5 Ways to Stay Fit Without Realizing It
Posted on 17 September 2008
prakhar
1- Get on your Bike
With Gas prices rising and streets getting more and more busy what better time to get in the habit of using a bike to get to places or commute instead of the bus, subway or car. cycling is a great way to get you fit without burning you out like jogging or running does. This is thanks to its low impact on both your body and mind. Its also a great feeling and definitely gives a sense of freedom that cannot be found anywhere else.
Beginners Guide to Cycling @ Zen Habits
6 Tips for Commuting by Bike @ Zen Habits
2- Walk for 20 Minutes
Everyday try to get in at least 20 minutes of walking this isn’t a tall order by any means and could simply be 10 minutes before breakfast and 10 minutes after dinner. I have written an article on walking you can check out over here……. Walking your Way to Health
Walking for 20 minutes a day will have a profound effect on your mood and well being as well as making your body work more efficiently. I love to go for a short walk after dinner to help digest the meal and allow me to unwind from the days events.
3- Go To Your Local Farmers Market
x-eyedblonde
This is beneficial for several reasons; Firstly you are helping the community instead of feeding the large supermarkets your cash. Buying fresh produce from your local farmers market will ensure you keep local agriculture alive and get the freshest food.
The reason it will help you stay fit is that you will tend to buy less of but higher quality foods as they cost slightly more. And as your getting the highest quality freshest produce you are nourishing your body far better than any produce you would get from a grocery store.
Check for your Local Farmers Market Here….. Local Harvest
Or if your in the UK….. Farmers Market
You will find a great selection of meats, fruit, and cheeses which are as fresh as they come. As well as this they are a lot of fun to go to and you get to sample what’s on offer, its a great thing to do on a saturday morning…..
4- Get a Fruit Bowl
You can’t have an empty fruit bowl! filling it up means you will always have fruit on hand making you snack well……Fill it up with fruits that last a few days like Apple’s, Orange’s and Pears and grab a piece on your way out the door in the morning if your in a rush. All fruits are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber ensuring a pro-longed energy release to keep you going throughout the day….
On top of this having an appealing looking fruit bowl will encourage healthy snacking and eating for everyone in your household. So if you don’t have one get one and if you have a fruit bowl make sure its packed with fresh fruit!
5- Use more of the Following
1. Cinnamon, it will help you keep your blood sugar in check add a small spoon to tea or coffee to reap the benefits. ON top of being a potent antioxidant it is calorie free and high in fiber. Its great in Applesauce or mixed into yoghurt.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar, This stuff is great. It has long been renowned for its health benefits including its ability to help digestion and control blood sugar levels. Its great to add to salads or just have a shot once or twice a day to reap the full benefits. Its probably the best and cheapest overall health supplement available have a google of its benefits you will be shocked!! Apple Cider Vinegar Benefits
Comment by nodietneeded
17 September 2008
Good call on walking. Studies suggest walking 10000 steps a day to manage your weight. A good way to make sure you are walking enough is using a padometer.
I love short walks either late in the day or early in the morning (especially at weekends) listening to low beat music (which I can’t listen to while exercising).
Comment by Chris
18 September 2008
@ ND: 10000 steps a day thats about 5 Miles…. me if I’m wrong but Its definitely doable guess it would be interesting to grab a pedometer for a few days and see how I do….. Funny about the music I love doing the same thing, walking with my iPod is something I look forward to doing!
Comment by Dan
18 September 2008
Great tips! I used to do all of these things religiously when I lived in a big city. It’s a little harder now to cycle that I have to commute 20 miles to and from work, but it’s well worth it to live at the beach
Another easy tip that I use is to always take the stairs. In fact I used to do this during my lunch hour when I worked on the 25th floor…ouch!
Comment by warren
19 September 2008
Hi Chris, yes Apple Cider Vinegar is something I find hard to take due to the acidity of it (taste). With honey its not so bad. My brother takes it every day. I like to drink alot of green tea. I also like to chew on the green tea leaves left over after the brew. Not a bad taste and it feels like its the right thing to do instead of throwing them straight out.
I’m looking forward to moving out of Bangkok next year to the beach. Long beach runs and local markets abound. Bring it on!!
Comment by Doggie Sensei
19 September 2008
“Get a dog” could also be added to your list. Taking care of your dog forces you get out and about and a nice by-product is that you walk a lot.
If you don’t mind, I have a short post on why a dog is a good thing: http://losedoggieweight.blogspot.com/2008/09/joy-of-running-on-full-belly.html
Comment by Tom Parker
19 September 2008
Good post Chris. I’m not a huge fan of walking just for the sake of it, although I do a reasonable amount daily due to my work commute. I have to get a train to work which is a 20 minute walk from my house. Then when the train arrives it’s another 20 minute walk to my office. Then it’s the same on the way back from work which means I get a good 80 minutes of walking per day. I also get the added bonus of jogging and sprinting on the days which I am running late
Comment by Steven
3 October 2008
Easy ideas. I like 2,3,4,5.1 the best.
The principle of the title really grabs me, and it’s how and why I practice Taiji: I love it.
Comment by Chris
3 October 2008
@ Steven: Thanks for the comment glad you liked all the points, you will be shocked at how implementing these things can have a profound effect on your life….