Football fans: Use the workplace for preseason training
Ken Dallafior
| 2 min read
Ready for some football? It’s a great time of year for all fans in Michigan. Glorious fall weekends await and your favorite team – whether pro, college or high school – is still undefeated.
Preseason training camps are in full swing. But what are you doing to make sure you’re ready?
As you know, there’s more to being a fan than tailgating parties and waving foam “#1” fingers. On any given game day, you may have to climb stadium stairs, stand and cheer for hours, and endure bone-chilling cold, wind and rain. Not to mention the speed and stamina you’ll need to run to and from concession stands so you don’t miss any of the action.
OK, it’s not all that strenuous. But why not join other fans at work in committing to a preseason fitness training regimen, your workplace version of Hard Knocks (without the body blows)? Here are some ideas for conditioning drills and other strategies to keep you in shape year-round.
Get together and take daily walks. You can do this before work, during lunch breaks or at the end of the day. Even a short walk is good for your heart, strengthens your bones and joints, and can help clear your mind. And here’s another potential benefit: Recent research shows that 15 minutes of walking after a meal may decrease your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Do some “deskercises.” Check out these 12 exercises you can do without leaving the office.
Stand up, stretch and move around. Fans need flexibility too. Besides,sitting in your chair for hours is horrible for your health. So as the coaches tell their players, Get moving! Here are some tips for stretching you can do in just a few minutes every day.
Stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. More sound advice you’ll hear from every football coach. It’s all about the “8s” – drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluids every day and sleep 8 hours every night. For a good night’s sleep, exercise regularly, go to bed early and keep your bedroom completely dark.
Eat healthy foods in moderate portions. Easy.
Practice makes perfect. If you and your workplace teammates stick to this healthy training plan, you’ll feel better and be better prepared for life’s challenges, on or off the field.
