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Danielle Bouchat-Friedman |
I started playing sports when I was 7 or 8 years old. My first love was basketball, but I soon got involved in field hockey and lacrosse, and even dabbled in cross-country and track and field. On the weekends my mom and I would exercise together, either taking 3-to-6 mile walks around town or enrolling in any sort of fitness class we could make it to, from Spinning to Step. I never looked at any of these sports or activities as anything more than fun and as a way to bond with my friends and my mom.
But since I’ve gotten older, moved away from home and secured a 9-to-5 desk job, my access to organized sports has dwindled, and staying fit has become more of a chore and a nuisance to me. What used to come so easily and naturally to me now feels like something that needs to be scheduled, like a dentist appointment.
In this issue of 302Health, we tackle the issue of getting fit. What seems like such a simple, comprehensible subject is much more complicated. For one, there are so many options. With over 100 gyms and fitness programs to choose from throughout the state, it can be overwhelming. Writer Kim Hoey had the daunting task of researching all of them so you can find out which place is right for you. Check out her story here.
But there’s plenty of us who just don’t want to step foot in a gym, and that’s okay. The cool thing about that is there are so many fun ways to get in shape without a gym membership. (Part of staying fit is sticking with it, right?) In writer Christi Milligan’s story, 6 Ways to Get Fit and Have Fun Doing It, she investigated some innovative ways to exercise, like enrolling in a rowing program, paddleboard yoga and biking.
In the end, it doesn’t matter whether you decide to get up and go Spinning at 6 a.m. every morning or go for a leisurely walk after dinner; find the workout that best fits your lifestyle that you ultimately enjoy.
—Danielle Bouchat-Friedman • Editor of 302Health
