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Exercise
Exercise Programs
Daily Exercise
Health Benefits
of Exercise
Daily Exercise
Increasing the amount of daily physical activity is a key
ingredient to long term health and weight management. Every
person should engage in moderate to high exercise for 30
minutes a day. Having said this, it is important to note that
the goal of increased physical activity does not necessarily
represent an hour of exercise and sweat a day. Adding physical
activity to daily life can be as easy as walking the dog or
taking the stairs.
Recent studies indicate that
many of the same health benefits can be realized for those
choosing to divide the recommended 30 minutes of exercise each
day into smaller chunks. This is great news for those who find
it difficult to fit a 30 minute stretch of exercise into daily
life. A couple of 15 minute, brisk walks twice a day can
easily be incorporated into daily life, and the health
benefits are proven.
Useful suggestions to add physical activity into daily life
include:
-
Take the stairs instead of the
elevator
-
Walk to the store
-
Walk home from work
-
Park at the far end of the
parking lot
-
Go for a walk during lunch hour
-
Actively play with your kids
-
Walk the dog
-
Wash your own car
-
Ride a stationary bike while
watching TV
-
Rake the leaves
-
Work in the garden
-
Clean the house
As the examples above indicate,
incorporating physical activity into daily life does not have
to mean a drive to the gym or finding a tennis partner.
Everything you do during the day that involves activity can
have a profound impact on overall health and well being.
The U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, National Institutes of Health provide
excellent articles and resources about
exercise and
fitness. The Mayo Clinic's Healthy Living Center is
another excellent resource for
exercise
information and other healthy living issues. |
