By Ezi Levi. Spring and Summer, the days are longer and warmer, the trees and flowers are in bloom, and i’ts the perfect time to get outside and become more active. Let’s face it, in the Winter I hear people say, “I can’t exercise because it’s too cold” or “It gets dark too early so it’s not safe to go out at night” or “It gets light too late for a morning walk” and the commonly said “I can’t because the gym is just plain boring.”

Now the winter is over so, No More Excuses.

As important as it is to set a time for some focused exercising (I’ll get to that shortly), just finding ways of being more physically active will help boost your metabolism and have you feeling a lot better.

The idea is to look for ways to be more active and here are some examples how to accomplish that.

If you are shopping or going to an appointment, take a parking spot further away from the entrance of the building instead of circling around for the closest spot. This is a great way to get in a little walking! Last week we had a vort to attend on Sunday afternoon, about a 2 minute car ride and a 10 minute walk from our house – we decided to walk there instead of driving. This way, we got some exercise in and did not have the aggravation of finding parking.

Play outside with your kids or friends – whether it’s a basketball game in the driveway, or having a catch on the lawn or going to the park- no matter what age or skill level they are on – keep it fun and keep it moving.

Take the steps instead of the elevator!

Don’t make piles to put away later but rather put things away right away. This will keep you moving around while you are preoccupied with completing the task, and you’ll also have everything in order!

Focused exercise:

People think that unless you don’t exercise for an hour or two at a time it’s doesn’t even pay to start. I am here to tell you that it is simply NOT TRUE! Yes, you should do an exercise routine on a regular basis. Yes, the more you do the better, BUT, just 15-20 minutes of moderate to intense exercise as many times per week as possible, will do the trick as well. Afraid that you will be bored? Find a scenic place to do your exercise or take different routes when you are walking, jogging, biking etc…

Switch up your exercises.

Do anything that you can think of to get yourself moving. Try basketball, tennis, paddle-ball or really any type of sport. Just remember to start slowly and build it up. Too many times people start exercising and overdo it, get injured and then they stop right away.

Stretch before and after each workout and keep yourself hydrated.

Just enjoy the great outdoors.

One last note… Please please please- take advantage of exercising by combining it with healthy eating habits and don’t cancel it out by not making the right choices.

Ezi Levi is a certified health and diet coach and is the director of the Men’s Weight Loss Center. The center works with men and teenage boys who are committed to losing weight in a safe and natural way by learning how to make healthier choices in their primary and secondary foods. To find out more or to schedule a free, no obligation health consultation please call (732) 903-4129 or Email at [email protected].