More Sneaky Ways to Exercise!
"A year from now you will wish you had started today."
About two years ago I bought a shirt with that saying on it, and how true that is of everything! Whether it's changing your diet, adding more exercise into your life, starting a spiritual practice, saving and investing your money, or working on better emotional self-care practices, you will definitely have an opinion a year from now on whether you took the time to start today or not!
A shirt that I have hanging in my closet to inspire me every day!
"Someone busier than you is working out right now."
In my younger days, I was a competitive swimmer year round, so I got lots of exercise every day. With the demands of raising eleven kids, homeschooling, and managing my six daughters' band, I don't always have time to get to the gym anymore, but I have found that I don't always have to do a formal workout to get some exercise (although I do try my best to go for a swim at least a couple of times a week!).
A couple of posts back I talked about sneaky ways to add exercise into your day like doing pushups and bar dips against the counter while your eggs are cooking, your water is boiling, your coffee is brewing, etc.
Here are some more sneaky ways to add some exercise into your already busy day:
1. Do squats or plies (ballet) while brushing your teeth
2. Do lunges down the hallway on your way to the kitchen
3. Stand on one foot anytime you are waiting for something, and improve your balance.
4. Buy a small set of dumbbells and/or kettlebells, and do 5 minutes of lifting right before you take your shower
5. Run up the stairs
6. Do some stretches when you first roll out of bed in the morning
As we age, our muscles atrophy unless we consciously strengthen them. We also lose flexibility unless we make an effort to stretch regularly. While you may not notice the subtle changes in your 20s and 30s, it will hit you like a ton of bricks in your 40s if you are living too sedentary of a lifestyle.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three adults aged 65+ falls each year, and these falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries amongst older adults. Another study found that elderly people who break their hip face nearly three times the danger of dying in the year afterwards. These are sobering statistics, and they underscore the need to exercise and stay strong into old age. The saying, "If you don't use it, you lose it" is especially true of leg strength and the muscles that help us keep our balance and decrease our chances of falling.
Ease into any new exercise program. If you find yourself sore after a good workout, try some Deep Blue Rub by doTERRA to provide a wonderful sensation of cooling and warmth to your problem areas. Made with the essential oil blend of Wintergreen, Camphor, Peppermint, Blue Tansy, German Chamomile, Helichrysum, and Osmanthus, Deep Blue Rub is used by many massage therapists and sports practitioners.**
My daughter Dani using doTERRA's Deep Blue rub on her sore muscles after a water polo tournament
Are you following along with my 52 Simple Changes That Will Transform Your Life? #16 on the list is "Do squats or ballet plies while brushing your teeth". Write this down and hang it up on your mirror. You can get the whole list by clicking here. If you implement all 52 simple changes this year and make them habits, by the end of this year you will have significantly improved your diet, your fitness, your mental, emotional, and spiritual health, your house will be cleaner and more orderly, and you will make some serious strides in your financial situation as well. Who doesn't want all that? Get the list, and make those changes! Small changes add up to big wins!
**If you would like to get high quality doTERRA essential oils for 25% off all the time, plus continuing education and a welcome package, email me for details, or click here to check out my oils site!
