Your Muscles > Your Health Coach

Strengthening Your Muscles - Tip No. 2


Your coach:
Maryse Simard
Kinesiologist, ÉPIC Center
Montreal Heart Institute


Little things go a long way

The “Strengthening Your Muscles” Goal PLUS invites you to regularly do exercises that strengthen the muscles of different parts of your body. The good news is that your everyday life already gives you many opportunities to do just that. Taken separately, these little things may seem like nothing, but they definitely go a long way. They help keep your muscles toned and get you in the habit of being active every day.


Next time…

  • Become allergic to elevators and escalators! Take the stairs as much as possible – it’s good for the legs and the heart.
  • While waiting at the bank or for an appointment, work your abs and buttocks by contracting them numerous times.
  • At the office, replace your chair with an exercise ball for 1 or 2 periods of 30 to 45 minutes per day.
  • Don’t hold back when doing housework or gardening! Work with gusto!
  • When walking, look straight ahead rather than at the ground. Good posture reinforces back and abdominal muscles.
  • Do muscle-strengthening exercises during the commercial breaks of your favourite shows. For exercise ideas, visit the Challenge Tools section.


To learn more about the “Strengthening Your Muscles” Goal PLUS, check out our article on the subject.