Change your dress code Researchers at the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse recently reported that people who wore casual clothing to work (compared with conventional business attire) took an average of 491 more steps each day. Over a year, that could combat the average annual North American weight gain. "I wear comfortable shoes to work; otherwise, I'm less likely to do anything active in the evening," says Alice Smith, a 31-year-old resident of Hamilton who lost 15 pounds. If you can't get away with casual wear at the office, at least dress in comfy clothes on the way to and from work.
Get moving As in, call your real estate agent and see what's available for purchase. People living within walking distance of restaurants, retailers and transit lowered their risk of obesity by 35 per cent, according to researchers at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. The findings also revealed that every extra 30 minutes that commuters spend driving translates into a three per cent greater chance of packing on pounds. If moving isn't an option, schedule as little as 15 minutes a day on a stationary bike or treadmill or run up and down a flight of stairs 10 times, suggests Greg Harvey, a personal trainer in Edmonton. Taking stairs two at a time can increase the strength of your quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings, says Harvey. Donna Ladouceur fights the battle of the bulge with workout videos. "Keep it interesting, make the equipment inviting and handy, and schedule time for it, as you would any other must-do appointment," says the 45-year-old Markham, Ont., resident who recently lost six pounds.
Control your cravings with activity Exercise can help curb insulin levels (raised by increased estrogen levels during your menstrual cycle), making it easier to fend off cravings, says Dr. Jerilyn Prior, scientific director of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.
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