Many American women were resentful
and a bit envious a few years ago when
there was a great deal of publicity about
the fact that regimented exercise isn’t
very common in Europe and the
Mediterranean and yet obesity and
overweight are far more rare there than
they are here.
The fact is that in Europe and the
Mediterranean, exercise is built into
daily life in such a way that people stay
fit while doing other things they enjoy.
The exercise is almost a by-product of
enjoying the fresh air, friends and
family.
Rather than getting peeved over it, get
excited! This practice will work for you,
too. Here are some ways to get in some
exercise without feeling like you’re
working out.
Dance! Do it alone, with your
toddler or with your romantic
partner. Throw on some music and
just have fun. Try new dance styles,
such as belly dancing, hula or Latin
dance.
Play! Chances are, you need to
exercise but you don’t want to give
up time with your kids. Combine
the two. Have a game of kickball or
volleyball, go bike riding, play tag
or hide and seek, or make an afterdinner
walk a way to spend quality
time with your child.
Just get outside! There are a lot of
outdoor activities that most people
don’t consider exercise, even
though they pack a fitness wallop.
Try hiking, surfing, kayaking,
skating or horseback riding. They
all work your body and get you
outside to enjoy great weather and
fresh, reviving air.
