How To Be Healthy In The New Year
BOSTON (CBS) - Happy New Year!
Most New Year's resolutions center around two things, health and wealth! We want to be healthy so we can live longer and we want to be wealthy so as we live longer we can live better. One needs to plan to have health and wealth and if you do plan, you will be considered wise!
It takes both time and money to stay healthy. Most individuals are born healthy, but we pick up bad habits as we go through life. Being a couch potato is not good. More and more studies are finding that many diseases result from a sedentary lifestyle. So get off your duff and exercise more. I know that was on your list of resolutions.
So where do you exercise in the winter? The cheapest form of exercise and still one of the best is to take a walk. Invest in a good pair of walking shoes and maybe walking clothes. But if you are anything like me and the alarm goes off at 6 am and you find the temperature is hovering at 15 degrees you crawl back under the warm covers and you say to yourself, "Tomorrow!"
Many of the local malls will allow you to walk in the mall before the stores open. Find a buddy to walk with for it makes the time go by quicker and you'll be more committed if you promise to meet someone. The local high school track is a good place if you don't mind being outdoors.
How about a gym membership? Look for a month-to-month membership or a three-month trial membership. Some health insurance companies will now pay for up to 3 months of a gym membership for some of their members. Soon spring will be here and you'll be able to walk outdoors easily.
Does your company have a gym? Do they have privileges at a local gym? How about the Y or the YW? How about a treadmill? A recumbent bike? I found lots of exercise equipment for sale on Craigslist.
Equipment usually goes on sale about now because retailers know we have been making New Year's resolutions. Check out the classes at the local high school and see if they offer a Yoga class, a Zumba class, or if they have an indoor gym that is open to the public. Even a pick-up game of basketball once a week will help.
A couple of years ago I bought a used treadmill and I am happy to use it on cold mornings, and I even used it last summer when it was too hot outside.
