Fit Exercise into Your Life

Work, family and other daily pressures can frequently make finding time for ourselves and others very difficult.

This is why people often feel that fitting in exercise is yet another tie that will require time away from the home or family and so often put it on hold in favour of other activities.

To combat this, Sport England North East is offering the following ideas to show just how lifestyles don’t need to dictate our commitment to exercise in 2006:

Working couples:

Sign up to a joint gym membership and commit to three sessions a week together

Instead of taking the car to the supermarket, why not walk together and share the grocery bag-carrying on the way back

Sign up for a salsa dancing class as a fun alternative to going to the pub ( and you never know, it might also add a little spice to other areas of your life together!

Playtime with the children ( get outside and play with them when otherwise they might be watching TV. A 30-minute run around with a football or playing ‘chase’ will not only keep the children entertained but will also leave parents feeling fitter and healthier too

Cycle or walk the school run

At the weekend pack up a picnic and head off on a mini hike as a family

Single people:

Join a gym, running club or exercise class ( it’s great way to meet people and means you don’t have to exercise on your own

Walk or cycle to work ( or just get off the bus a couple of stops earlier if it’s too far to go the whole distance

Get out at lunchtime! Even if it’s just a quick trip into town for some window shopping, it’s amazing how many steps you’ll take and how many calories you can burn before you’ve got to get back to your desk.

Older people:

Dog walking is a great way to stay fit, especially if you have an older animal that prefers a more gentle exercise regime

Take a stroll to the newsagent to get the paper rather than have it delivered. Every little counts!

Get green-fingered and spend a few hours tending to the garden each week. It’s a great way to exercise and will also improve your sense of well-being.

To find out more about Everyday Sport, and to pick up some good tips on incorporating more exercise into your life, log on to www.everydaysport.com