Getting active may sound like a difficult task but physical activity is really any activity you do that uses more energy than resting.
You can be more active by:
•Walking or cycling any short distances that you’d usually use a car or a bus for.
•Taking the stairs rather than a lift.
•Gardening.
•Cleaning the house.
Try to do at least 150 minutes of physical activity every week. A good way to do this is 30 minutes of activity a day for five days. An activity should leave you feeling warm and breathing more heavily than usual. Also try to do muscle strengthening activities at least two times every week. This includes doing exercises with weights, yoga or walking with heavy shopping.
These all use energy and counts towards increasing physical activity, you’ll notice a difference in no time and you’ll start to feel healthier.
As well as making your body healthier, exercise can have an impact on your mind as well. Physical activity can relieve stress and make you feel better about yourself, it can make you sleep better and can help with depression.
(Source: http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/fitness/Pages/physical-activity-guidelines-for-adults.aspx)
Issued 26th January 2011. Reviewed 16th January 2012. Next review date 26th January 2013)
Our Top Tips to become more active are:
•Take the stairs instead of the lift.
•Get off the bus a stop earlier.
•Leave the car at home and walk or cycle to work, school or the shops.
•Take a walk at lunchtime.
•Take up a new activity such as cycling or dancing.
To show how you can fit physical activity into a busy lifestyle we’ve asked an existing Health Trainer client to talk about her activity plan below.
Success Story
Erin Fitzpatrick is married and lives in Somerstown. She went to see a Health Trainer to increase the amount of physical activity she did.
Since the advice of the Health Trainer Erin has got her large family, all living within five minutes walk of each other, to join in with incorporating exercise in their daily life without having to go to the gym.
Erin explains how she improved her health with the help of a Health Trainer. Click here
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