Ways to Heat Up Date Night!!

8 Ways to Heat Up Date Night!

Get your heart really pumping on your next date night and sneak in some exercise! With a sense of adventure ( and perhaps a sense of humor ), you could be on your way to burning enough calories for DESSERT!

1. Dance the night away! Salsa, Tango, or foxtrot with your special someone - Ballroom dancing can burn a whopping 240-260 calories in just one hour session!

2. Wander about winter! Take advantage of all winter has to offer- Start a snow ball fight - Build a snowman - Go ice skating or cross country skiing!

3. Walk the dog! Take a leisurely walk with your sweetie and the pooch! Some restaurants and cafes now allow canines in outdoor seating areas - Pack a picnic and head towards the park!

4. Window Shopping! A 30 minute stroll before and after a meal can burn 90 - 130 calories! - You can also break it up into two 15-minute sessions!

5. Rent a Movie! Cue up a fitness video from the library - video store - DVR - or online. Trying a new type of exercise, such as yoga or aerobics, at home allow you the freedom to make mistakes and laugh at yourself (or your partner)!

6. Do some good! Volunteering at a hospital, youth program, school, or park can keep you moving and provide you and your loved one with some special bonding time.

7. Go bowling! Not only is bowling a fun activity to do as a couple or with a group of friends, it is also a great way to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility.

8. Quick and Easy! Don't forget the simple ways to burn calories, whether you are on date night or just out and about. Take the stairs - Park at the far end of parking lot - Avoid automatic doors and open the door for your date yourself!

TOP 10 BENEFITS OF BEING ACTIVE!

1. Improve blood glucose management - Activity makes your body more sensitive to the insulin you make. Activity also burns glucose (calories). Both actions lower blood glucose!



2. Lower blood pressure - Activity helps your heart pump stronger and slower!



3. Improve blood fats - Exercise can raise good cholesterol (HDL) and lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides. These changes are heart healthy!



4. Take less insulin or diabetes pills - Activity can lower blood glucose and weight. Both of these may lower how much insulin or diabetes pills you need to take!



5. Lose weight and keep it off - Activity burns calories. If you burn enough calories, you'll trim a few pounds. Stay active and you will keep the weight off!



6. Lower risk for other health problems - Reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, some cancers, and bone loss!



7. Gain more energy and sleep better - You'll get better sleep in less time and have more energy, too!



8. Relieve Stress - Work out or walk off daily stress!



9. Build stronger bones and muscles - Weight-bearing activities, such as walking, make bones stronger. Strength-training activities, such as lifting light weights (or even cans of beans), make muscles strong!



10. Be more flexible - Move easier when you are active!

Walk Away a Winner!!!

Good Health has its Rewards: Walk Away a Winner!!

Walking is a great way to get and be fit. Walking improves Circulation and mobility - Promotes weight lass - even helps reduce stress! There is no time better than now to begin a walking routine.

If you are not used to being active, star with 10 minutes each day and build as your energy increases. When you begin, find a comfortable pace and try to add about 3 to 5 minutes to your walking time each week. A good goal to shoot for is to walk 30 to 45 minutes, 5 days a week.

You can use a pedometer to track how many steps you take each day. Experts suggest you build up to 10,000 steps a day = 5 miles. First, check how many steps you do now - Wear the pedometer of 1 week or 2 - find out the average steps you take each day - once you know your starting pint, try to up your daily average by 500 steps every couple of weeks - Before you know it, you will hit 10,000 steps.

Quick tips to put an extra SPRING in your step:

* Stretch for 5-10 minutes before and after every walk.

* Keep a good posture - Gaze forward not down at the ground with your chin level and head up.

* Stay hydrated - drink 8 ounces of water before you begin your walk.

* Wear shoes designed for walking for greater comfort and injury prevention.

* Your walks don't have to be long and strenuous to be beneficial.

If you are a Diabetic:

* Wear your diabetes ID

* Check blood glucose before exercise - under 80 eat a piece of fruit-crackers-glass of milk.

* Check blood glucose after exercise - this will tell you how your glucose react to exercise.

* Carry a snack to eat if you'll be active for a few hours.

By Walking an extra 5 minutes a day - you can burn an additional 24 calories per workout! that may not seem like much, but over the course of 1 year that totals up to 8,760 additional calories burned!!

So get out there and start walking!