5 Great Ways To Keep In Shape

Almost none of us in the United States exercise enough. Excuses range from "I just don't have the time" to "I'm not in shape to start an exercise program." Whatever the reason, the lack of exercise in addition to our addiction for junk food has made us one of the fattest countries on the planet.

The benefits of exercise are many: Exercise improves your overall physical health. It improves your overall mental health. It helps you to control your weight. It extends your lifespan. There are just so many well known benefits to exercising your body that the real question is - why is it so hard to stay on an exercise program?

Well - one very real reason is that it's boring. Exercising is like going to work except that you don't get paid.

The key to finding an exercise program that you will keep to and won't drop is to find something that you really like doing. Some activity that requires some sort of physical activity and that will give you a workout as a side benefit. Activities such as:

Dancing - Whether hip-hop or ballroom, dancing is one of the best and most fun exercises you can do. Plus you can do it alone, in pairs, or with a group. Dancing is a great aerobic exercise. It gets the blood pumping, the endorphins flowing and helps to build the bone strength and density in your hips and legs. It's also a great excuse to listen to some of your favorite dance tunes again and again. And it's a fantastic way to make new friends.

Birdwatching - Do you like nature and being outdoors? If so birding may be the perfect hobby and fun exercise for you. This is a hobby that will get you outdoors. You'll be hiking through beautiful forest and nature settings. Maybe you'll go on camping trips so you'll be able to witness the early birds getting the worms and feeding their hatchlings. Birdwatching or birding is also something that the entire family can do together, helping to bring everyone closer to each other. Birdwatching is one of the most popular hobbies in the United States with clubs in every state.

Cycling - This is one of the best aerobic exercises around. It's as good as running but without the constant wear and tear on the feet, ankles, and joints. If you are not far from work and you choose to bicycle to work, cycling has the additional benefit of letting you exercise your body in the normal course of you daily schedule. And with the price of gasoline these days, cycling can save you hundreds of dollars a year. Some people get so into cycling that when they can't do it they go through withdrawal symptoms.

Snowboarding - Don't be a victim of cabin fever in the winter. Snowboarding is not only a great exercise, it's cool. It's the coolest winter sport around. Don't know how to snowboard? These days that is not a problem. Nearly all resorts that provide ski classes also have snowboarding classes. With the right instructor, you'll be banking turns, executing blindsides, and tweaking with style with the best of them. It might be a while, however, before you're executing halfpipes

Shopping - This is a hobby that you can literally do year round. If shopping is too expensive, stick to window shopping. If you are walking and not driving, spending a couple of hours shopping is really good exercise. Walking is an exercise that nearly everyone can do. It stretches and strengthens your leg muscles and is a very good cardiovascular exercise.

Obviously there are many more fun activities that you can do that will provide physical activity for you. You just have to find one or more that you feel will give you pleasure. The key is to get off of your butt, drop your excuses, and begin today to improve the day-to-day and future quality of your life.

Lee Piel writes articles relating to Weider home gym and exercise equipment. You can visit his site at http://www.housegyms.com

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