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The weight loss journey is more fun with a friend.
If you and your pet are both looking to get to a healthy weight, you can be each other’s strongest allies. You can help your pet get the right amount of food and exercise, and working out with your pet will make losing weight more fun and rewarding for you too.
Right now when you enroll your pet in Project: Pet Slim Down, you'll get another partner in your own weight loss: a free 30-day program* from Jenny. Register today to get started!
(promotion ends 4/1/2012)
"Catch" some exercise:
Dogs love playing catch, so get outside and play ball together. Race to pick up the ball and you’ll both burn bonus calories. Cats also love chasing toys and can be taught to retrieve.
Get hooked on walking:
Daily walks give both you and your dog a workout. And having a four-legged partner can make it feel more like fun than exercise.
Dog Tag:
Turn a favorite kids’ game into exercise activity for you. "Tag" your dog, then dash around your backyard (or your house, if it’s too cold outside) and let him chase you.
Stairway to Fitness:
Leash your dog and pick a long staircase – at home, or try the bleachers at a school. Run the stairs with your dog at your side. Vary your steps for a more challenging workout – take two stairs at a time, do high knees, run the steps sideways. Or toss a ball up the stairs for your dog to fetch while you do lunges up.
"Curl up" with your cat:
Tie a feather toy with a string to your dumbbells. Kitty will get a lot of fun exercise trying to catch the toy as you curl up and down.
Light Exercise:
Stand about 10 feet from a wall, holding a mini-flashlight in each hand and pretend to jump rope (just mimic the motion with your arms and legs – and actually jump!). As the lights will bounce on the wall, your cat will get a short burst of exercise as she tries to "catch" them.
Fishing for Fun:
While you may not be able to take your cat on a run or go for a swim, cats can exercise by chasing fishing pole toys around the house. Rather than sitting on the couch and swinging the toy, run around your house with it.
Let it Snow:
Skijoring is cross-country skiing with your dog and it is a great way for both of you to get out and exercise in the winter. The dog is harnessed to you and helps to pull you along. Make sure to find a course where trainers can introduce you both to skijoring and show you how to safely enjoy the sport.
Obstacle Course:
Create a fun obstacle course in your backyard, or in your house if the weather doesn’t cooperate, and you and your pet can do circuit training together. Use fitness gear such as a stepper, bosu ball, jump rope and hula-hoop for each station. If you have a small dog, a ladder placed on the ground can become an instant obstacle course.
Personalize your plan:
Work with your Consultant and your veterinarian on a diet and exercise plan you and your pet can stick with for the long haul.
Important Exercise Considerations For You and Your Pet:
- If you have not exercised your dog regularly and decide to start a regular program, go slowly at first. Begin with short periods of activity at slow speeds and gradually increase the time, speed and distance.
- As you exercise your dog, consider his needs and present physical condition. Leisurely walks may be best for an older dog, while a young dog has ample energy for a more vigorous exercise program.
- Weather conditions are an important consideration as you exercise your pet. Dogs can suffer from frostbite and heat stroke just as people can. If you walk your dog in the snow, be sure to wipe the paw pads to remove any snow and ice buildup, or possible salt. Remember that your dog’s paws can also be damaged by hot asphalt in the summer.
- Try to maintain a regular exercise routine. Just like their human companions, "weekend warriors" are more prone to injury when exercise is sporadic.
- Always have plenty of fresh water on hand to keep your dog hydrated.
- Consult with your veterinarian to ensure your pet’s exercise plan is appropriate for his weight and health status.
- Consult a physician before beginning any types of weight loss, diet or exercise.
