(Newswire.net — October 28, 2020) — Are you trying to lose weight, keep your body fit, reduce your risk of heart disease, strengthen your bones and muscles, or improve your overall mental health and mood?
If so, I’m sure you’ve been told exercises are a good way to achieve any of these.
But how’s your exercise routine coming along?
Like most people, I’m sure your answer to that would be “ON” and “OFF.”
No need beating yourself up; you lack consistency in your exercise routine because:
- You’re not under pressure to achieve your goals.
- You have no compelling daily motivation.
The good news is a “DOG” can bring both into your life.
How?
Read on to find out!
Dogs get you moving
Your chances of getting more exercise will increase when you bring a dog into your home because dogs constantly demand to be on the move. As a result, owners have no choice but to be on the move, too.
Usually, moving for dogs come in the form of morning or evening walks.
So, if you’re someone who’s always feeling too lazy to keep up with their daily exercise routine, having a dog that’s constantly demanding to go out of the house can be a great motivation for you to hit the road.
This is why the Journal of Physical Activity & Health said in 2011 that dog owners are more likely to reach their fitness goals than those without canine companions.
Dogs keep you motivated.
Now you’re back from your walk, do you think you’ll just walk into your room and sleep it off?
Of course, not!
Once you’re back at home, the chances are that you’ll want to catch more exercise because you’re now in the mood for exercising.
The dog walk has geared you up!
Now you want to perform bodyweight exercises like jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, and high skips, pull-ups, push-ups, etc.
All of these would not have been possible if your dog didn’t motivate you to go out in the first place.
Dogs will indirectly compel you to do your routine.
Right from the breeder’s home, you’ll be told that in order to keep your dog in good shape, you have to constantly help them get enough exercise.
This is particularly true for dogs like Golden Doodle puppies!
As such, owners are compelled to get their dogs on routines like walking, hiking, a game of chase, running – especially up-and-down the stairs – tugging, treadmilling, etc.
Except if you’re not so serious about your own fitness goals, the chances are that you’ll want to go on your exercise rounds before or after helping your dogs go through theirs.
For someone looking to lose weight, it will be easier to go on the treadmill every morning for your daily routine if you have a dog you’re trying to exercise or train on a treadmill.
Dogs will improve your physical activity.
Perhaps you’ve always been going on 25-minutes evening strolls before now, having a dog will force you to increase your mileage.
And yes, evening or morning strolls and walks count as exercise, too. Various reports confirm it!
What’s more?
Walking with a dog also increases your walking speed, which helps exercise the joints and muscles better.
According to a University of Missouri study, it was found that walking with a puppy leads to a 28 percent increase in walking speed, compared to only a 4 percent increase when walking with a human buddy.
Dogs increase your leisure-time activities.
Leisure-time activities refer to those physical activities you engage in during your freely disposable time, such as driving, hiking, fishing, and almost all dog-related activities.
With a dog around you, you’ll have to clean poop, set bed, prepare meals, chase, support, groom, and care for fur (especially if you own a designer dog like a golden doodle), cuddle and carry, and do so much more.
Guess what?
Although all these fall pretty well under the leisure-time activities category, they all count as exercises, too!
Basically, you’ll exercise your muscles more because you’ll find yourself using every part of your body more. For example, your arms will do more holding, your hands will do more pulling, your legs will do more bracing, and your feet will do more ch