Holiday shopping is not aerobic!
Here?s how to
make time for exercise?
by Debbi Lawrence
In a world of inflation,
exercise is not exempt. It is truly expensive to exercise. I?m not talking
about the high price of club memberships, the shocking sticker price of
athletic shoes or the soaring fees for a round of golf. I?m speaking of the
cost of time. With so much to do in a fast paced world, it seems that time is
shrinking. Our plates are full, and not only at the dinner table!
The good news is that the cost of exercise decreases as the value of
exercise and its tools increases. Healthy cells, attitude, longevity, and
vitality are direct benefits of aerobic fitness. It becomes easy to add extra
tasks to an already full schedule when we value and enjoy them. Keep in mind
time is constant, so we are really only exchanging tasks. By placing maximum
value on exercise, it becomes easy to replace less beneficial activities.
During the holiday season, time is even more limited, yet, don?t we find
extra time for those parties, increased baking and other events? We have
placed a value on holiday duties and an enjoyment in its festivities.
Enjoyable tasks release endorphins. But, these enjoyable tasks are not aerobic
? that is, contributing to cardiovascular and muscular health.
Aerobic exercise releases endorphins and contributes to health. You get
immediate and long range benefits from aerobic exercise. We immediately become
happy in the midst of chaos and we see changes in our body size, breathing and
health over time. It makes sense to neutralize holiday stress with aerobic
exercise. Yet, even when we believe the value, enjoy that endorphin rush and
want those long term benefits of health, the reality still is?time.
One solution is to organize your schedule efficiently to take full
advantage of the time in one day. Combine tasks like baking healthy holiday
cookies (with AIM RediBeets? and AIM BarleyLife?
frosting) with rebounding during the baking time. Add a few sit-ups during the
final browning minutes. Run up and down the stairs three times after each gift
is wrapped or during the commercials of a holiday special on television. Try
treadmill walking while the AIM CranVerry? bread is baking.
Exercise IS worth its cost. Place the highest value on it and you will be
rewarded for life. Maintain your exercise routine throughout the holidays and
you will roll into the New Year with vitality. An established fitness habit is
the greatest holiday gift that you can give to yourself.
Remember, shopping is not aerobic!
Sparkling AIM RediBeets? Cookie Frosting |
- 3/4 cup confectioners? sugar
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 1/2 tsp. AIM RediBeets? powder
|
- 2 1/4 tsp. soy milk or milk
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
|
Cream ingredients
in mixing bowl with medium speed mixer. Spoon into a pastry bag and use
for decorating cookies. |
Mint Green AIM BarleyLife? Cookie Frosting |
- 3/4 cup confectioners? sugar
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 1 tsp. AIM BarleyLife? powder
|
- 2 1/4 tsp. soy milk or milk
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
- 6 drops peppermint essential oil
|
Cream ingredients
in mixing bowl with medium speed mixer. Spoon into a pastry bag and use
for decorating cookies. Yield: 1/3 cup. |
Copyright ? AIM International, Inc. Used
with permission.
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