We all know the importance of adding a little exercise to our daily routine. Why then do seven out of 10 of us not? I don’t know about you, but for me the answer is simple: exercising is hard! I hate taking time away from the fun things in life to throw on a pair of spandex shorts and sweat it out in the gym for an hour.
Sure, I know working out is good for me, and I bet you know it’s good for you, too, but that doesn’t seem like enough to get us off the couch and heading to the gym, or at least walking the dog. If the promises of a longer (healthier) life and a smaller waistline aren’t enough to entice you to start exercising, maybe some of these fun pro- and con-exercise facts will:
Fun fact #1: There is no need to follow an exhaustive exercise regimen. Breathing will do the trick! Yes, breathing can help you lose weight. The more oxygen you take in, the higher your metabolism rate; the more calories you can burn; and less hungry you will feel. Eating less and metabolizing more of the calories you take in are two of the best weight-loss incentives known.
Fun fact #2: Playing with your children or grandchildren for just an hour can burn as many calories as brisk walking for the same amount of time. Now, which one is more fun?
Fun fact #3: Eat just 13 packets of cookies (admit it, that’s not that hard) and you’ll go up a dress size. Now, how long will it take you to lose that extra weight? Over 100 hours on the treadmill! If that doesn’t keep you out of the cookie jar, I don’t know what will.
Fun fact #4: Are you a soda addict? Join the crowd. The average American adult drinks 45 gallons of soda each year. But did you know that that equates to 21 pounds of body fat?
Fun fact #5: Eating spicy foods an hour or two before exercising can boost your metabolism by up to 50%, now that it’s a tastier way to burn more calories.
Fun fact #6: Standing up straight burns more calories than slouching, just one more reason to have good posture. Stand up straight. Good posture burns more calories than slouching.
Fun fact #7: Skip aerobics class if you want to lose weight. Opt for a little home improvement instead. It has been proven that painting a room; washing a rug or doing a little gardening in the yard can burn twice as many calories in an hour as a medium-intensity aerobics class.