How to stay on track with your fitness goals through those pesky weekends!
You have decided to live a healthier life. You are eating better, exercising more, and everything comes together during the week, but what about the weekend? You want to socialize and be around friends, but you want to stick to your routine of exercise and following your diet. Well, forget those plans to watch movies and binge on popcorn and candy and try these fun and healthy activities on your next day off!
Go on a picnic! If the weather is nice, gather up your friends and head for the park. Have everyone bring a healthy dish and pack lots of raw fruits and vegetables to munch on. Bring outdoor games that will require a lot of running and effort such as, frisbee, kick ball, and basketball. You can even incorporate lower intensity games like bocci or croquet. Both will keep you up and active. If you can, go to a park with hiking trails and enjoy the outdoors.
Take a bicycle tour of your area! Explore your own or a neighboring community on your bike with a large group of friends. It can be fairly low impact, so you can have conversations while riding around the town. Even better, bring a stereo to play music and ride to the beat. Not sure where to get started? Check your local area for bicycle clubs or critical mass events.
Go dancing! Enjoy the night life and get in a little exercise time. Dance clubs can be a great place to spend time with friends or make new ones. Just be sure to watch what you drink. Try to stick to water to stay hydrated.
Visit the farmer's market! Take a friend or two to your local farmer's market and peruse the produce. You can fill you kitchen with fresh fruit and vegetables while exchanging recipe ideas. How would I make that? Maybe your friend would know.
Have a dinner party! Make foods you know are healthy and introduce your friends to them. You can share your recipes and encourage your guests to try new things. Or make it a healthy-style potluck, so everyone can bring something to the table. You can collaborate on your new healthy recipes and learn from each other.
Take your dog for a walk! Providing you have a dog, take it for a walk. Visit the dog parks and mingle with other pet owners in the area. If you already know someone with a dog, take your pets out together. Walking and playing with your dog will not only make your dog happy, but you'll get some exercise in too!
Gardening! Whether you are tending your own garden, a friends, or volunteering to weed the park, gardening can make you break a sweat. Help out at a community garden or park if you don't have your own, invite friends, and help out. Not only will you enjoy the benefits of hard work, but you will help beautify your community as well.
Jessica Kim – A clinical nutritionist and aspiring dietician, Jessica spends most of her time doing rounds as a nutritionist in a hospital setting. Her passion for writing and health translate into a unique clinical perspective on health topics. Jessica has no problem pointing out where fitness enthusiasts take a single research study to the extreme, by reminding us of sound clinical advice! Jessica can be reached at jessicakim@mklaboratory.com