Exercise
Ideas
Instead
of: Driving to the store just a few blocks away
Try this: Walking or biking with a backpack to carry packages
Instead of: Dinner and movie
Try this: Bowling or roller lading
Instead of: Snacking while watching
TV
Try this: Riding the stationary bike or walking on the treadmill
while you watch TV
Instead of: Talking on the phone while
sitting in front of your TV
Try this: Taking a walk around the neighborhood/track while
you catch up with a friend on your cell phone (only if you
feel safe and there are a lot of people around)
Instead of: Cleaning the house and
looking at it as a chore
Try this: Enlisting family members to help clean and have
fun while you sweep and scrub (blasting music helps)
Instead of: Sitting down for lunch
with colleagues
Try this: Talking a walk together at lunchtime
Other Exercise Ideas:
· Enroll in a dance class (salsa and ballroom are especially
popular right now)
· Join a running/walking/cycling club, or start your
own.
· Walk with a spouse, friend or dog after dinner
· Train for a 5-10K race or charity walkathon or bikeathon
· Take an active vacation instead of one that only
consists of lying on a beach
· Try a new active activity like horseback riding
· Consider hiring a personal trainer for one to two
sessions just to get started. Share the session with a friend
to split the cost.
· Buy some exercise DVD's. They're inexpensive and
convenient
· Buy some inexpensive cardio items such as a jump
rope, aerobic step bench, pedometer, stretchy bands, medicine
ball or physio/swiss ball
Adapted from Family Playbook for Managing
High Blood Pressure
James Rippe MD, Liz Neporent MA, Heidi Skolnik MS, CDN and
Joe Montana.
