Got asked this question the other day on Facebook:
“Paul, does shopping count as exercise? I hate the thought of going to the gym, so if I can find any way around that to keep active, then I will!”
So I thought I’d answer it here:
Now we’re very much into November and getting closer and closer to Christmas…
There’s something that we do around this time of year that that counts as good healthy habit.
It can help keep you active and burn calories!
Have you guessed it?
It’s shopping.
Christmas shopping – THE busiest shopping time of the year.
Now Christmas shopping can do one of two things – cause you frustration or stress…
OR bring you delight and enjoyment.
But let me ask you this – have you ever considered that shopping might be a legitimate addition to your weekly exercise routine?
I’m serious – hours of walking around the shops can clock up a huge amount of steps, and you can even burn up to 200 calories doing so!
To put that into context, if you see someone out jogging, they’ll have to run at the same pace for up to 30 minutes to burn the same amount of calories.
And even though they’re keeping active for a shorter amount of time, for those of you who don’t enjoy jogging or booking yourself into a gym class, shopping, especially at this time of year is a great alternative to keeping active.
Of course I’m not saying shopping alone should replace your regular exercise regime, but it’s not to know that an everyday activity like this counts towards your daily exercise goals.
Not to mention, the next time someone says you shop too much, you can use this as the perfect excuse!
Now I know sometimes it’s difficult, there’s always so many people around and it seems like it would be a much better idea to order everything online.
But try to resist the urge to buy it all online.
You don’t get the opportunity to do something new as exercise by ordering it all online – not to mention keeping active during winter is always a great way to stick to your health goals so many relax on this time of year.
If you’re wondering about other daily activities that can count as exercise that I mentioned, here are some ideas for you:
Cleaning the house, washing your car (although maybe not a great idea in winter!), walking the dog, playing with the kids or grandkids…
There’s plenty of options, but doing your Christmas shopping is a win-win!
You get all the Christmas presents sorted, and you’re exercising and burning calories.
So my take away for you today is this, while traditional exercises like running and finding a fitness class you enjoy are key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle – everyday activities can be an additional way to get you moving.
P.S. If you’d like to learn more ways to keep active, maintain independence and live free from painkillers then visit this website: http://www.thehealthyhabitbok.com where you can pick up your copy of Paul’s Healthy Habit book full of tips to set you off on a good note for the New Year!
You might know Paul as an expert Columnist who writes weekly health articles for TWO of the North East's biggest daily Newspapers, The Northern Echo And The Hartlepool Mail, he is a regular Speaker at Industry Seminars around the globe and a Radio Personality, often heard on the BBC. Paul has been an expert guest on dozens of Radio shows and regularly interviewed in newspapers, magazines and trade journals all over the world, including the Guardian.
Paul’s background included working extensively in the Premier League with a Top Professional Football Team, and since quitting his job in Professional Football in 2007, his Physio Practice has become the fastest growing in the UK and biggest in the North East. So successful, that companies like BUPA, ASDA, The Vela Group And Coast & Country, repeatedly retain his Physio company's services to keep healthy their own staff and workforce. Paul Gough Physio Rooms is now a large multi-physio, multi clinic speciality practice in Darlington, Durham, Guisborough and Hartlepool.
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