Things to Do with an Extra Hour of Daylight

I might be a little late on this one but I decided to write it anyway…

Turn off the TV, start an outdoor sport, and fire up the grill—Daylight Saving Time will help you jump-start your diet and fitness goals just in time for spring!

 

Spring Ahead

Don’t get grouchy when Daylight Saving Time steals an hour of your sleep this month. An extra 60 minutes of sunlight during your waking hours means more mood-lifting vitamin D, the return of outdoor exercise, and a kick off to the season of gardening, grilling, and kickball games. Make the most of longer evenings by devoting your extra hour to healthy eating and exercise. Here’s how.

Soak Up More Sunlight

Sun exposure increases the body’s natural production of vitamin D, which can strengthen bones, decrease your risk of cancer and autoimmune disease, and help keep your spirits high. In fact, women with low levels of vitamin D are twice as likely to suffer symptoms of depression, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. If you need one more thing to feel good about, research conducted at the University of Minnesota suggests that people with higher levels of vitamin D at the start of a low-calorie diet lose more fat, especially in the abdominal area. Gotta like that one:)

Fire Up the Grill

Olive oil may help lower cholesterol and fight heart disease and cancer, but 2 tablespoons add about 240 calories to your meal. Grilling is a lower-cal way to cook protein because it causes excess fat to drip off. To prevent food from sticking without the help of oil, grill on a clean surface or use a spritz of no-cal cooking spray. Try a 20-minute protein-packed dinner like bison burgers, salmon, shrimp kabobs, i could go on an one…

Plant a Garden

Or get muddy out in the woods on a hike w/Reece and I! Digging, weeding, and trail walking/hiking burns close to 300 calories per hour.  Start planning and get planting – plant your own fruits and veggies to save yourself trips to the store!  If you don’t have space for a garden, don’t forget to explore our local farmers’ market. Find one in your area by visiting localharvest.org.

Turn Off the TV

With winter ending, you no longer have an excuse to hibernate. Instead of slacking on the couch, venture outside.  In a study of more than 50,000 women ages 30 to 55, every 2 hours logged in front of the TV increased the odds of obesity by 23% and the risk of type 2 diabetes by 14%, according to research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. 23%, WOW!

I know of some other things to do with an extra hour of daylight but I will leave that for another channel;-)