Exercise can be a bad word. A lot of people don’t like to do it. So let’s just stop calling it exercise. When we were kids we called it gym class–though I know a lot of people who dreaded gym and didn’t think it was fun. Really all exercise and gym classes do is get the body moving.

Here are some ways to make to do that this weekend:

• Go walk on the beach. This will get you outside and work your body harder than a walk on pavement. Maybe you can even build a sandcastle.
• Garden–maybe even join a gardening club this summer.
• Hula hoop with your kids.
• Take a bike ride in a scenic area.
• Pull out an old Richard Simmons video, call and old friend and start “Sweating to the Oldies” while you enjoy a good laugh.

The possibilities are endless. It doesn’t have to be intense physical activity, but start to get your body moving. What kinds of activities that put your body in motion do you enjoy?

Often it is the outdoors that keeps me motivated. Hiking and kayaking fill my days in the summer and for the winter, I just discovered cross country skiing. I rather get a workout while being outside, but it is also important to enjoy the scenery.

I’ve been given a tip that you can see a beautiful sunset on the summer solstice (6/21–this year) from Harvey’s Beach in Old Saybrook, CT. So grab Dad this Father’s Day and enjoy a nice moment together watching the sunset. I’ll be there to see if it’s true.

People often want to lose weight just for the sake of losing weight. Clearly with the number of people who struggle to lose weight, that isn’t a big enough motivator, and I’m not entirely sure it should be. Consider these options for eating right and exercising more. Instead of posting “skinny images” around the house, print out these concepts and hang them up:

• Better Body Image
• Live To See Grandkids
• Sleep Better
• More Energy
• Cleaner Arteries
• Stronger Body
• Less Winded
• More Flexible
• Stronger Bones

This is only a start. Imagine what it would feel like to get a better quality of life, not what it would be like to be thin. We should all carve to be healthy as much as we long to be thin–myself included.

According to the USDA’s food pyramid we are supposed to consume 5 to 9 servings of fruit and veggies per day. Can you challenge yourself to eat that many fruits and vegetables everyday for one week? Plan on doing it next week and you’ll have this weekend to prepare for it.

Maybe you’ll feel better.