Physical activity
Keeping yourself fit is important for both your mental and physical health. This doesn’t mean you have to be a sports nut, but rather than turning into a couch potato watching other people on the box being active, go out and do something yourself.
Set goals
Start off by deciding what activity you might enjoy, so that you are more likely to keep it up. Set yourself some goals such as
- Joining the pub five-a-side team
- Entering a local half marathon
- Simply walk around the block at least once a day
- Develop yourself a fitness routine setting aside certain times in the week for exercise.
At least 30 mins a day
To keep fit it is recommended that as a minimum you should do an activity that makes you breathe faster but still able to talk for at least 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week. If you can team up with a friend who wants to keep fit it will help to motivate you, and you’ll be more likely to stick to your new routine.
Exercise routine
It will takes about 4 to 6 weeks for your body to adjust to moderate exercise. You should
- Include stretches in a warm up
- Continuous aerobic activity
- Toning exercises and warm down afterwards.
- After this you need to increase your levels of activity slightly every couple of weeks to keep improving your fitness
- After about 6 months the average person will have achieved the level of fitness they are happy with and will then need to work at maintaining this.
Reducing the beer gut
If you want to work on reducing a developing beer gut, swimming and gentle weight training that focuses on the abdominal muscles are good exercises. For the most benefit you should also combine physical activity with healthy eating, and cut down the booze to recommended levels of 3-4 units a day.
Health benefits
The benefits of increasing your levels of physical activity are
- Having more energy
- Better sleep
- Chance to make new friends
- Reduced risk of heart attacks, strokes, developing diabetes
- Prevent or alleviate depression and anxiety.
