Start an Active Lifestyle

No one ever says, "I wish I had less time to work out."   If you're feeling the time crunch, use our sneaky steps to get stepping more.

Find a detour
Park as far from your workplace (or doctor's office, grocery store, or dinner party) as possible. Because you want to walk at least 30 minutes each day (about 3,000 to 5,000 steps), a detour will help, says Juan Remos, MD, an internist and health-and-wellness director at The Miami Institute for Age Management and Intervention. If you park 15 minutes away from your office, you'll also burn an extra 130 calories per day.

Pack your walking shoes
Next time you book a business trip, add walking to the equation. Take in the new sites that you normally would not see when driving in your car. This strategy helps burn off high-calorie business dinners. A 20-minute walk during three days of a conference kicks about 260 calories to the curb.

Schedule a moving meeting
Hit the trail or track and bring a digital recorder to remember key points. By skipping the usual muffins and coffee meeting, you'll avoid at least 450 calories and will burn a bunch instead.

Get a pooch
Dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes a week, while people without dogs walk just 168 according to a Canadian study. That's a difference of almost 600 calories. If you don't want the responsbility that comes with a pet, go to the Martinsville SPCA and walk a dog that is up for adoption. A human friend is another way to stay motivated. Being accountable to someone makes us more aware when we're skipping exercise.

Add some resistance
Walking against the wind or while wearing a backpack burns about 50 more calories per hour than walking on flat ground.

Count your steps
In a study at the University of Michigan, walkers who wore pedometers lost weight even in the absence of new diets. You can set goals and race against yourself.

source:  Health Living