Why Is Exercise So Important?

Exercise should be included in everyone's daily plans. The merits of exercise — from staying health, preventing chronic health conditions, and boosting confidence and self-esteem — are hard to ignore. And the benefits are yours for the taking, regardless of age, sex or physical ability.

Performing regular physical activity...

• Improves your ease of movement
• Builds strong muscles
• Improves your posture
• Makes your joints more stable
• Decreases chronic pain
• Leads to better sleep patterns
• Improves emotional well-being 

What Should I Do?

Dedicated workouts are great, but activity you accumulate throughout the day helps you burn calories, too. Believe it or not, exercise can be fun. The secret is to keep moving doing whatever activity you enjoy - from ballroom dancing to hiking - from pushing your child in a swing to hosting a neighborhood touch football game. Keep in mind these three tips that will help you stay F-I-T:

       F - Frequency

Be active every day by increasing your daily physical activities.
Three times per week, participate in more intense cardiovascular exercises, such as walking or biking.

        I - Intensity

Moderate or even low intensity is good for you! But progression is very important: start slowly and gradually increase the intensity over time.

        T - Time

Try to do at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderate activity every day or nearly every day. Studies show that you can receive similar benefit with three 10-minute spurts of exercise if you are unable to do 30 minutes at one time.

 
How Can I Stick With It?

• Keep an exercise log. You'll be amazed at how much you've done!
• Set up a reward system-- treat yourself with a smoothie or a back massage.
• Seek information on health and fitness.
• Challenge yourself, but don't push yourself too hard.
• Try a variety of programs to avoid getting stuck in a rut.
• Use positive affirmations. You can do it!
• And don't forget about that Accountability Partner. Learn more here!