Two Great Ways to Sneak in Exercise

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Kristen Byrd Strother, One of Thousands of Health and Fitness Coaches on Noomii.

As you can tell by this blog title, prioritizing exercise does NOT come naturally to me. Yes, I want to be as healthy as possible and I know that exercise plays a crucial role in keeping us fit. But it’s never been intuitive for me. Eating good food makes sense-you are putting something directly into your body. What goes in can cause intolerance and inflammation or it can cause energy and healing. Exercise, or movement, historically hasn’t made the same natural sense to me…But I am always so grateful that we can change! The last couple of months I have really started learning to prioritize exercise (some weeks are still better than others) and I’m actually already seeing a difference! For one-I have better endurance than when I started-I’m climbing hills a bit faster on my bike and using some heavier weights at the gym. And the shape of my body is changing and becoming more toned. Although it may not be intuitive to me, I know that my body loves movement and will give me more healthy years as I give it what it needs.

So how do those of us who don’t naturally fit exercise into our lives make time for it anyway?

Here are my two favorite ways:

1. Exercise as transportation

Portland is a crazy big bicycle town, and if you live in this city it is pretty easy to get around by bike due to special lanes and bicycle routes, as well as the fact that most places you need to go are pretty close together. Sometimes, when considering morning traffic, it may take the same amount of time to get to your job by bike as it would to drive. Plus you get the added bonuses of moving your body and saving money on gas too. But don’t just consider commuting to work as your only bicycle transportation option-you can also bike to the store, library, post office, friend’s house. The possibilities are obviously endless. :)

2. Walking on the phone

When I know I’m going to be on the phone for a lengthier call with friends or family I walk out my front door and keep going until we’re finished talking. Most of your loved ones won’t care if they hear you’re a little out of breath and it could even inspire them to get moving too. There are other activities you can sneak movement into as well-like watching tv or listening to a podcast. You don’t need a piece of exercise equipment-just walk in place, do some lunges or squats, or use some arm weights. Stretching can also be done which can help you feel relaxed.