Life Lessons from the Dog: Fitness
You already know your dog makes a great workout buddy, but he can teach you some important lessons about eating right and staying motivated, too. My dog, the wellness coach? Yes, that’s right. Exercising with a group and resisting late-night snacks are just a couple of pointers you can steal from your pup. Watch him and learn.
Rally like Rover. It’s all about attitude. Dogs look at exercise as playtime, scampering around by the door before a walk, leash-in-mouth. Meanwhile, you grudgingly hit the gym four hours after pulling on your workout clothes. Does your dog know something you don’t? Probably not. For dogs and humans alike, exercise releases endorphins, relieves stress and provides a mental break. And because dogs are born workers, inactivity can lead to depression and destructive behaviors like chewing, raiding the garbage can or barking at strangers. Start thinking of stress, sleepiness and irritability as your own destructive behaviors and help ward them off with physical activity.
Fetch a friend. When your pup hits the dog park with his pack, he’s suddenly a ball of fire, unleashing energy you didn’t even know he had. If you wish you could be equally excited about exercise, take a hint from your pooch and sign up for a group fitness class or get on a jogging schedule with a close friend. The support, structure, accountability and social interaction may help you stick to a routine. Just don’t follow your dog too far. Five minutes of sniffing your new gym buddies “hello” might send them running.
Shake up your workout. Dogs get bored with same playtime routine. Fetch four days in a row? No, thank you. You’ll fight monotony, too, by mixing things up at the gym, even if it’s just cardio one day and strength training the next. Next time you’re thinking about cutting your workout 20 minutes short, pick up an exercise ball or hop on the rowing machine. Fun, right?
Practice infrequent treating. Unless he’s mastered the art of raiding the cupboard, your dog has a huge advantage when it comes to snacking: he has a treat police. And you, calorie cop, would never dream of giving your pooch a whole bag of vittles in one sitting. Why not put that control to work for your own snacking habits? Look at treats as rewards for healthy behavior and enjoy them sparingly and in small portion sizes, not as part of your everyday diet.
Become a creature of habit. When it comes to eating, sleeping, exercise—and okay, doing their business—dogs operate like clockwork. Establish a similar routine for yourself and you’ll train your body to expect (and appreciate) what’s coming. Eating regular meals will keep your metabolism humming along and ward off hunger throughout the day. Noshing on similar foods every day (just like your dog has a preferred brand of kibble) can also be easy way to manage your weight and eat a balanced diet.
Make water your drink of choice. Your pup isn’t parched without sodas and sports drinks and he doesn’t turn up his nose at what’s trickling from the tap. Skip the sugar, chemical sweeteners and empty calories in sweetened teas, energy drinks and fruit juices and lap up only good ol’ H20. Drinking a glass or two before each meal may help you feel full and eat less. Also try to tolerate filtered tap water. Many plastic bottles contain BPA and other obsenogens, which have been linked to metabolic problems.
Energize with Z’s. Depending on their size, breed and activity level, dogs require 12-18 hours of sleep each day in order to function properly. While you certainly don’t need to spend over half your life snoozing, too, you should follow your pup’s lead when it comes to sleep quality. One reason dogs sleep so much is because they wake up frequently and spend extra time trying to reach deep—or REM—sleep. In humans, quantity and quality of sleep has been linked to weight gain and fluctuations in hormones that regulate appetite. Set down the BlackBerry, turn off the TV early and shoot for 7-9 hours of uninterrupted slumber each night.
