WALK NOT WHEELS
AHECTIC lifestyle and demanding family life is often blamed for a lack of exercise, and it’s true. For many of us, finding an hour to exercise is not the top priority in between working, feeding the kids or enjoying a social life.
But being busy doesn’t mean you have to compromise. There are plenty of opportunities to work exercise into your existing routine without giving up your precious down time.
The Government recommends that adults undertake 150 minutes (or two-and-a-half hours) of moderate to high intensity activity each week. That’s just 30 minutes a day.
When you break it down like that it actually sounds more realistic, especially when you consider these daily 30-minutes can be broken down into smaller time slots and easily be completed by working them into your commute.
BIKE IT
ONE of the most popular forms of active transport, switching the car for a bike, is a no-brainer.
You can cover large distances, you are unlikely to be affected by traffic jams, and you can pick up enough speed to get your heart pumping.
You can fit your cycling habits around your own personal preferences. Whether you want to enjoy it as a serious sport or as a casual commuter, both are great ways of boosting your active minutes.
Its popularity also means there are lots of options when it comes to equipment and clothing, including stylish outfits for the fashion conscious and suitable gear to help you get on your bike even when the great British weather isn’t in your favour.
Check with your work, many have Cycle to Work schemes in place which can help make a bike and kit more affordable.
THE simplest way to increase your activity is by simply walking more.
Take a brisk walk to work, the shops, playground or school a few days a week and you’ve met your exercise quota without thinking about it.
If it’s too far to walk, then compromise a little. Park your car a little further away than usual, get off the bus a stop earlier than scheduled, or simply use stairs instead of the lift.
Walking to school with kids is not always easy, especially when time is a factor. But building in a family walk to school just one day a week will significantly add to your over-all exercise target.
When you’re walking, try and pick up the pace, if you’re getting slightly warm then you’re walking at a speed that will do you some good.
SCOOT YOURSELF
NOW, scooters may not be suitable for everybody – many adults may feel a little self-conscious whizzing around on what is often perceived as a kid’s toy – but they are a great alternative for those of us who aren’t bike friendly and whose commute to work is a little too far to walk.
Faster than walking, and ONE of the worst things about catching a winter cold is a painful sore throat, which can indicate that a cold virus has penetrated the immune system. Here are some home remedies to try.
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HAVE A TEASPOON OF HONEY
HONEY has long been touted as a natural healing agent in traditional medicine, thanks to its