There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Schedule 30 of them for physical activity!
Regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy. People who are active live longer and feel better. Exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight. It can delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems.
Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week. Examples include walking briskly, mowing the lawn, dancing, swimming for recreation or bicycling. Stretching and weight training can also strengthen your body and improve your fitness level.
The key is to find the right exercise for you. If it is fun, you are more likely to stay motivated. You may want to walk with a friend, join a class or plan a group bike ride. If you've been inactive for awhile, use a sensible approach and start out slowly.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Physical Activity for Everyone: How much exercise do you need?
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/index.html
Websites to assist you with health lifestyle choices:
www.aahn.com
African American Health Network: There is information on a variety of cultural, culinary and Health related issues for African Americans. But by no means should this site be limited to African Americans. We hope all will enjoy the information presented on this web site. This site has many links to health information websites.
www.myfooddiary.com ($9/month fee)
MyFoodDiary.com tackles the very root of the problem: habit. If your goal is to lose weight and keep it off, you must permanently change your eating and exercise habits. We believe that knowledge equals power. As you learn more about how your body responds to food and exercise, you will make better decisions and lead a healthier lifestyle.
www.shapeup.org
Founded in 1994, Shape Up America! Is a not-for-profit organization committed to raising awareness of obesity as a health issue and to providing responsible information on healthy weight management.
www.mapmyrun.com
Put in your starting point and ending point - this site calculates mileage and calories burned, allows you to save your favorite run maps and helps you find new ones. A great tool to keep you on track and excited about walking or running.
www.5aday.org
The 5 A Day for Better Health program is the nation's largest public-private nutrition education initiative with 5 A Day coordinators in each state, territory, and the military. The program is guided by the collaborative efforts of members of the National 5 A Day Partnership with the goal of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption to 5 A Day for 75 percent of Americans by 2010.
www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2114
The American Heart Association's Blood Pressure site: get the facts on high blood pressure and how to live a heart-healthier life. Find out how you can reduce your risks for heart attack and stroke with proper monitoring by a healthcare provider and simple lifestyle changes, even if you have high blood pressure.
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/risk.htm
Information on Body Mass Index: The BMI is a measure of your weight relative to your height and waist circumference measures abdominal fat. Combining these with information about your additional risk factors yields your risk for developing obesity-associated diseases.
