What's Cooking TV » staying active

Let it snow then get up and go!

Patricia — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:00:37 +0000

Traditionally, cooler winter weather and fewer daylight hours mean stay snuggled up inside and less active. But, this is Canada! Cold and snow are pretty much guaranteed in most parts of the country for at least a few months. To ensure we’re not only active for half the year, finding ways to keep moving in the winter is a vital part of healthy living. There are all kinds of fun ways to enjoy the outdoors and not even know you’re burning calories. And when it’s really cold, it can be a workout just getting everyone bundled up. Head outdoors and go skating, cross-country or downhill skiing, snowshoeing or tobogganing. Building a snowman, having a snowball fight or making a snow fort all count too! Even if just out for 20 minutes, think about how wonderful the hot chocolate and fireplace will feel when you come back in!

And when it’s simply too cold to head out, make no excuses for not moving. Turn on some favourite tunes and dance around the house, pop in a classic exercise video, do a few stretches or dust off the exercise bike. Even an hour of serious house cleaning gets the blood flowing, leaving you feeling more energized. Just like in warmer weather, continue to do any errands you can by foot such as walking to mail a letter or pick up a few groceries.

Staying active is one of the best ways to stay on track with healthy eating. Exercise enhances a healthy appetite but also seems to help regulate the desire to overeat. Let me know your favourite ways of keeping active in the winter months. Meantime, I’m off to build a snow luge track in our sloped driveway with my son!

Cheers!
Patricia

Staying active everyday!

Patricia — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:03:20 +0000

Although eating well is vital to staying healthy, if you could only make one change in your efforts to be healthier, make it getting more active! That’s how important staying fit is!

Our bodies were designed to move. In fact, the “official” recommendation is to do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day! But there’s no need to get involved in a rigorous sport or sign up for an expensive class. Let’s look at it less prescriptively and try to make it part of what we do each day, part of who we are!

Here are a few suggestions for easily working exercise into your daily routine:

- Walk any chance you get. Get off the bus one stop before your destination and walk the rest of the distance. Take the first parking spot you see instead of circling around for a closer one. Pick at least one errand you can do by foot each week. Maybe mailing a letter, returning a movie or picking up a few groceries?
- Maintain your flexibility. Sit on the floor while watching what’s cooking or other favourite shows and do some stretching. Before you know it, you’ll have done a 30 minute routine!
- Put on your favourite songs and dance while you make dinner and set the table.
- Use a pedometer to count your daily steps. Try to increase the number of steps you take every week.
- Head to the park with the kids for some fun and fitness. Bring a soccer ball, play tag, fly a kite or climb the monkey bars with them! They’ll love you for it and you’ll feel great!

Staying active doesn’t necessarily mean logging hours at the gym – unless that’s what you love. It just means seizing the opportunity to move any chance you get!

Patricia