How about working movement into daily routine instead of waiting to do all of it at the gym or on some hard-to-keep daily schedule?
My new friend at the Ravenously Disappearing Woman says it takes 60 minutes of movement to lose weight and 30 to maintain, but that the good news is the movement doesn’t have to be all at once.
She shared these ideas to fit exercise into daily routine. She got them from her friend Elsey:
- Walk briskly around the house while talking on the phone.(Just make sure you tell the person on the other end why you’re breathing heavily!)
- Make several trips when putting away things. (When I distribute clean laundry , I separate my trips by clothing type and I run to each room to make my deliveries.)
- March in place while watching TV.
- Use hand weights or resistance bands while watching TV.
- Do crunches or stretches while watching TV (I do crunches during commercials).
- Walk briskly, or run, around the house during commercials. (Lot’s of TV suggestions–what was Elsey implying?)
- March in place while sorting the mail.
- Walk or bike to do an errand instead of driving, if you live in town.
- Play outside with your children or pets.
- Park a few blocks away from your destination and walk the rest of the way. (I’ve started doing this one, too.)
- Pace the sidelines while watching your kids athletic games (I wonder if the coach will think you’re up to something?)
- Take a few laps around the mall before and after shopping.
- Take the stairs.
- Stand at your desk as often as possible when working or talking on the phone.
- Walk during your lunch break at work.
I’ve been trying to do these simple things as well as a few of my own ideas: take computer breaks to do quick 10 minute stretches or exercises; run up stairs; dance in the kitchen or living room when a good song comes on the stereo.
What ideas do you have to integrate movement into your day?
Share it!
Simple ideas to add movement to your day and burn those calories!
Tagged: losing weight, move! exercise!, movement, weight loss, weight loss journey
Paula's Blog 
Thanks for giving me a shout out, Paula! 🙂 I hope you’re day was wonderful! 🙂
I mean your! I need to get some sleep! 🙂
You bet. This is such helpful information! And I had a good day–been working on a new book. Hit over 5,000 words today so hopefully it will start to flow. The first few chapters are usually the most difficult for me. It’s where I discover my characters and set the mood for the particular story. And I used some of your suggestions to get some movement in my day, so feeling good about that.
How about your day?
When I’m cooking I play music a d often find myself dancing, especially when waiting for things to happen or stirring stuff.
LOVE this idea! Do it myself. ;o) Lately I’ve been on a country music kick when I cook and classical music in the mornings. What kind do you like?
I like all sorts of things but, for dancing mostly the same things I walk with, fast beat. I love Darren Hayes, Craig David, Shakira, Greenday, the list is endless. I also have a fair bit of French music bought on our many French Holidays and I like classics like the Beatles too
I’ll have to google the unfamiliar names!