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Make the most of exercise with these five tips

It is well known that at least 30 minutes of exercise a day is beneficial. If you have found a way to fit those 30 minutes into your daily schedule, you are making a good effort but it is possible to even do better. One of the things to realize about exercise is that intensity counts. An easy leisurely 30 minute stroll may have some benefits but there are ways to make those minutes count even more. Here are five exercise boosters to up your exercise game.

Make it a competition
When you are exercising alone, it is harder to motivate yourself to work harder. If you can get a friend or a spouse to walk with you and you try to outdo each other, it motivates you to exert yourself more. Another option is to sign up for an online tracking tool and compete with friends to see who exercises the most. Having others involved in your exercise helps with accountability. When you skip a day, it is helpful if someone notices.

Mix it up
If you never break a sweat, you are probably being too easy on yourself. The best exercise routine includes both moderate and high intensity activity. Start out at an easy pace and then push yourself for a few minutes to increase your heart rate. Then back off a little and try to push it again. Add a hill climb to your walking path to increase the intensity. Sometimes it helps to vary the routine and give other muscles a workout, so try walking some days and riding a bike or swimming on other days.

Use the whole body
The more parts of your body that are in motion, the better when it comes to exercise. So, while you are walking at a brisk pace, swing those arms or try pumping them up and down. Simply moving your arms can burn between 5 and 10 percent more calories. Look into walking poles. Using these walking sticks when you walk can help exercise new muscles and burn more calories.

Add some weight
One way to get rid of weight is to add some weight to your workout. Any exercise from walking to push-ups increases in intensity when weight is added to the mix. Carry weights or use ankle or wrist weights while walking or exercising to make your exercise minutes even more effective. Simple weight lifts can improve your core strength and balance so try adding a few kettle bell lifts to your exercise routine.

Enjoy a few tunes
Anything that makes exercise more appealing is worth the effort, especially music. Exercising to music helps to keep the pace steady and elevates your mood making exercise more appealing. Music can also keep your attention and keep you from focusing on those occasional aches and tired feelings. So, pick your favorites and start moving and grooving.

Many facets of exercise
Exercise can help you keep physically and mentally alert. Exercise is extra important after surgery or other major medical event that landed you in the hospital. Deconditioning during a hospital stay can really affect quality of life. It is hard enough to exercise when you feel pretty good, let alone when you are recovering from a medical event. This is the reason that many people wisely choose to recover at a short-term care facility where there are therapists to help you safely regain strength and mobility.

One of the smartest choices for short-term recovery is Glenview Terrace. You can be assured that all your doctor’s instructions will be carried out during your stay. All incision care and infection control is performed by experienced staff. Pain and other symptoms can all be managed quickly to keep you as comfortable as possible. Therapists will work with you one-on-one to get you up and moving at a pace that will move you safely toward recovery. Glenview Terrace also has a gym filled with the latest equipment designed to assist you in regaining your strength, balance and flexibility.

All of this highly-qualified care is delivered in an elegant setting featuring meticulously landscaped grounds and spacious, well-appointed rooms. Guests can enjoy nutritious meals filled with the protein and vitamins needed to enhance the healing process. Guests during a short-term rehabilitation stay can also choose to relax in their rooms with a stunning array of amenities like concierge service, coffee and newspaper delivered every morning and dozens of cable channels with an exclusive channel featuring new movies.

Team up with the acclaimed experts at Glenview Terrace who have the proven outcomes to help you win back the independent lifestyle you desire. For additional information or to arrange a tour, visit glenviewterrace.com or call 847-729-9090.

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