| p>Being healthy is a lifelong process. It is something | | | | Commit yourself to an active lifestyle, not just an |
| you must commit to for your lifetime. Knowing what | | | | exercise program. |
| to do to feel good and be healthy is not enough. Nor | | | | Creating awareness about moving is essential. A |
| is starting off big and then only occasionally following | | | | pedometer is a tool that can help you monitor your |
| your plan. The trick is being willing to do those things | | | | daily movement. It can help detect the need to |
| on a regular basis, especially when it is not | | | | increase daily movement or provide maintenance |
| convenient. | | | | feedback. A healthy goal is 10,000 steps per day. |
| That is the struggle most REAL people have. Some | | | | Start out by seeing what you log in a normal day, |
| people honestly do not know how to exercise or eat | | | | and then begin to purposefully add 500 to 1,000 |
| right. But most often, people do know-they just can't | | | | steps per day until you reach your goal. |
| talk themselves into doing it, and herein lies the | | | | Research shows that you can shed sixteen to |
| problem. | | | | eighteen pounds a year by creating a daily habit of |
| Knowing is not enough. It is all about the doing. So | | | | walking for half an hour in your target heart rate |
| find ways to be active everyday and learn to eat | | | | zone. This weight-bearing exercise also stimulates the |
| healthy on most routine days. Also consider your | | | | mineral content to remain in the bone structure and |
| mental and emotional health as you seek out what | | | | thus reduces age-related bone loss, known as |
| works for you and your situation. The ultimate | | | | osteoporosis. |
| challenge is to develop a lifelong way of thinking, not | | | | Active movement does many things beyond burning |
| just quick-fix strategies. | | | | calories. It releases endorphins that make you feel |
| Schedule times for "purposeful movement" into your | | | | good, and it also signals your body to start working |
| day. Building it into your daily routine is a vital part of | | | | more efficiently. It turns off fat-storage hormones |
| your lifetime wellness plan. Only you can decide what | | | | and signals the release of energy for you to |
| activities that you will enjoy doing. This may be | | | | complete needed tasks. You will also continue to burn |
| seasonal. You might walk inside during the winter and | | | | calories at higher rate after you are done exercising. |
| outside when the weather is warmer. Maybe you | | | | It basically unlocks the door to how your body |
| garden and do lawn work in the warm months and | | | | functions. |
| ride an exercise bike on cold or wet days. | | | | Choose activities based on your personal needs and |
| Create your plan to incorporate purposeful | | | | your current situation. If you are too run |
| movement into your schedule, but branch out as | | | | down-working forty-plus hours a week, shuttling kids, |
| newopportunities arise. Some people like routine and | | | | and running errands-don't beat yourself up that you |
| need repetition to stay on track. Others need to | | | | didn't walk or exercise that day. Instead, look |
| change it up regularly to remain interested. You may | | | | forward to doing some form of activity that restores |
| choose a variety of exercises for your plan. The | | | | energy. This shift in thinking promotes gentle, |
| main considerations being, to think about moving all | | | | restoration activities versus just hanging out on the |
| the time, choose a style that works for you, and | | | | couch! |
| structure your day to accommodate it. | | | | On days when you have more energy, push yourself. |
| The traditional way people look at exercise makes it | | | | Be creative and make sure it's something you can |
| become a form of drudgery. Reawaken to the fact | | | | have fun with. Activity does not have to feel like an |
| that you can move just for the fun of it. It is | | | | obligation. This is your life-being healthy should not |
| important to create positive associations with | | | | seem like work. If it does, then try something |
| movement. When you have a pleasant memory of | | | | different! By doing this, you can learn to feel good, |
| movement, you are more likely to do it again. | | | | mentally and physically, everyday of your life. |