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Too Busy to Exercise? Think Again.

Life is busy, but finding the time to sneak in some beneficial exercise may be easier than you think and the benefits more rewarding than you can imagine. Through exercise, you can gain increased stamina, reduce stress, lower levels of cholesterol, and decrease the risk of developing diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Here are easy-to-follow ways that may help you incorporate exercise into your daily routine.

• Start healthy traditions with your family. Instead of turning on the TV after dinner, go for a short walk with your family. It will not only provide you with an easy way to incorporate physical activity into your daily life, but it will also offer you the chance to catch up on each other's lives. And as an added bonus, experts say that starting a workout a half hour after eating not only bums calories, but also raises your metabolism, which makes it possible to bum fat faster.

• Think healthy when socializing. Next time you need to take a dish to the office or church potluck, school function, or holiday dinner, think low-fat. Bake a healthy dish with less fat, or make a fruit spread or vegetable dish instead of baking cookies or picking up doughnuts.

• Make exercise fun. Get out in the backyard and play with your kids. Remember how much fun recess used to be? Grab a co-worker and take a ten-minute walk around the block. Try kickboxing with your teenager or a soccer scrimmage with your kids. If you make exercising fun, it's more likely to become a permanent part of your life.

• Take the long road. You've probably heard it before, but it's worth saying again -- use the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car in a safe spot that allows you to walk a little further to the office or to the grocery store. Better yet, if you live close to work, try walking or biking there a couple of days each week.

• Start multitasking. Listen to a book on tape while walking or working out at the gym. Try using a treadmill or stationary bike while watching your favorite television shows. You'll be surprised how quickly the time goes by when you aren't thinking about your exercise routine.

• Homemade activities. Exercise doesn't mean just running or working out at the gym. Simple household chores, such as vacuuming, mowing the lawn, and raking leaves, are great ways to bum calories and do count as part of your daily workout. For more calorie burn while doing chores, add hand or leg weights.
  

Life is busy, but exercise can be part of it. Give it a try. You might really like the results.