Written by:
JILL EHRMANTRAUT, PT, DPT, WCS, CAPP
Jill can be reached at jill@apexptwellmess.com
Go for a Walk!
You can meet a friend at a local park, trail, or even at somebody’s home and leave from there. You will have plenty of time to visit while getting your daily steps in along with some fresh air!
If you are in the middle of a ND winter, you can still meet up with a friend and move. Meet at a local gym and walk on treadmills side by side. There are also a lot of indoor tracks or walking spaces you can meet as well. In the FM area these include West Acres Mall, the Rustad Center in West Fargo, Family Wellness, and the Sports Arena in West Fargo.
Sign up for a race with a friend!
We have many local races in the FM area, from a 5k all the way up to a full marathon. You can join a friend for your training and run/walk together the day of the race!
Go for a bike ride or rollerblade
This is another way to get outside while incorporating physical activity.
New moms – meet up with another mom and have a stroller date!
Find a fun walking route, push your little one in the stroller, and have time with a friend. The other good part? You get fresh air for both you and your baby. What could be better?
Attend an exercise class together
Many local gyms that have fun group classes. You can bring a friend with you or use this as an opportunity to meet someone new!
I have met so many close friends at the gym. It can be scary to go to a new class alone, but it is great to get out of your comfort zone and meet new people!
Don’t want to go to the Gym?
Make up your own exercise routine with a friend. You can take turns coming up with fun exercise routines. This can be done together as a team effort, or you can take turns coming up with your plan for the day or week. If you need some guidance on deciding which exercises are best for you, you can always consult with your favorite physical therapist!
Got kids?
If you have kids meet up at a local park with another family for a play date! You can do this indoors or outdoors. This is a great way to get both yourself and your kids moving, along with some social time for everyone!
Social time doesn’t just need to involve exercise or activity. You can still incorporate food in a healthy way in your social gatherings!
- Cook a meal together! Using a healthy recipe makes this even better. This will give you social time with a friend, along with nourishing your body with great food. You can find countless healthy recipes online, or consult with our in-house dietician, Liz!
- Have a healthy pot luck. Ask everyone in your friend group to bring 1 healthy item. You can even turn this into a contest and see which dish tasted the best!
- Have a “Freezer Meal Party!” You and your friend can split the cost of the food and make a large amount of meals together. You can save it for a healthy, fast meal in the future.
- Try different healthy restaurants together. There are many new health-based restaurants opening in the FM area. This is a great way to meet up with a friend while nourishing your body at the same time!
As you can see, it is very possible to maintain a social life while being healthy at the same time. It is easy to grab your tennis shoes and meet up with a friend for a walk, or call up your friends and plan a healthy potluck. There are many ways to stay social all while meeting your health and fitness goals!
We are a private practice outpatient physical therapy clinic offer high quality care with a personal touch. We believe that every patient should receive the quality care needed to help them prevent or rehabilitate their injuries or illnesses.
