1. Stretch. I cannot stress how important this is. Stretching not only prevents injury, but it makes you more limber and free to move. Just because you can’t see the day-to-day benefits doesn’t mean they don’t exist. You will benefit from stretching years from now, when old age tries to creep in and stiffen your joints. When it does, you’ll be happy you can still kick old age in the butt.
     2. Take the stairs. Your body burns calories around the clock, but it burns the most when you’re actually moving. You don’t even have to hit the gym to shed the pounds; instead, try altering your everyday routine to get your heart pumping faster. If you live or work on the fifth floor, forgo the elevator ride and take the stairs.
     3. Revert back to your childhood. Buy a jump rope. Ten minutes with that sucker and before you know it, you’ve zapped a hundred calories. Play on the monkey bars, or just take a jog around the park. If you feel silly doing any of these things alone, you can always grab a kid in the family who will surely be willing to join in the fun. Smile-exercise releases feel-good hormones.
     4. Take a class. Some people are better motivated when exercising in packs. Aerobics, yoga, step, cardio-kickboxing, and spinning (that’s fitness junkie lingo for riding a stationary bicycle) all appeal to the masses, and new classes are springing up everywhere. In Los Angeles, Crunch Gym recently introduced the super-popular cardio strip-tease class, where the attendees turn up the heat by removing their clothing throughout the workout. Still nervous? Bringing a friend along makes for double the fun.
     5. Pump some iron. Weight-lifting and other forms of resistance training (like lunges, squats, and push-ups) aren’t just for buff people; Everyone benefits from a toning session. Resistance training results in bigger, stronger muscles, which in turn work hard to help your body burn more calories. The more calories you burn, the leaner and meaner your body will look.