5 Ways to Get Slim With Your Pet

Getting slim
There comes a time in every person’s life when they go to put on their favorite jeans and they are suddenly a lot tighter than they were months before. All of a sudden ‘ping’ and the front button has snapped, flown off and nearly taken somebodies eye out. This can be one of many indicators that you might need to lose a little bit of that Christmas weight that you have been holding on to all year.
Fear not, losing weight is easy and it can actually be extremely fun. There are various methods to losing weight and many think that changing their diet is the perfect answer. The truth is that in order to get slim, you have to change your lifestyle around. Dieting alone will, usually, not allow you to lose the weight you want to shed. The answer is to eat healthier, exercise more effectively and live a healthier lifestyle.
Why get slim?
The easiest answer to this question is to say that if you get slim, you will be happier, healthier and have more energy to spend on your family and the things that really matter. You will have a body that you are proud to show off and you can wear that dress or shirt that has been gathering dust at the back of the closet for years. If you avoid obesity and stay slim, you stand a good chance of living longer and staying free of health conditions that are weight related.
Dieting
There are many different diets to choose from and you can get a whole host of ideas from the internet. With a little bit of searching, you can find networks and forums of people in the same situation as yourself who are looking for recipes and ideas for things to eat that that will help with losing weight. You can try different diets and processes but you should always be careful about crash dieting and you can never go wrong by eating fruit and vegetables.

Getting slim with your pet
Exercise can be an intimidating prospect, especially if you are not used to getting a fair amount of it. It sometimes helps to have a companion who might need a little slimming down themselves. Even if they don’t need to slim down, exercising with a pet can be a great bonding experience and your relationship with the animal will certainly benefit from it. When we talk about exercising with your pet, we are mainly talking about dogs because they are energetic, excitable and they usually love to get out of the house. Obviously if you have a lizard or a tortoise then you probably shouldn’t start dragging them around the neighborhood against their will. Similarly, you should always watch out for the health of the animal and if they seem unenthusiastic about the prospect, just go on your own. Below we have compiled 5 exciting ways to get slim with your pet. You can use these methods as part of your daily routine and you will both enjoy the experience and the results.
Method Number 1 – Jogging with your dog

This method is probably what immediately springs to mind when you think of ways to get slim with your pet. You can’t really go jogging with a rabbit, and cats might not enjoy running with you, but dogs are the perfect companion for a healthy jog. If you have an energetic dog that loves to get out of the house, try going for regular jogs around your local area and push yourself to go further and more often. You should watch out for the dog’s health, as many dogs will love to run but unfortunately suffer from other health problems such as arthritis.
The best tip is to replace the evening walk with a jog and create a schedule when you will run. Keep the dog on the leash and try small distance, slow jogging which burns fat quicker than sprinting. Try to go for the same distance on one week, and then add half a mile onto your route then week after. You can keep trying to increase the distance, as long as you have time and as long as you feel healthy. Jogging is a fantastic fat burner and one of the best ways to get slim with your pet. The bond between you and your dog will also improve as you take the dog running, because they will appreciate the time you spend with them and enjoy exercising.

Method Number 2 – Laser games with your cat
Maybe this sounds too simple and you think you do this already, but playing with your cat can be a great cardio work out. Most cat owners have several toys and the cat usually has their favorite. Try creating games that include cardio activity for both yourself and the furry feline. For instance; all cats love lasers on walls and will chase the laser all day long. Try adding sit-ups or push-ups for every 5 minutes spent playing with the laser. You should always push yourself to do more and even a walk up the stairs is a good cardio workout. Some cats prefer to chase hair pins around so you can always play a ‘cat version’ of fetch although they might be more reluctant than a dog to bring the pin back, but they will always chase it. An old saying is that ‘everywhere is a gym’ and you can certainly get the exercise you need to shed a few extra lbs. and build some muscle in your living room. It is always fun to get your pet involved in the workout process and you will definitely bond in the process.

Method Number 3 – Tug-of-War and fetch

Dogs can have huge amounts of energy available to them when they need it. Younger dogs especially, will be overly excited if you want to play with them and some of the games you could play are great ways to build some muscle. Tug-of-war is a game where your dog has one end of the rope in its mouth and you hold the other (in your hand) and you both pull until one of you wins control of the rope. Most pet stores will have dog toys that were designed for this game and work perfectly. Dogs are usually persistent when it comes to game so they will be trying to wrestle that to from you until your arms are tired. Try rotating arms to get a good workout on both sides of your body. Fetch is another game that requires you to throw and get active. You can always modify these games and even create your own with added difficulties to increase the effort you are putting in. These games are a great bond-builder and a great way to slim down with your pet.
Method Number 4 – Step Challenges
If you live near a public area with a huge amount of steps, or even a giant hill, you can take your pet and challenge yourself to reach the top in a quicker time than you previously did it. If you don’t have any area where this might be appropriate, you can always use your stairs at home and race up those as quickly as you can. This usually works best with dogs because they are the happiest to follow you anywhere but you can try it with other animals if they are willing to follow you.
Set yourself challenges and try to beat yourself. Say to yourself that you are going to go up and down the stairs 20 times and give yourself a time limit. In all probability, the dog will probably follow you without any encouragement in your own home but you can do the same thing in public areas, sprinting up public steps like Rocky Balboa with your dog will be a great experience. Your legs might be sore the next morning as this can be demanding so make sure you stretch off in the shower after and before your workout.
Method Number 5 – Countryside days
Long walks in the countryside can be a great way to shed some extra weight. Even in the modern world, where most of us live in the city, you are never too far away from some really nice, scenic land that you can take your pet to and have a long day out. You can take the family and have a (healthy) picnic in the sun and walk through glorious forests and parks. Your dog will love it, other pets might also love it and the walking will always burn calories which can slim you down.

Remember:
You should always be vigilant when exercising with a pet and if you think they can’t handle something, you should do it on your own. If your pet starts to exhibit any unexpected symptoms after exercising, take it to a vet and tell the vet what you were doing. Exercising with your pet is a great way for you to both lose weight and it is certainly recommended by vets and breeders.