Tip of the Day:

Exercise for Fun!

You hear it all the time: Get 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day. But the average person doesn't have an extra hour a day to go to the gym and sweat it out. And when you force yourself to be active, you don't really enjoy what you're doing. So instead of making exercise a requirement you dislike, focus on the enjoyment of being active. When you participate in activities that are fun, the calorie-burning benefit becomes a perk — the activity itself is what keeps you going.

Here are some activities that will get you moving while you're having fun:

• Park activities: Hiking, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing
• Beach and water sports: Waterskiing, bodysurfing, swimming, beach volleyball, Frisbee
• Sightseeing: Learn about your city or someplace new while you shed extra pounds. One hour of leisurely walking burns almost 200 calories.
• Museums and galleries: Art museums provide comfortable, air-conditioned (or heated) spaces for walking as leisurely as you'd like, with plenty of visual stimulation.
• Shopping: Walk through a mall for a good 30 minutes at moderate speed. You can fantasize about all the great clothes you'll be able to buy — in a smaller size — when you've reached your weight-loss goal.