Make Every Movement Count
In our busy lives, it’s often easy to let our personal health fall by the wayside. When asked about what causes heart disease, one of the leading factors is keeping active. Staying active and fit is key to a healthy life, so it’s important to make time to get moving, even if your schedule is packed. With so much to do and so little time, make the most of every movement to improve your cardiovascular health and fitness. Here are some staying fit tips to make your life more active:
- Walk or bike to work: if you live close enough to turn your commute into a workout, then do so! It’s great to get your heart pumping in the morning and stretch your legs with a brisk walk or bike. If you prefer not to wrinkle your clothes or risk getting a little sweaty before work, you could take the LightRail or carpool there and jog home at the end of the day!
- Take the stairs: it seems obvious, but it’s easy to forget. Stairs are an awesome workout because the vertical gain engages many muscles and is more of a workout than simply walking. Taking an extra few minutes when going between floors is a great way to squeeze in a little exercise during the day.
- Stretch at your desk: make a point to take a two (or five or ten!) minute stretch break every hour or so while sitting at your desk. You can simply stretch while seated, or take a lap around the office. You can make this into productive time by checking in with your colleagues while you’re up!
- Standing desk: you may have heard a lot of recent studies about the benefits of using a standing desk. Some studies even call sitting the new smoking. They do help you burn more calories throughout the day, as well as, help you stay focused and more productive.
- Park as far away as possible: while it’s convenient to snag a parking spot right up front, if you park far away every time you go to work, a restaurant, a store, etc. you could be adding potentially a thousand steps to your day!
- Brainstorm outside: it requires a lot of thinking to do your best at work. When you are working from home or catching up on some work in the evening, instead of sitting at your desk to think things over, go for a walk around the neighborhood! You’ll find the fresh air clears your mind and that you get a little workout while doing a little work.
- Make family time active time: take your kids, your nieces/nephews, your spouse or partner, or your friend (or all of the above!) out for a hike, bike, or fitness class. So often we spend our free time catching up with loved ones over a meal, which is great, but is sedentary and often calorie-packed. Instead, suggest going on a fun outing and bond while doing something good for your health.
How to Use this Information
If you have any questions about your cardiovascular health, talk to the experts at South Denver Cardiology. Call 303-744-1065, or visit our website and schedule an appointment!
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As with any health concerns, your specific treatment program should be discussed thoroughly with your primary care physician as well as any specialists who may need to be consulted – like a cardiologist.
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