Diet & Fitness Blog

Here are 10 weight-loss boosting ways to use the time wisely:

1. Take the long way home. Walk or ride your bike home from work. The more comfortable temperatures mean you won't have to run to your car to escape the cold, so take advantage of the opportunity to dillydally and burn some calories as you go.

2. Do the shopping al fresco. Pick your own strawberries or blueberries at a local farm and leave with a tasty cereal topper or low-cal dessert (add a dollop of fat-free whipped topping). If there are no berry farms in your area, swing by a farmer's market and select the freshest veggies for dinner.

3. Start a neighborhood walking club. If you're friendly with your neighbors why not work off some weight while you catch up on local goings-on? Plan to meet at a certain time after work so they'll be depending on you. You'll be much more likely to get out and do it.

4. Play in the big leagues. If you don't already have one, organize a company or community softball tournament for an upcoming weekend. In the meantime, spend an hour each evening practicing with your team.

5. Take it outside. Outdoor grilling is one of the best ways to cook healthfully, since you don't need any butter or oil to keep food from sticking -- and what's already there drips off! Skip boring old burgers and dogs and opt for lean fish or poultry, and just about any vegetable or fruit you can find.

6. Grow healthy habits. Get out in the yard and plant some late-blooming flowers. Believe it or not you can burn 330 calories per hour by gardening... and your yard will be the envy of the neighborhood! Even better, plant some vegetables, so you always have a stash of tasty, low-fat foods.

7. Make it playtime. Take the kids to the playground and join them on the swings or the seesaw, or head to the park for a game of tag. Or, fit in some practice for those tee-ball or lacrosse skills in your own backyard. They'll get a kick out of the fact that you want to play with them.

8. Tackle the to-do list. If you don't want to spend the whole weekend washing the car or the windows or cutting the grass, take advantage of the daylight and get at least one task done during the week. All of these activities burn a significant number of calories, and getting one or two out of the way means you might actually have time to enjoy a baseball game on Saturday.

9. Work on your game. Stop by the driving range, a basketball court or the batting cages on the way home from work and blow off some steam. Or, ask a coworker to join you for a game of tennis or basketball. You'll work up a sweat, feel less stressed by the time you get home, and you may even find your skills improve in time for the company golf outing or softball tournament.

10. Sweat with your pet. Don't just let the dog out in the yard. Take him for an extended walk. Animals need exercise just as much as you do, and man's best friend can also be his best walking partner. If your neighbors have dogs, start marketing yourself as a dog walker and you can even get paid to get exercise. If that's not incentive, we don't know what is!

What are some of your favorite springtime activities? Let us know by commenting below!

Labels: health, tips, top 10