A lot of folks consider May to be a month of margaritas, thanks to Cinco de Mayo, or extra time off because of Memorial Day. While we love an occasional cocktail and a little time to rest and recharge, here at FitStar we’re excited that May is actually National Physical Fitness and Sports Month! Adding more activity into your life is always a good idea, and having the White House dedicate an entire month to healthy fitness goals is something we can get behind.
The goal of this national initiative is to simply spread the word about physical fitness, encourage each other to move more and remind ourselves why we work out. The point isn’t really *how* you exercise, it’s just that you #MoveInMay and beyond. We know there are a ton of benefits to exercise – beyond looking good and feeling good about ourselves. Research shows that physical activity can lower the risk of preventable diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, as well as certain cancers. For kids, exercise improves bone and heart hearth and, like adults, using their bodies helps build and tone muscles.
Another benefit for all of us, no matter our age, is that body fitness lends itself to brain health, too. We’ve learned that when kids are active, both their grades and their behavior improve. For adults, regular exercise can help make sure your judgement is sharp and that depression is kept at bay. Plus, those who play hard often sleep hard – many people report a better night’s rest when they maintain a life full of healthy movement.
So, besides hitting our goals with our FitStar programs, how can we add more activity into our day? Here are a seven ideas to Get Moving MORE this month and beyond:
1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator; who wants to listen to Muzak anyway?
2. Walk the long way around the office (or your home) to refill your water bottle.
3. Fill your water bottle (and drink it) a lot. Not only is hydration a key element to overall health and wellness, getting up to go to the bathroom means more steps for you (hint: we love our Fitbit trackers for encouraging us to sneak more steps in, too)!
4. Impromptu dance parties burn calories and boost your mood so have one in your kitchen or office now! We won’t judge which song you choose.
5. Sneak in moves to daily tasks. Stirring something on the stove or waiting for the microwave? Do a couple jumping jacks or squats.
6. Park your car far from where you want to go and walk. Better yet, walk or bike there from your house.
7. Make plans for active fun with friends. Brunch tastes better after a walk, run, an exercise class or a swim with your pals!
For more ideas on how to incorporate more movement into your day, check out this fun list from Greatist.com.
Need more incentives to Make It Happen? Done. Check out our Spring into Fitness Challenge which just so happens to be running NOW through the month of May. Clock-in 10 or 20 sessions with FitStar Personal Trainer and/or Fitstar Yoga this month and you’ll unlock swanky new badges! Get all the details here!
We love any excuse to incorporate a little extra activity in our days, and hope you’ll spread the word to get others moving for National Fitness Month, too.
What have you done to make your life more active? Share your stories in the comments below!
Make it Happen,
– Team FitStar
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