By Kerry Greer, Athletes' Performance
If you exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day, you’re doing better than most folks (way to go!), but that’s still only about five percent of your week. So stop obsessing over the number of calories you burn during your training session and start thinking of your entire day as a calorie-burning opportunity.
Where to start? Try walking more—at work, in airports, and when you have free time, for instance. While serious exercisers may scoff (“walking doesn’t burn calories!”), walking does indeed burn calories and is actually a muscle-building activity as well. It’s a great way to improve your general fitness and spend time with friends while staying active.
Not interested in walking with friends? Find other ways to move more every day. A few suggestions:
- Bike short distances that you otherwise might drive.
- Take more active breaks during the workday to move around.
- Skip the elevator and take the stairs instead.
- Walk around the field when you drop off your kids at practice.
- Schedule an active meeting (walking, biking, etc.).
- Go for a morning walk with your morning coffee.
- Swing by a colleague’s office instead of emailing him.
- Walk to a restaurant, or park a bit farther from the entrance.
What else do you do to stay active all day? Share your ideas in the comments section below.
