Press Room

American Council on Exercise Lists Five Ways to Get Your Heart Pumping on Valentine's Day

Posted: Feb 13, 2004 in

SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Feb. 10, 2004 - Planning on being active on Valentine's Day? This year, drop the sweets and get physical with your sweetie. Research shows that regular exercise not only improves the well-being of your body and mind, but enhances your sex life as well. Talk about an incentive! The American Council on Exercise (ACE) lists the following five ways to get hot and healthy this Valentine's Day.

1. Walk off into the sunset. Enjoy a romantic stroll with that special someone just as the sun is setting. Experts recommend walking at a pace where you and your partner can converse without feeling out of breath.
2. Bike-ride tandem-style. Whether along the coast or through the park, tandem bike-riding is a fun and effective aerobic activity. It not only allows you to get a great cardiovascular workout, but enables you to spend uninterrupted time with your companion.
3. Go dancing. From line to square, salsa to ballroom, dancing is sure to get your heart racing. Whatever the case, be creative and dress for the occasion.
4. Bundle up and go ice-skating. This activity, ideal for couples, is an efficient exercise for all fitness levels. In fact, one hour on skates can burn almost as many calories as jogging.
5. Take a hike. Be sure to select a location with pleasant scenery that also offers an appropriate physical challenge. Following the hike, treat your partner to a healthy and well-deserved meal. Load a picnic basket with food, wine and a blanket. When selecting the food, think "well-balanced."

About ACE
The American Council on Exercise (ACE), America's Authority on Fitness, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of physical activity and protecting consumers against unsafe and ineffective fitness products and instruction. As the nation's "workout watchdog," ACE sponsors university-based exercise science research and testing that targets fitness products and trends. ACE sets standards for fitness professionals and is the world's largest nonprofit fitness certifying organization. For more information on ACE and its programs, call (800) 825-3636 or log onto the ACE Web site at www.acefitness.org.