Workout Benefits of Dog Ownership!!

When you get home from work each day, is someone waiting patiently at the door to greet you? If you’re a dog owner, your favorite fuzzy friend probably comes bounding to the door the second your key turns in the lock, tail wagging frenetically as he tries, in his own way, to tell you just how much he missed you all day long.

The whole drive home, you dreamed of plopping down on your couch after a long day’s work, but now that this ball of fur and energy is all-up-in your face you find it hard not to get excited. Soon, you feel yourself getting a little vicarious energy boost, a pick-me-up that motivates you to get active. Your furry friend is telling you that it’s time to play and, doggone it, maybe it is!

Getting active can help you lose weight, and staying active can help you maintain your weight loss long-term. During your Optifast weight loss program, you’ll be encouraged to find fun ways to become more active every day. Having a dog to walk and play with may help you build your activity level.

Research has shown that pet owners are among the healthiest folks around. Keeping a pet can make you more active, get you outdoors more and even make you more social—all of which can pay off in health benefits like lower blood pressure and healthier levels of cholesterol and triglycerides.

Pets can get us moving, but they can also help us relax by easing our anxiety, comforting us and relieving us of loneliness and depression.

These benefits can come from any pet, but dogs may make the best medical weight loss buddies—their constant demands for attention and exercise will force you to get out and active. Man’s best friend can enjoy most of the workouts that we love to do so much.

Just think: in addition to a standard walk, you can take your dog:

• Hiking
• Biking
• Jogging
• Swimming
• Kayaking

Most American households have at least one pet, but are you taking full advantage of yours? Remember, your workout buddy doesn’t have to be human—Fido is always available and may even be a better fit for your lifestyle needs.