About Rebecca Eckler
Rebecca Eckler has had an on-again-off-again relationship with the gym for years; she's had more personal trainers than boyfriends and more gym memberships than credit cards. Find out about the good, the bad and the ugly in her weekly blog, Locker Room Confidential.
Unconventional Workouts
locker room confidential: forms of exercise canada
(Jan.16.12)
When it comes to working out, we immediately think of spin classes, yoga, running or personal trainers. But there are some other activities that get the heart racing and muscles working, even if they don’t fall into the category of traditional exercise.
1) Shovelling the driveway: I’m sorry, but this is something that definitely gets the heart racing and the shoulders hurting. And it IS tiring. So, thus, it is considered exercise. So don’t think of cleaning your driveway as a pain in the butt. Think of it as another workout.
2) Sex: This doesn’t need much of an explanation. Depending on the position, sex can be great for stretching those muscles and getting the heart racing. So even if you "have a headache," tell yourself that at least you'll be gaining muscles and stretching while you're doing it.
3) Grocery shopping: While shopping for food may not be all that much of a workout, carrying the shopping bags into the house sure is. I know this because I am one of those people who tries to carry ten bags at once, so I only have to make one trip. I am convinced this improves my arm muscles.
4) Being late: While this is not a good character trait, if you are someone who is often late, that means you're usually rushing to get somewhere. I do find my heart racing, and myself running — even in heels — if I’m meeting someone for lunch or dinner and I'm late. I consider anything that gets my heart racing exercise. Your friends may not like this, but on the plus side, you are running.
5) Stress and heartbreak: these two things are actually a wonderful opportunity to shed those five extra pounds. Now I don’t want anyone to be fired, or go through a rough break-up, but one of my friends who was recently fired, has lost at least eight pounds in two months and she’s never looked better. So look at the positives of these curve balls that life sometimes throws at you.
What other activities do you find that could fall under exercise or diet, without it actually falling under the exercise or diet categories? Share!
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