FITTING IN FITNESS
by Philip Welch, M.A., CSCS, MFit Wellness Coordinator & Personnal Trainer
 Dear Active Lifestyle,
I know I've been neglecting you lately. I just want you to know that I feel lousy without you.
I've been thinking about how we used to rake leaves together before that leaf blower showed up. Remember walking the dog before we hired that service? What about mowing the lawn before that self-propelled mower came along? Washing the car by hand? It all seems like so long ago.
I'm writing to say I want you back. No more excuses. I think we can make this work and I'm willing to give it another try.
I'm going to walk from my car to the office and back again for 15 minutes each morning, I promise. I'll park farther away from the grocery store's entrance. I'll take walks at lunch and use the stairs more often. Let's go to the park and swing with the kids, cancel the dog walking service and disengage the self-propelled mower. Remember that charity walking event you wanted to enter next month? You're on!
Can we please go for a walk together this evening? It's not a marathon, but it's a first step. All I want is a fresh start.
Yours truly,
Me
It used to be that people got exercise during the course of their daily work. Today, however, we finish work and need exercise. Technology is removing physical activity from our lives, and it’s up to us to put it back in! If you don’t have the time or money to join a gym or hire a personal trainer, you can still increase overall physical activity by incorporating simple changes into your daily life. Here are some suggestions:
1. Get to work early and walk from your transportation to your office and back for 15 minutes. Eventually do 30 minutes.
2. Complete three sets of 20 crunches or a series of stretches during television commercials.
3. Instead of a typical sit-down meeting, take a stroll around the complex while discussing business.
4. Use your own body weight to do crunches, push-ups, lunges, chair squats or calf-raises at your desk or at home.
5. Rent a fitness video or book from the MFit Health Education Resources Center.
Housework, gardening, shoveling snow and other common activities are more great ways to get exercise while accomplishing tasks. It’s your personal responsibility to prioritize health. Others can empower or inspire you, but ultimately the motivation to live an active lifestyle comes from within.
Resources to Get You Started
Check out the Web sites listed below, or call 734-975-4410, ext. 221, to get printed information.
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