Living Healthy In Brooklyn Is Easier Than You Think

By Ann Sullivan


As waistlines get bigger, so does the amount of people who are diagnosed as having diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that are often related to weight. Since most people already have a family history of some kind of disease, being overweight or obese just exacerbates the risk. Thankfully, living healthy in Brooklyn is easy if you know where to look for the right resources to help.

Being fit does not start as an adult, or even as a child as some people think. It starts in the womb, which is why pregnant women really need to watch what they eat and drink. If you are a first time expectant mother, then signing for for Healthy Start Brooklyn or a similar program will help you a lot. You will get access to tons of resources, including home visits before and after your pregnancy, pamphlets and booklets, and groups as well.

There are also groups that you can find online that are great for meeting like minded people in the area. For example, if you are thinking of transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, there are groups of people who are in the same boat or have already taken the vegan plunge. You meet up on a regular basis and exchange tips and tricks to make the transition easier. These groups are also for carnivores, foodies, runners, and many more.

If you want to eat better but also save money, the best way to do that is to do your own cooking. Consider taking a local healthy eating cooking class, where you will learn how to make dishes that utilize fresh, seasonal ingredients to help you lose or maintain your weight.

Exercise is also a part of being fit, and Brooklyn offers a veritable treasure trove of ways to accomplish this. This includes a ton of gyms of varying sizes and disciplines, such as boxing gyms, yoga gyms, or general ones. There are even specialty ones that have swimming pools, spas, juice bars or rock climbing, just to name a few.

If you prefer to get your exercise outdoors when you can, then there are many parks all over the borough that let you explore some of the more historical parts of the city while getting fit. Brooklyn Bridge park is great for sightseeing and walking, and you can even walk across the entire length of the bridge and back. Prospect Park has biking trails, and Brighton Beach Park is great for a waterfront view while you jog or walk.

You do not have to be young to get or stay fit, though. There are also senior healthy living resources in the city, including wellness programs. Some of these are created locally, while others are sponsored by the government, but all are helpful to the elderly.

If you like to ride a bike but do not own one, you can use Citi Bike. This gets you all over the city by letting you rent a bike at one kiosk, and return it to any other kiosk you like, including ones in places like Manhattan or Queens. It is affordable, better than riding on dirty, crowded subway cars, and lets you see more of the city as you get to work or run errands each day.




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