Tell Us: How Do You Stay Fit in Freehold?

I don’t have time to work out. The health club is too expensive. I’m just too tired after a day at work. 

Someone you know—or maybe even you—has uttered some pretty feeble excuses for not getting the daily exercise needed to stay healthy.  

Patch spoke with Kim Seigfreid at the National Institute of Health (NIH) to determine just how much activity is recommended for adults to remain healthy. Siegfried pointed Patch to the U.S. Department of Health guidelines, which suggest “adults do a minimum of two hours and 30 minutes, or 30 minutes five days a week, of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week.”

But isn’t it hard to find the time and the money? Maybe not.

For those who can’t even carve out 30 minutes, Seigfreid’s tips also recommend that physical activity be broken up into even smaller chunks of time, while still yielding the coveted health benefits. For those with the time, there are plenty of ways around town to stay active and accommodate a busy agenda.

Whether you prefer indoor/outdoor, group/solo, or fee/free activities, AOL Health recently offered a variety of suggestions on how to fit a routine into your regular schedule. Ideas include joining a sport league such as soccer or softball, or playing a more low impact sport such as golf. Other tips include biking locally, or simply boosting physical exertion while you clean your house and fold laundry.  

But take note: swimming at the local pool provides the double whammy of both aerobic and strength training.

In Freehold, get active with Freehold Borough Mayor Nolan Higgins during the April 14 Bike Ride with the Mayor. 

If an exercise class is more your style, then why not ease the perceived pain of a regular workout by opting for an exercise routine more closely aligned with your style? Perhaps a little yoga for the laid-back, a low-impact dance for the more artistic, or even Zumba class for those with a thirst for frenzy.

Dancing on the Edge and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4374 both offer zumba dance classes during the week. Many local gyms like Retro, Work Out World and the YMCA of Western Monmouth County also offer group exercise classes. 

Don’t feel like going outside, folding laundry or attending a class? Then stay home…and stand.

Keeping fit and combating stress can both be done at home. It’s no surprise we spend too much time in front of a computer, whether for work or recreation, and there has been a lot of buzz about the health benefits of standing at a desk vs. sitting at one.  Perhaps it’s time to consider that standing desk!

For those on a budget, simple purchases such as a jump rope and weights can be put to use effectively in your backyard, basement, bedroom or garage. Men’s Fitness recently shared the results of a study asserting that weightlifting supplies cardiovascular health advantages, as well—and also enhances your appearance in tank tops!

With the advent of spring, incorporating regular activity is good for your health and helps keep the pounds off—and just in time for swim suit season!