There are more ways than you might think for you and your family to get enough
physical activity to keep healthy. Here are a few ideas:
Take a walk. Walking is one of the simplest activities to get the ball
rolling. All you need is a comfortable pair of shoes and a pleasant walking
trail. Take a walk after lunch and dinner, get off one bus stop early on
your way to work, park farther away from the entrance to the mall or your workplace, or take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Make a play for it. You might have flown a kite or thrown a Frisbee
as a kid - why not now? Once in the park, you might see other activities that
encourage you and your family to have fun exercising.
Start a family health club. Gather your family together one evening
or weekend and make up a list of activities that everyone can enjoy. Put your
list on the fridge with a calendar and plan for evenings when you can try a
new activity. For example, your list might include softball, cycling, tennis,
or basketball. A list of fun activities will be more beneficial to your family
than a list of favorite TV shows.
Support the sports. Most sports activities increase your physical fitness,
contribute to heart and bone health, and help you maintain a healthy body weight.
And you don't need to be a professional athlete to benefit from team or individual
sports. Participating in individual or team recreational sports, such as baseball,
tennis, soccer, cycling, swimming, or running, is an excellent way to increase
your level of physical activity and fitness. Team sports are also a great way
to meet others who are motivated to stay fit. Visit your closest community recreational
center or sports club for more information on organized individual or team sports.
Just the basics. Scientific evidence suggests that even low-intensity, general lifestyle activities have health benefits. This is of importance to those people who may have limited abilities to exercise due to medical conditions such as arthritis. You can stay healthy with activities such as:
- gardening and yard work
- leisure activities such as golf, tennis, or bowling
- housework
- dancing
- walking up stairs
- going for a stroll around the block
- water exercise (aqua-fitness)