Keep Off the Freshman 15

Although diet is a large part of avoiding putting on the dreaded Freshman 15, exercise is also a key component.
I am not the person to tell you to go for a run everyday, because I have a lot of trouble motivating MYSELF to go for a run, let along other people. Luckily, I have found some exercises that everyone can do daily and burn a few unwanted calories. These exercises are so easy to do, even I am able to do these easily everyday.

1) Heels up and down.
   - What: Stand with your feet in a comfortable position (parallel and somewhere between together and hip-width apart). Raise your heels so you are standing on your toes, then lower your heels. Repeat as many times as wanted.
   - When: This is easy to do while waiting in line, waiting for an elevator, while in an elevator, while waiting to cross the street, while cooking, and watching TV.

2) High knees
   - What: While standing, raise your knees as high as you can and replace back on the floor. Trade legs. Repeat.
   - When: This is easy to do while waiting in line, waiting for an elevator, while in an elevator, while waiting to cross the street, while cooking, and watching TV.

3) Jog in place
   - What: If you don't know what this means, then I don't know what to say.
   - When: Brushing your teeth, waiting for toast, waiting for an elevator, jog up stairs.

4) Park your car far away.
   - This is one that I do often. Instead of searching for the closest space to the store, I simply park in the first spot I come to, no matter how far away it is. While leaving the store with bags of stuff, it is another extra weight to help you burn more calories. (It also gives you a longer journey if you like to pretend your shopping cart is a race-car and make sound effects all the way from the store...)

5) Take the stairs instead of the elevator
   - I used this technique for one week. I never once used the stairs and I lost 5 pounds in a week. I didn't change my diet, I simply was more active for a week. Amazing.

More to come!