WANT TO STAY FIT EVERYDAY WITHOUT FEELING THE 'BURN?'

     Dyan here (The Health Coach Is In) with 4 everyday tips to keep you fit and carrying on throughout your fabulous day!

     In The Old Days we worked our bodies daily. We chopped and carried wood. We ventured out into the fields to plant and harvest crops. We hunted for our meat. We built our own homes with our hands. Physical labor was part of our everyday life.

     In Third World Countries many people still do the same. Women carry jugs full of water on their heads back from the river while carrying babies on their backs. They harvest their own food, clean their homes, take care of the children and wash their clothing by hand. 

     Industrialization Changed All This for better and, when it comes to our bodies, for worse. While modern life definitely has its luxurious perks of washing machines, supermarkets, cars to get us places and strollers to carry our children, this way of living has made us lazy!

     We No Longer Use Our Bodies other than in the hour of time that we carve out for ourselves, three times a week if we're lucky, to work out at the gym, take a dance class, play a little basketball, go for a jog or walk or ride a bike. Many of us sit at desks, typing away while our bodies suffer from apathy, pain or illness.

     UGH!

So what can you do?

CHANGE YOUR HABITS!

    When You Change A Habit You Change Your Life. Oftentimes, changing one bad habit has a domino effect and suddenly other bad habits fall by the wayside. Trust that if you get in the habit of doing just ONE of these daily tips, you will absolutely notice a difference in your body and your health.

Here are 4 everyday tips to help you keep fit & carry on:

TIP #1

DITCH CART PUSHING FOR A "GROCERY BASKET" &  GET AN ARM MUSCLE WORKOUT!

     Unless you're cooking a feast for all your extended family, try limiting your grocery cart to a grocery basket. That way, when it's time to check out, you'll have had a workout for your arms, too.

     It's amazing how much of an arm workout you can actually get just carrying a shopping basket or two around the grocery store. You can even do mini lifts and feel how that strengthens your biceps.

    Again, if you do this every time you go grocery shopping, your arms will slowly be getting pumped. Get in the habit of pumping your biceps instead of pushing a cart at the grocery store.

TIP #2

DITCH THE PROFESSIONAL HOUSE-CLEANER FOR "ELBOW GREASE" & GET A FULL-BODY WORKOUT!

     Before you stone me. Believe me, I get it! While you're busy juggling home, work, kids, exercise and romance, it's one of life's perks to return after a long hard busy day to a spotless house that you've paid someone else to clean.

     But for the sake of getting a workout on an otherwise uneventful Sunday morning, how about just once a month cleaning the house yourself? Or half the house? Or just a room?

     Not the most enticing activity for many. Still the scrubbing, washing, sweeping, dusting and tidying up can feel genuinely rewarding to do it yourself and get in a full-body, mini marathon workout.

     To make it fun, kick everyone out of the house and give yourself some YOU time. Blast your favorite tunes, have a glass of wine or, hell, have 2 glasses and get down and dirty. 

     The next day you may feel like you climbed a mountain, but you'll be grateful for the cleaning you did and more of a toned body.

TIP #3

DITCH PRODUCE SHOPPING FOR A "VEGGIE GARDEN" AND GET A FULL-BODY STRETCH!

     As convenient as it is to stroll up and down the grocery store produce aisle bagging already harvested veggies, try planting a veggie garden in your yard, on your roof, or even on the sidewalk (of course, in some states, this is only possible when it's warm out).

     But tending to your big or even tiny little vegetable patch is great exercise and it's good meditation, too. 

     To tend a veggie garden you need to bend, squat, dig, rake, push and pull. You're using your arm muscles, your leg muscles and your hand muscles. It's a great body stretch and toning exercise and you're getting down with nature.

     Besides working your muscles, gardening calms your mind and nourishes your body with healthy food. Get in the habit of gardening instead of buying most of your produce at the store.

     And while you're out gardening, take a break and hang your laundry out to dry in the sun and wind. If you place your laundry line high up, you'll be giving your arm muscles a great stretch, when you reach up high with those pegs.

TIP #4

DITCH YOUR CAR AND "WALK OR BIKE" SHORT DISTANCES AND GET A LEG WORKOUT!

     Usually, what's good for the environment is good for you too. When you can, ride your bike or walk those short distances instead of getting in the car. Like those times when you just want to make a quick run to the corner store (a two-minute drive away), ride your bike or walk instead.

     Of course, some people live deep in the country, down dirty roads, but it's still good to get in the habit of riding or walking, even if just for the sake of it, with no apparent destination. You may actually like it, a lot.

     There's nothing like the freedom of walking or riding a bike with the wind in your hair knowing you're saving money on gas and leaving a smaller carbon footprint behind. Get in the habit of walking and biking short distances instead of driving your car.

With Love & Light

The Health Coach Is In

Dyan, NE CHHC

Which TIP became your new HABIT?

MORE:

 3 Easy Ways to Make BAD HABITS Not so Bad!