Weight Loss Methods

As work hours are getting longer and more frequent, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to find the time to fit in a regular gym session or the energy to show up to a competitive game of sport once a week.

However, leading an inactive lifestyle can be detrimental to your health and may lead to complications associated with being overweight such as developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease.

There are infinite ways to increase your physical activity and your health without sweating it out on the treadmill or feeling as though you're punishing yourself for that sliver of birthday cake you had at work last week.

Here are just a few ideas to get your blood pumping without you even realising it.
Join a Mixed Social Sport Team
Team sports can be a lot more fun without vicious opponents and poor losers.

If you enjoy the occasional game of netball (minus an elbow to the ribs) you could join a social team, rather than a competitive league. Mixed teams are often a lot of fun because they encourage players to accept one another's differences, adapt to varying levels of skills and to foster new friendships both on and off the court.

Mixed social teams are also a great way to pick up a sport you've never tried before. You may like to consider having a go at soccer, touch football, volleyball, oz tag or indoor cricket.
If you're not sure that you could commit to regular games, or if you're looking for more variety, you could pull together a group of friends for a regular social game and mix it up each week. This allows you to be more flexible with the game time, spend time with friends and change sports as often as you like.

Get Walking or Riding
If team sports aren't your thing, go it solo and explore your neighbourhood by foot or on a bike.
Walking and cycling are both great ways to start the morning or to unwind after a hectic day at work. Take the iPod along and lose yourself to your thoughts as your feet pound the pavement; or round up the dog, housemate or friend and catch up for a good chat.

Spend a Night on the Town
For something a little less exercise-oriented, plan a night out on the town with some fun-loving friends. You'd be amazed by how many muscles you use just by cutting a rug on the dance-floor.
Just be careful not to overdo it on the alcohol or all that dancing will be wasted. Try to stick to drinks that have less sugar and fat, such as tonic or seltzer water-based drinks.

Gardening - Dig it
If you're garden is looking a little neglected, you could spend a Saturday afternoon sprucing it up a bit.
There's a great work-out hiding in a garden make-over. Mowing the lawn will do wonders for your calves, thighs and buttocks and squatting to pull weeds is good for the thighs, biceps and pectoral muscles.

If you'd really like to push yourself in the garden, consider planting something new. A trip to the local nursery offers a range of planting options including flowering plants, fruits and vegetables, herbs and shade trees. The digging and tending will keep your body moving and, if you opt for fruits and vegetables, watching them grow will be sure to encourage healthy eating too.

Do it for Charity

Many people feel guilty for taking time out to exercise because they think they should be spending their spare time more productively by contributing to the community or being a positive role model for their children. But there is a way to do all three.

Many charities hold regular fundraisers that encourage people to walk, run, swim or cycle for a good cause. Getting involved in such events as a family provides the opportunity to enjoy exercising together and will help children to understand that there are ways they can help those who are less fortunate than themselves.

Participating in door-knock appeals, fetes and other events such as bowling or skating days are another way to get active and lend a hand to the community.

Play Interior Decorator
If a cluttered kitchen or bedroom of bedlam is keeping you from hitting the gym, put some effort into the clean up and get your workout at home.
You'll move a huge range of muscles if you dedicate a good day to make-over just one room in the house.

Start by tidying up and purging any rubbish that is laying about, then get vacuuming or mopping, clean the walls, windows and ceiling, hang some new curtains and experiment with the layout of your furniture.
If you're feeling really decorative you may like to give the place a new lick of paint or create a masterpiece to hang on the wall.

There really are endless ways to increase the amount of physical activity you undertake and often it can be as simple as looking at mundane tasks from a different angle.
Exercising with friends and family may help motivate you to continue being active and your body and your personal health will be all the better for it.