You may already know that incorporating physical activity into your daily routine can help you lose weight and reduce your risk of heart disease. However, if exercise isn’t already a part of your daily routine, introducing it in may feel daunting. If workout classes, HIIT workouts or long runs don’t sound like a good fit for you right now, try one of these heart-healthy activities that don’t feel like exercise (even though they can be!).
- Dancing
- Hiking
- Playing with kids
- Walking the dog
- Singing (especially if it involves dancing)
- Playing Tennis or Pickleball
- Walking w/ a friend or loved one
- Riding a bike
These are lots of options out there. The important part is getting your body moving, blood flowing and your heart rate up!
For details on how to calculate and understand your target heart rate, read this short article from Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Always remember to listen to your body! Heartrate and fitness monitors are helpful tools, but no matter the readings, if you can’t speak, experience chest pains or lightheadedness or feel uncomfortable, slow down or stop your activity. If discomfort persists, contact a medical provider immediately.