7 Reasons to Bike to Work

Last week, we invited people to come Bike to Work and enjoy a scenic ride along Lake Shore Drive. I’m proud to support Chicago’s annual Bike to Work Day together with goodnessknows snack squares to help encourage Chicago residents to pedal towards a healthier lifestyle. . Here are seven reasons why you should consider taking the small step on your path to fitness by leaving your car at home and biking to work

1. Reduce your carbon footprint: Save the environment. Car emissions contribute to pollution and global warming. Save the fumes output from your car and breathe cleaner when you bike to work.

2. Save money. Parking, gas, insurance, city stickers and even maintenance can be hundreds of dollars per month. (I’m considering selling my car after running the numbers!) Ditch your car for a bike and pedal to work each day. Even if you live in a more multi-climate city like Chicago, the money you’ll save up over the nice months will help you with car service on those days when biking isn’t an option.

3. Reduce stress. Traffic jams and finding parking can be stressful. Light exercise can help reduce cortisol levels and leave you feeling more refreshed throughout the day. IF you bike to work, you might be happier throughout the day.

4. Have better concentration and performance. Those who exercise in the morning have better on the job performance than those who don’t. We know that exercise increases blood flow to the brain. Children who have recess or physical exercise before taking tests, score better. Take it from your inner child and ride your bike to work.

5. Experience a “Domino” effect. Once you make one healthy lifestyle change, others may fall in line. Consider changing out your current high calorie Frappuccino for something decadent but less calories and more nutrient dense like a little dark chocolate, fruits and nuts, in delicious snack squares: goodnessknows snack squares are under 150 calories and made from fruit and nuts. The cacao in the dark chocolate provides flavonoids, which may help reduce high blood pressure.

6. So you can live longer. The benefits of even small bouts of exercise are abundant. People who exercise regularly have reduced risk of heart disease and many forms of cancer as well as tend to live longer. Team up a little exercise with healthy eating habits, ceasing smoking and limiting alcohol intake to increase your lifespan even more.

7. To be happier. Pedaling down the scenic Lake Front for 30 minutes at the beginning and of the day can have big results. It helps reduce stress hormones but also increases the feel good hormones: endorphins and serotonin levels. You will never regret the feeling after a short bike ride. It might be hard to stop smiling with all the good it does for your body.

Looking for more ways to make small changes with big results? Watch Health Living with Andrea Metcalf on the Scene Network, Comcast 392 on Fridays 6pm and Saturdays 9am.

This post was created in partnership with goodnessknows, one of my favorite new snacks that are perfect for on-the-go – especially biking! We served this snack at our pre-ride get together and everyone loved them! This delicious and amazingly satisfying snack comes in three flavors and combines the goodness of whole nuts, real fruit, toasted oats and dark chocolate in four snackable squares – for only 150 calories! For more information, visit www.goodnessknows.com and check out gksnacksquares on Instagram or Twitter.