Or… Go to Kits Beach, Grouse Grind, Stanley Park, Sea Wall, Lynn Valley or Cypress Hiking Trails for some scenery!
You are probably asking “Why?” Well, there are many benefits to being active.
- It reduces your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes and obesity
- Keeps joints, tendons and ligaments flexible, which makes it easier to move around
- Reduces some of the effects of aging
- Contributes to your mental well-being and helps treat depression
- Helps relieve stress and anxiety
- Increases your energy and endurance
- Helps you sleep better
- Helps you maintain a normal weight by increasing your metabolism (the rate you burn calories)
And now you are saying…”But I don’t have time for it” or “I can never stick with a routine”. So to help you out, here are some tips:
- Choose something you like to do. Make sure it suits you physically, too. For instance, swimming is easier on arthritic joints.
- Get a partner. Exercising with a friend or relative can make it more fun.
- Vary your routine. You may be less likely to get bored or injured if you change your exercise routine. Walk one day. Bicycle the next. Consider activities like dancing and racquet sports, and even chores like vacuuming or mowing the lawn.
- Choose a comfortable time of day. Don't work out too soon after eating or when it's too hot or cold outside. Wait until later in the day if you're too stiff in the morning.
- Don't get discouraged. It can take weeks or months before you notice some of the changes from exercise, such as weight loss.
- Forget "no pain, no gain." While a little soreness is normal after you first start exercising, pain isn't. Take a break if you hurt or if you are injured.
- Make exercise fun. Read, listen to music or watch TV while riding a stationary bicycle, for example. Find fun things to do, like taking a walk through the zoo. Go dancing. Learn how to play a sport you enjoy, such as tennis.
If you are really motivated now, how about testing your motivation with these city events?
Jun 1 to Jun 30 - June is Bike Month in BC & Bike to Work Month
Bike Month offers over 60 fun and educational events throughout the region including group rides, children's safety workshops, films, bikeway grand openings and festivals for people of all ages and abilities. Come with your friends, or meet some new ones. Bike Month is your chance to discover quiet, safe, beautiful routes for excursions or everyday trips. Feel the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. Get fit. Save money. Fall in love with your commute. Bike Month events include the Stanley Park Bike Festival, BEST Pancake Breakfast, the Sapperton Street Festival, the Bike Fest in Surrey, Island City by Bike in Richmond, the Car-free Commercial Drive Festival, Bike Movie Night, the Giant Critical Mass and much, much more. Come join the hundreds of thousands of people in the Lower Mainland who experience the pleasure of cycling, in the month
JUNE 5 to JUNE 8 - Vancouver BC Triathlon World Championship
www.triathlonvancouver.com
604.904.9248
Whether you come out for the Triathlon Expo, to see the Athletic Wear, Sports Equipment and Health Food vendors during the week, the Kids triathlon, the AWAD Athletes, the best of the amateurs, or to cheer on the elite Olympians themselves, this event is not to be missed. It's free for all spectators, so come out and support the world's best Triathletes.
June 5 - Cloverdale Family Bike & Safety Fair 2008
604-502-6402
5:30pm-8:00pm
Pedal to the Cloverdale Recreation Centre and join in our Family Bike & Safety Fair. Learn about bike safety and the health benefits of cycling. Make a child ID kit, watch marital arts demo's and more!
June 21 - Bike Fest South Surrey Athletic Park
www.sorcebikeclub.org
8:00am-5:00pm
SORCE mountain bike club (Surrey Off-Road Cycling Enthusiasts Society) is proud to present their TENTH annual Surrey Bike Fest. This festival is the only one of its kind in the South Fraser Region and is part of BC Bike Month. All ages welcome. All proceeds benefit SORCE trail work, Team SORCE and their Youth Cycling Programs in cooperation with the Elgin Park Secondary SPOKE Race Team.
JUNE 22 - Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon & 5K
www.canadarunningseries.com/svhm/
The Scotiabank Vancouver Half-Marathon and 5K Run/Walk, "Canada's easiest scenic Half-Marathon - running past beaches, mountains in the background and finishing in Stanley Park - a net drop of 250 feet."
Being and staying active is important and necessary to remain healthy. Remember the reasons why you made that commitment to stay healthy and exercise? Enough said. Have fun.
