This wouldn’t be appropriate at the gym, but in the privacy of your home, it can save you money on electricity, water, and detergent bills (and gym memberships that you rarely use anyway). When working out at home, you too can strip down, grab some weights, put on an exercise DVD or dance music, and get moving! Then, wash your sweaty skivvies in the shower with you, and hang them to dry. I hang mine near the water heater, making use of otherwise wasted heat.
Or take a cue from the Planetwalker, John Francis, who walked across our country for 22 years, carrying a message of respect for the earth: Get out of your car and walking. Explore your own neighborhood at a brisk pace every day to drop a few pounds and make your heart healthier. The long-term energy savings of a healthy body’s reduced need for medical care is a statistical energy saver for the planet. And you’ll enjoy the quality-of-life benefits too!
If you live in an area that is served by mass transit, get off the train or bus a few stops before yours and walk. See how far your own power will carry you. Challenge yourself by walking a little farther every day. Living in an area where you don’t feel safe? Go with friends. You probably know plenty of people who want to exercise but don’t know where to begin. You can even start your own walking club! Hear a profile of Planetwalker John Francis at www.thepromisedland.org.
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