I always find it interesting the inadvertent looks that people will give me when I mention the word exercise. Some will cringe, some shrug, some ponder the words for a moment, some immediately shake their heads no. Mark this down so that you can come back to it a few months from now and say “wow she was right!”. Here it is- if you find the right exercise for YOU then you will LOVE it and look forward to it. For most people running is what they might think of when they thing exercise. If you were face to face with me and you uttered the words running then my face might make any of the ones I described above. Actually, I can say I’d be the one shaking my head no. Now, I will tell you that I do some form of exercise 6-7 days a week- but always something I enjoy or else why would I waste my time doing it? But before we go further, get any preconceived ideas about out of your head and be open to what you are about to read.
What is exercise?
– of course running
– walking (one of my favorites!)
– using the elliptical
– playing basketball, volleyball, soccer
-walking 18 holes of golf (my husband constantly reminds me that walking 18      holes is approximately 4-5 miles depending on the course)
-biking
-using weights
-yoga
-swimming
-cleaning your house
-gardening/mowing the lawn (sorry a riding lawn mower doesn’t count)
-dancing (who doesn’t love to dance)
-any of a wide variety of exercise classes
-playing with your kids
-kickboxing
-kayaking
-skiing
-hiking
-basically anything that gets your heart pumping higher than it usually does for about 30 mins.
Now with that list and understanding that is not an all inclusive list, hopefully you can see that exercise is more than just running and that it can and should be fun! The key is to find a few you like and just start doing it. *Note here I have to include the infamous disclosure to speak to your physician prior to beginning any exercise program….. With that out of the way find something you think would be fun and give it a try. You can join a gym, exercise in your home, go to a park, anything/anywhere!! The point is that you are moving, you are doing something to get your heart pumping. I am so excited for you as you try out different things and find those ones that you love. Remember you’ll come back in a few months and be like “wow she was right” 🙂

P.S. Exercise can be funner and easier to stick to with a friend- so find a buddy!

Just for today challenge- talk to your doctor, make sure you’re cleared, and start doing something fun today!!