Physical Activity is important

No matter your health and physical abilities, you can gain a lot by staying active. Physical activity can help you maintain your independence and continue to do everything you want to do. — National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Coming up

We have long advocated daily activity, and warned of the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle, and will always continue to offer motivation — In the coming weeks we will be launching a series of fitness blog posts to help you get started where you may have stumbled before.

Why Is Physical Activity Important?

Exercise and physical activity are good for just about everyone, including older adults. No matter your health and physical abilities, you can gain a lot by staying active. [S]tudies show that taking it easy is risky. Often, inactivity is more to blame than age when older people lose the ability to do things on their own. Lack of physical activity also can lead to more visits to the doctor, more hospitalizations, and more use of medicines for a variety of illnesses. — NIH

Choose activities you enjoy

Fitness helps with emotional being too; find activities you enjoy, to make fitness fun and not a chore. Choose activities you like and want to do, not what you feel you have to do.

Some exercise ideas to help you lift your mood:

• Walking and Bicycling Endurance activities increase your breathing, get your heart pumping, and boost chemicals in your body that may improve mood.
• Yoga is a mind and body practice combining physical postures, breathing exercises, and relaxation; or Tai Chi moving meditation involves shifting the body slowly, gently, and precisely, while breathing deeply.

Choose activities you enjoy:

As the adage goes, the best fitness routine is the one you do !

How about:

• Dancing
• Gardening
• Tennis
• Kicking a soccer ball with your kids

Sources : Teacher pre-K poll photo; National Institutes of Health citations.

Labels: cardiovascular health, fitness, health, healthy habits, lose weight fast