If we look back a few generations we can see that it wasn’t too long ago that working meant putting in a long physical day and transportation to and from the job almost nonexistant.

How times have changed? Total exercise for a typical day is now about 2000 steps. That's about fifty calories.

Any time is a good time to start. Being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight is good practice for all age groups. Make it a practice to get some exercise every day. Children, teens, adults, and seniors - all can improve their health and well-being and have fun by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives. Start easy - there’s nothing to be gained by rushing things. The real benefit is a life-long routine of physical fitness.

There are many different ways to go about it. Try for exercise routines that are varied. Try for a variety that will benefit all major muscle groups. Doing the same thing every day can be boring and is less beneficial. A good bench mark is about 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise. Less is ok - better than being sedentary. Exercising longer will reap more benefits.

Evidence by health experts tells us that one of the keys to achieving the benefits of good health is fitness and exercise. But if you spend your days at a sedentary job and pass your evenings as a “couch potato,” it may require some determination and commitment to make regular activity a part of your daily routine.

Any time is a good time to start exercising. You’re never too unfit, too young or too old to get started. Regardless of your age, gender or role in life, you can benefit from regular physical activity. If you’re committed, exercise in combination with a sensible diet can help provide an overall sense of well-being and can even help prevent chronic illness, disability and premature death. Those are pretty serious words but the medical profession is trying to get our attention.

Some of the benefits of being fit are:

Improved Health
increased efficiency of heart and lungs
reduced cholesterol levels
increased muscle strength
reduced blood pressure
reduced risk of major illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease
weight loss
Improved Sense of Well-Being
more energy
less stress
improved quality of sleep
improved ability to cope with stress
increased mental acuity
Improved Appearance
weight loss
toned muscles
improved posture
Enhanced Social Life
improved self-image
increased opportunities to make new friends
increased opportunities to share an activity with friends or family members
Increased Stamina
increased productivity
increased physical capabilities
less frequent injuries
improved immunity to minor illnesses

Fitness - Let’s Get Going
A couple of thoughts on fitness and how to go about an exercise routine. The decision to take up an exercise program is the first step but how important is step 2?