Friday Fitness: The Anti-Couch Potato Challenge

The weather has finally started to warm up, so you know what that means- bikini weather is right around the corner! Sure, you can hit the gym for an hour everyday. But did you know some research has found that when we work hard at the gym, we actually end up being less active the rest of the day? This means that all of your hard work won’t start to show if you end up burning fewer calories in the remaining 23 hours of the day.

To prevent this, you need to focus not just on structured exercise, but also on increasing your overall movement day in and day out. Think about the times you are mostly sedentary. For instance, when you are working on the computer or watching TV. Now, think about how you can change this. Stand up while you type instead of sitting. During commercial breaks, walk around the house. If you are talking on the phone, pace as you talk versus sit on the couch. The more you move, the more calories you burn and the easier it is to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.

Your challenge: Fit in at least three short 5-10 minute walks during the day (in addition to your regular exercise routine) each day this week.

How else do you plan to fit in more daily movement this week?