It All Adds Up!

 There are so many benefits to being more active more days per week. I feel more positive, calmer, and stronger immediately after a workout. So many benefits. Sadly, I am not able to put the time in EVERY day. (Sometimes not so sadly. Sometimes my couch sounds like a really great option.) For this reason, I try to find other ways to move more throughout the day. Think of all the activity adding up if you were active for just a few minutes a day.  Because of this, I thought it would be helpful to jot down some quick and easy ways to be active on the typical day. Here are my thoughts:

A.M.

1. Do squats while you brush your teeth.

2.  Make your bed as fast as you can. :)

3.  Take your dog for a lap around the block before work. 

Willow's face means: Walk? Sure.

4. If you don't have a dog, take your self for a walk around the block before work. Assuming your "block" is not too long to keep it quick. :)
5. Do lunges down the hallway while you wait for your coffee to brew.
6. Wake up 30 minutes earlier than usual and do your favorite workout dvd.  (If you don't have a workout dvd, bodyrock.tv 
is a great site with tons of at home workouts.)
Workday..whooo!

1. Challenge yourself to walk more.  I know this is said a lot, but as they say, "easier said than done". Challenge yourself to walk down the hall to talk to a colleague instead of e-mailing.  Park far away from the building. Take the stairs. (Bet you have never heard that one! ha) 

2. Ask two of three coworkers if they would be interested in a "walking challenge". (Teams of 4 or 5 people add up they number of miles they walk for the week and compete against the other teams to gain the most total mileage.) I participated in this at work last year and everyone got really into it! Other forms of activity counted also, so I found myself in the gym more often trying to win more miles for my team! It's a great way to track progress and stay motivated.

3.  Walk somewhere new for lunch.


P.M.
 .
1.  Lift water bottles while you watch T.V.

2.  Speed clean the house.

3.  Turn on some music and move around even more!

4.  Ask a friend to go for a walk instead of going out for drinks or dinner.

5.  Do push-ups on a wall.

6.  Rearrange your furniture

7.  Stretch.

8. Do crunches or push-ups on the commercial break. :)


Basically, being active doesn't have to take tons of time. Keep taking those stairs! :)


Bye!

 

Snacks a teacher could even eat while roaming the school but probably a good one wouldn't.

I work almost 40 minutes away from home.  View photos of my working environment below:

Now, ask me how far to the nearest grocery store.  The answer is:
Miles 
and 
Miles.

So, I often tote my own (often) super healthy and portable lunch/snacks along with me for the school day.  (Often lumped together with snacks to last also through my grad classes all evening.) As a teacher with a schedule that won't quit and a desire to be a healthy person, here is my list of healthy snacks that you can tote with you in your bag even if you are not commuting far enough where you need food and water for the journey and there is no grocery store for a lot of miles. :)

Snacks to take and go and feel great about!

Trader Joe's Goat Cheese Medallion and apple

When I get super busy, you might find me assembling
my tuna sandwich at the lunch table before my 25 minute lunch is over. These wonderful tuna packs allow me to do this. Yay!

Mixing a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa into vanilla greek yogurt will probably make you very happy.

Eating these 3 together might change your world.



Spread peanut butter, Sun-Maid Fruit Bits, and honey on a tortilla.
(I've also tried strawberries, peanut butter, and honey. Kind of a neat twist on PB&J.)

Sidenotes: My kitchen sign urges you to enjoy this combo as well as your life.
The Honey Bear wishes I had not eaten so much honey so he would look better in this picture.


Just a few healthy, portable snacks and hoping to add more as they are discovered! :)

Healthy Choices in Real Life.

I feel good when I make healthy choices.  I feel spectacular when I've made time to run and cook healthy meals.  So wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to find this time and strength all the time?  Let's keep in mind that this is real life.  Real get up, get dressed, commute 45 minutes, juggle 8 hour workday, fix dinner, want to crash on couch but need/want to go to the gym but the laundry isn't folded REAL life. I really believe there can be room for healthy choices in all that living that is going on.  It's just a matter of figuring out how to fit it in! I love small changes to be more healthy.  Being a first grade teacher full-time and a graduate student part-time, (a.k.a Living a life with responsibilities full-time and a half. Whoooo!) I love quick, portable healthy food. I believe there IS time to exercise. I also love sharing ideas! Get ready to eat an apple and take the stairs a time or two.  Everyone can change their lifestyle and live healthy and active. Super-easy. :)