Tips to Help You Exercise

• Stay hydrated – water should be your first choice for a workout drink.  Lets face it, we are very lucky in New Zealand to have drinkable water straight from our taps that is essentially free and good for you.
• Avoid exercising on an empty stomach – your body needs fuel to run and this is food!
• Sleep – your body needs time to recover from exercise and life in general and sleep is the best time for this to happen.  8 hours is the recommendation which for most adults would be pure luxury.
• Change is good – don’t do the same thing every day.  Mix it up a bit – and your body will thank you for it – mentally and physically.  You are also more likely to keep exercising if you don’t get bored.
• Be comfortable – not everyone likes the lyrca look but workout clothes need to be comfortable, unrestrictive and able to breathe – so you don’t get too hot or too cold.  Some of the newer fabrics are fantastic for wicking away sweat
• Exercise with company – friends are great for keeping you motivated. You are less likely to cancel your walk in the park if you have scheduled to meet a friend and catching up whilst you work out makes the time go faster too! Pets are also good for keeping you going

Simple Ways to Exercise

• Be active with your children – play cricket, soccer, rugby, netball or make up games.  Kids don’t care as long as you are running around enjoying yourselves.
• Walk up stairs instead of taking the lift or escalator
• Do some housework – gardening, vacuuming, washing the floor all keep you moving. 
• Walk around the house when on the phone talking to friends and family
• Look for the park at the mall which is a wee way away instead of right outside – bonus extra walking and the parks are easier to find.