Grand View Builders

For some, spring can often act as an alarm indicating the approach of summer and the imminent “swimsuit season.” For others, staying healthy and fit is an ongoing goal. No matter what your motivation is, here are some great ideas for exercising in the comfort of your own home without a trip to your local gym.

Home Exercise

You can use household items, such as the foot of your bed or a chair, to do easy, in-home exercises. For a more relaxing work out, try yoga or pilates in your living room or your backyard, where you can breathe fresh air and get some sunlight.  This site has photos and videos to guide you as you stay fit in your home and work out every part of your body.

Swimming

Many people are unaware of just how beneficial swimming is for your body. If you have a pool in your own backyard or a neighborhood, swimming laps can increase muscular flexibility and strengthen heart muscle.  Use a kickboard if you need to ease back into swimming and try mixing up your strokes (butterfly, freestyle, backstroke or breaststroke) to work different muscles of your body.

Biking

Whether your bike is stationary or mobile, biking is a great way to get your heart rate up!! Riding a bike puts less stress on your legs than running and can help you burn more calories than other forms of exercise. Adjusting the incline of your stationary bike will help maximize your workout. Biking is a great sport and activity for the family and can help everyone stay active and enjoy the outdoors, just be sure to wear your helmet!

Nutrition

In addition to staying active, nutrition is an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you stock your pantry with tasty fruits and vegetables that are currently in season: artichokes, asparagus, Fava beans, grapefruit, radishes, spring onions and strawberries. Smoothies and shakes composed of fruits and vegetables are part of a big nutrition trend. Especially in the summer, drink plenty of water during the day to remain hydrated.

Here is the recipe for one of our favorites that is easy, fast and healthy, the Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie:

-10 ounces skim milk or plain soy milk

-1 tablespoon natural peanut butter

-1 medium banana

-Add ice for a thicker consistency

What do you do to stay healthy? Share your favorite way to exercise on our Facebook page!

Exercising anywhere is important to a healthy lifestyle, but did you know that exercising outside could also improve your health? Outdoor activities such as the festivals that we told you about back in April, can equal up to the 30 minutes of moderate intensive aerobic activity that is recommended in order to maintain a healthy weight which in turn, reduces the risk of heart and other diseases and also increases muscle strength and enhances overall well-being.

Since you’re already engaging in physical activities, this time of year is great for encouraging your children to participate in healthy activities that will turn into lifelong habits. Sports that are in season are fun to watch, but take your kids to the park to play baseball, softball, soccer and football which will also aid in the development of their motor skills. With the weather getting warmer you can introduce them to competitive swimming and there are always the old standbys of biking and running.

Although the every day 8-5 work schedule does not leave much time for exercise between cooking, cleaning, and ferrying children to lessons or practices it is important to ingrain the importance of regular exercise into your children’s psyche early on. Spend a weekend taking a family tennis class or taking a hike around wooded areas such as the ones that are built into Grand View Builders communities like North Pointe Trails.

Welcome the idea of exercising as a family and watch your family literally spring into spring!