22 Oct 2011 Trick or treat?
by Karl Lenser
Trick or treat? When it comes to your wellness and fitness goals, you need one to get the other.
The answer is that you can “treat” yourself to wellness and fitness by employing a few “tricky” tactics that are fairly simple to incorporate into your daily living. Here are a few that you may find helpful.
When working out in a fitness center, try the 10-10-10 method of breaking down a 30-minute workout into three 10-minute segments. You may want to start on a treadmill for the first 10 minutes and then move to a stationary bike for another 10 minutes before heading over to an elliptical trainer or stepper.
I have found that breaking a 30- or 40-minute cardio session into 10-minute segments really makes the time go by faster, and the session seems easier when your mind is focused on “10” rather than “30” or “40.”
Discover ways to move your body. Consider walking or cycling to the store to burn some extra calories. If you own a dog, take it out for several walks every day. Remember that the bigger the dog, the more exercise that they need. They need fitness just as much as humans. Use your canine to help you become a more active owner.
Purposely park further away from the store. Instead of complaining about the lack of parking in a certain location, turn these negative thoughts into positive thoughts. The distant parking location can become an “exercise enhancer” and a calorie burning vehicle for potential weight loss. Remember the Sioux proverb: “Where there is crisis, there is opportunity.”
Do not use elevators or escalators unless you are physically impaired. Stairwells are great for burning extra calories.
Group exercise classes are what I call “Group Therapy” because of the positive power and energy that comes out of these classes. Working out in a group setting where you have music and friends makes the exercise session go by quickly, and the fun factor is amazing.
The same principle applies if you like to walk or run. Running with a buddy makes the time go by quickly as opposed to going solo. Many times during very difficult runs, I have mentioned “misery loves company” to my running comrades, and they wholeheartedly agree.
Music: What did we ever do without iPods? For you “old timers’ like myself, it was (at the time) CD players, and before that it was compact cassette tape players (that still weighed what seemed like 2-3 pounds). Personal music playing devices are another excellent tool that will help you survive a workout – especially if you are an individualist and prefer to exercise by yourself.
In my earlier marathon training days, I had to endure several 23-mile runs on a treadmill (doesn’t that sound fun?) due to ice storms that covered the Conway area. In the words of Jim Morrison of The Doors, “Music was my only friend . . .until the end” (The End, 1967).
Use these tricks to help you obtain the treats or rewards of a more active lifestyle. Be creative and find some activity that you enjoy and stick with it. Enjoyment usually leads to consistency and longevity!
