It’s that time of year again! Winter jackets are put away and the
shorts and tees come out to play. May is National Physical Fitness
and Sports Month. This is the perfect time for children and families to get
outside and play together! You don’t have to do back flips in the Olympics or
throw a football 40 yards down the field to be active and break a sweat.
Whether you ride your bike to work or school or chase after your dog in the
park, physical activity can be fun and it helps you feel good too.
People of all ages and body types can benefit from
regular physical activity. National Physical Fitness and
Sports Month is a great time to spread the word about
the benefits of getting active.
Here Are Just a Few Benefits of Physical Activity
Children and Adolescents
Physical activity can improve muscular fitness and bone
and heart health.
Adults
Physical activity can lower risk for heart disease, type 2
diabetes and some types of cancer.
Older Adults
Physical activity can lower the risk of falls and improve
cognitive functioning, like learning and judgment skills.
Set Realistic Goals
Unrealistic goals are very obvious but they do play a
key role in your attitude towards your gym time. When
you set the bar too high from the start, you are likely
pushing yourself too much too soon and this can
very quickly lead to de-motivation. Right there is the
key ingredient to letting your training go completely
because you have lost all enjoyment. Have fun, get
outside, feel the breeze and just move.
Choosing the Right Exercises
Make sure to create a program or have one designed for
you by a trainer that will work for you. A program needs
to consist of the right exercises, not just any exercises
will do. Certain exercises have specific purposes so it is
important to choose appropriate movements that will
give you the results you want.
Find Support and Encouragement
Find a good exercise partner. You would be amazed
what the accountability of a workout partner can do
for you. If you have a day where you feel you’d rather
go to a movie or go for drinks, you will first have to live
up to your commitment to your partner. If your training
suffers, so will your partner’s. You need someone around
to positively influence your training, to help get over
the inevitable barriers and to encourage you when you
need it. When you are surrounded by people that aren’t
as driven or goal oriented as you are, you most probably
will find yourself losing focus of your goals.
Interesting Facts
Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. In combination with healthy eating, it can
help prevent a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and stroke, which are the three
leading causes of death. Physical activity helps control weight, builds lean muscle, reduces fat, promotes
strong bone, muscle and joint development, and decreases the risk of obesity. Children need 60 minutes of
play with moderate to vigorous activity every day to grow up to a healthy weight. If this sounds like a lot,
consider that eight to 18 year old adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media
including TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies in a typical day and only one-third of high
school students get the recommended levels of physical activity. To increase physical activity, today’s children
need safe routes to walk and bike ride to school, parks, playgrounds and community centers where they can
play after school, and activities like sports, dance or fitness programs that are exciting and challenging enough
to keep them engaged.