Physical Activity: A Little Goes A Long Way
If you have a hard time getting more physical
activity, your'e not alone. One report estimated that less than half of
all Americans get the amount of physical activity recommended by the government!
With all of life's demands, it may seem like being more physically active is
impossible...and maybe not worth the effort and time.
But it doesnt take much physical activity to get
significant health benefits. In fact, you don't have to run marathons or work
out at the gym every day to improve your health. Even a little physical activity
is better than none and can have a positive, long-term impact on your health and
fitness.
Studies have shown that regular physical activity
can help lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. It can
also help prevent weight gain, reduce depression, and improve sleep. And the
list of benefits you can get from increasing your physical activity just goes on
and on.
To get these benefits, the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services recommends that you do at least 2 1/2 hours per week of
moderate-intensity physical activity. That may sound like a lot, but it really
isn't. The physical activity can be performed in episodes of at least 10
minutes. And you can spread it out over the whole week. "Moderate-intensity"
means that you can talk, but not sing, while you do it. So walking fast,
dancing, vacuuming, or raking leaves are good ways to get this kind of activity.
You can also do other simple things to be more
physically active. At work, you can park farther from your office, take the
stairs, or stand instead of sitting during your meetings or while you're on a
conference call. At home, you might mow the lawn, carry groceries, or walk the
dog. There are many ways to be more active, and how you do it is up to you!
So work with your VA health care team to set a goal
to be more physically active and find what works best for you. Getting more
active—and being more healthy—is easier than you think!
