Rules to Live By - What Rules Help You Stay Fit?
How much time do you spend sitting in a chair every day? And how much time do you spend trying to come up with ways to get out of that chair? If you work in an office and use a car to get from one place to another, chances are it's a challenge to do more moving than sitting.
When I worked in an office in my previous life, I was chained to my cubicle (I know, it's hard to type with those chains rattling against the desk) so as to be available to my boss, who didn't like it when I took things like breaks or walks or days off. I solved the problem by leaving something critical in my car every morning so I would have to go out and get it. My boss thought I was an idiot ("You left the files in your car again?), but at least I got to take the stairs and get some circulation going.
Setting rules for how you do things is one way to sneak in more activity each day. In fact, that kind of random movement can actually help you lose weight over the long term, so inventing reasons to move can do more than just give you a break from your boss.
I talked to a few friends and clients to find out what rules they've set for themselves to be more active and some of them are quite creative:
- Taking the first parking space - When shopping, make it a rule that you have to pull into the back of the parking lot and take the first space available.
- Ban all moving walkways - When you're at the mall or the airport, make it a rule that you can't use escalators, elevators or moving walkways.
- Have a glass of water - If you get an afternoon craving for something sweet, make it a rule that you have to drink a full glass of water before you give in.
- Eat your veggies first - When eating lunch and dinner, make it a rule that you have to eat your salad or vegetables before you eat anything else on the plate.
- Prepare fruits and veggies right away - Make it a rule that you'll cut up all your fruits and vegetables as soon as you get home from the grocery store.
What rules have you set for yourself to stay more active and healthy? Leave a comment and tell us your rules to live by.
Rules to Live By - What Rules Help You Stay Fit? originally appeared on About.com Exercise on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 10:04:33.