Did you know? Taking pictures can actually help you get fit and lose weight. This may be hard for you to believe at first, but let me tell you a short, true story.
Early this year I went to a local car show. I'm a semi-professional photographer and I went there solely to get pictures of the gorgeous custom cars they had on display. Once I got to the show, I immediately starting taking pictures of course. But I don't just stand there and point my camera, then shoot. I like to get pictures from a variety of angles. And that particular day I found myself wanting low angle shots on almost everything.
So I'd stop at a car I liked, squat down close to the ground, and take several pictures. Sometimes I'd even duck walk sideways to get a low shot of the car from another angle.
About 45 minutes later I was stunned to discover I was about ready to fall down. My legs were weak and shaky... in fact, I was almost afraid to try walking at that point. Then it dawned on me what I'd actually been doing that whole time: Exercising!
Not only was I walking around what was probably a mile square area... I had also done close to 100 squats without even realizing it. And I'd "duck walked" more times than I could remember too. On top of all that, I was carrying five to ten pounds of extra weight between my purse and camera equipment.
And ever since that fateful day, I've paid attention to how I feel when taking pictures. I enjoy photography so much, I actually purposely go for walks in various parts of town, just to take pictures of the houses, flowers, trees and other things in the area. But the point is: I'm walking. I'm bending. I'm squatting. I'm exercising!
Now most hobby photographers won't likely go out for photo walks every day, but it is very easy to work this type of extra exercise into things you already do. If you're out at the park with your kids and want to take pictures of them, try doing it from different angles. Try squatting down close to the ground, or finding shots that would require you to bend and move in different ways.
If you like to visit new places, try walking on park paths or even hiking. Take your camera along too... even a lightweight, tiny point and shoot camera can help you get into better shape. Just make a point to try a variety of angles for your photos, and you'll automatically be working muscles you don't normally even know you have.
Working these muscles will tone them, and toning any muscles in your body automatically helps you get more fit, and start losing some of the extra flab you might be carrying around too.
