
Just a few minutes’ skipping training brings a whole range of health benefits, including heart and lung fitness, strong bones, balance and flexibility. The average person will burn up to 200 calories during 15 minutes of skipping.
Skipping is a strenuous exercise, so start slowly. Try skipping for 20-30 seconds, marching on the spot for 30 seconds, and then repeat. As your fitness improves, you can increase the time you skip for.
Once you have perfected the basic moves, you can make your workout more interesting by trying different jumps.
The trick is to incorporate fitness into each day by seizing every opportunity that comes your way. So seize the day and make the most of every chance to get moving.
Article taken in part from www.nhs.uk
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Disclaimer
All content on this website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health.