We all know that physical fitness is important to living a healthy life. And if we’re honest with ourselves, we’d have to admit that we just don’t exercise enough. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults get at least 2 ½ hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity each week.
That’s as simple as 30 minutes a day for 5 days. Or mix it up and do several different activities for 10 minutes at a time. Two days of strength building exercises should also be included for full-body toning and shaping.
With National Physical Fitness and Sports Month wrapping up this week, it’s the perfect time to learn how to stay fit and start planning fun activities that you can do during the warmer months. The more you include a variety of activities, the more you’ll enjoy exercising. You might actually find excuses to exercise more.
Here are 7 ideas for fitting physical fitness in throughout the day:
- Take an aerobic exercise or dance class to get your heart pumping
- Organize a walking club at work or with neighbors
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator
- Join an intramural team of your favorite sport
- Swim laps at a pool; use a buoy buddy to build upper body strength
- Play yard games with your children, grandchildren or nephews and nieces
Here are 7 tips to get the most out of your workout:
- Check with your medical professional to ensure you’re healthy enough for exercise
- During the first 2 weeks, exercise 2 times per day for 10 minutes to build a habit
- Gradually add strength training to build muscle
- Make sure to track your progress to keep motivated
- Reward yourself with a special treat for reinforcement
- Consider adding a friend to build commitment
- Once fitness has improved, increase intensity
If this article gave you new ideas how to increase your physical activity, consider sharing it with a friend or family member who needs motivating.
Source
http://www.foh.hhs.gov/Calendar/physical.html
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