Exercise/Fitness

Physical activity involves moving the body. Being active and maintaining a healthy weight are needed for good health. Both benefit health in different ways. People of all ages can improve health and fitness by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives. A moderate physical activity is any activity that requires about as much energy as walking 2 miles in 30 minutes, such as rowing, cycling, vacuuming, swimming, tennis, and volleyball.

Recommendations:

• Aim to include 30 – 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week.You can do the activity all at once, or split it up into short bouts.
• To have additional fitness benefits, increase the intensity of the activity.
• Try to add a warm-up before starting exercise and finish at a slower pace to cool-down.
• Include stretching in your activity plan.
• Find an activity that you enjoy that can be easily added into your life.
• Find other people to exercise with for support and encouragement.
• Track activity on a chart or calendar to check how often and how long you are exercising.
• Build activity into your daily life – take the stairs, park away from buildings, walk in place while listening to radio or watching TV.
• If you have questions about your ability to exercise, check with your health care provider before starting a program.