Help St. Anthony's go green!
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Tight Budget!
Don't Let it Keep You from Working Out
Exercise doesn't have to be linked to expensive gym memberships or high-priced equipment.
Take a walk. Use area parks, malls, school tracks or your neighborhood. Strive for at least 20–30 minutes most days of the week.Join in. If you have children or a pet, don’t just watch them, join in on their play time.Dance. Turn on some music and move! To add variety, swap exercise videos or music with friends and family.Housework counts toward exercise. Vigorously wash floors, vacuum, dust and wash the windows.Homemade weights are free and great for exercise. Try using canned goods as hand weights or fill milk or water jugs with sand or water.
Has the economy got you down? Coping with stress from a wide variety of sources — work or personal — can make even the most dedicated exerciser less motivated. Now more than ever, though, it is important to reinforce the need to take care of yourself.
Researchers have found that physical activity can help reduce the body’s negative responses to stressful situations. A survey of 13,000 Canadians revealed that those who were moderately or highly active reported less than half the level of “generalized distress” than those who were sedentary.*
Inexpensive equipment to have on hand can include dumbbells or hand weights, which are useful for strengthening the upper body. Resistance tubing also can provide an inexpensive, but effective, strength training option. Aim for two to three times a week and challenge all major muscle groups for a balanced workout. A stability ball is another good investment for balance and core strengthening. It also can be used in combination with weights or resistance tubing.
If you belong to a gym, think twice about giving up your membership just to save costs. If you don’t go, it’s a waste of money. But if health and wellness is important to you and you develop a regular routine, the gym experience may be the best stress buster for your situation…and if needed, possibly a job networking opportunity.
*Source: Canadian Journal of Public Health, July/August 2000; 91,4, 302-306
For information, please call our Health Access Line at 314-ANTHONY (268-4669) or 800-554-9550 or visit our find a physician online.
At St. Anthony's, our vision is to be the area's premier health care organization — and your first choice for health care services.
