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Getting active doesn’t have to be expensive; it doesn’t have to take hours and hours out of your day. It can be something you enjoy and it can mean making simple changes that have big health benefits.
Getting active has been shown to help prevent depression and diabetes, to lower cholesterol, to prevent osteoporosis and obesity, to strengthen your heart, and even to lengthen your life!
Check out these links for more information:
Canada’s Physical Activity Guides
Active Living Tips
Winter Active
Provincial Walking Campaign
Recreation Newfoundland and Labrador
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Do something you enjoy. If you love the outdoors go for a hike or a walk. If you like to shop, turn your local shopping mall or department store in to an indoor walking trail by walking around the store at a brisk pace two or three times a week.
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Make simple changes that add up. Park farther away from the entrance to the store for a few extra steps each day. Use stairs, not elevators.
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Get a partner. Find a friend who wants to get fit and work together. A partner can help keep you motivated, make a walk or hike more enjoyable, and share their experiences with you.
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Walk your dog. Make a commitment to take your dog for a walk every day. Your dog and your body will love you for it.
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Remember, the hardest thing about getting active is thinking about it, but when you do it, you’ll never regret it.
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Be inventive. Use a can of soup for a dumbbell. As you get stronger, increase the challenge with a bigger can or a bag of sugar.
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Try walking for 5 minutes a day the first week, and 10 minutes a day the second week. In a month you’ll have a 20-minute workout.
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Looking for more quality time with the kids? Go sliding. Go for a hike. Play a game of Frisbee. You don’t need to get a babysitter if you make it a family affair. Plus, you are being a role model for healthy living for your kids.
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No one has ever come back from a healthy walk feeling worse than when they started.
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Change it up. If you get bored, you won’t enjoy it. Try something new every few weeks. Learn a new sport. Take a new route on your walk.
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Take up an active hobby. Start gardening. Teach your dog (or the neighbour’s) how to catch a Frisbee. Start a bird watching club.
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Most importantly, have fun. Being active can be as simple as playing a game of tag with your friends and family.
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