Lifestyle Exercise

Lifestyle exercise is an exercise program for people who are too busy to exercise. Lifestyle exercise simply involves choosing to handle everyday activities in such a way that they become small exercise opportunities. Parking at the far end of the parking lot at work so that you have to walk a little more to get inside, exiting mass transit several stops before your destination and walking the rest of the way, or taking a ten or fifteen minute walk with a colleague during lunch are all examples of lifestyle exercise. Other ways you can painlessly introduce a little lifestyle exercise in your daily life include:

• Mowing your lawn
• Raking leaves
• Carrying groceries to your car and into your house
• Walking instead of driving your car
• Taking the stairs instead of riding in an elevator
• Making time to play catch with your children
• Turning on your favorite music and dancing up a storm
• Cleaning out the garage or attic
• Washing your car by hand
• Gardening and yard work
• Painting your home
• Washing your windows, inside and out.
• Going for a walk (Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day)

Even regularly getting up from your desk and walking for a few minutes helps.

Recreation and Sport

A popular way to make exercise fun is to pursue it on a recreational basis through participation in sports. Many communities sponsor softball, tennis, and even curling (!) leagues for adults that offer a great combination of exercise and socialization to the willing team member. How about recreational running, biking, golfing, or regular walks with friends? Roller-blading, swimming, racquetball, and dancing are also great aerobic activities that can provide enjoyable recreational opportunities. For those hardy souls who love the outdoors, hiking, kayaking and rock climbing (real or indoor-gym style) are available. If you put your mind to it, you’ll identify physical activities you enjoy that you could work into your schedule on a regular basis.