Activity

As part of a balanced lifestyle we need to include physical activity, however, sometimes we are not sure what is and isn’t physical activity.

Physical activity is any type of movements. Therefore we shouldn’t just think of physical activity as going to the gym or running on the treadmill for 30 minutes. There are lots of things we can do to increase the amount of physical activity that we do.  All movements cause us to burn calories, however small.

Why Physical Activity is Important

• Friendship – Physical activity gives us the chance to spend time with friends and make new ones. For example, playing football in the park.
• Fun – Physical activity should be something you enjoy.
• Muscles – If we include physical activity as part of our weight loss programme we will not lose any muscle. If we just try to lose weight by dieting on its own, our body will use our muscles for energy and we will lose some.
• Heart – By doing physical activity we make our heart work harder and then improve our fitness levels. Fitness has been shown to improve your health.
• Weight Maintenance - it has been shown that people who have lost weight are much more likely to maintain that weight loss if they take part in regular physical activity.

Recommendations

It is recommended that adults accumulate at least 30 minutes, and children at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity every  days of the week. Here are just a few ways you can build up to these targets:

• Gardening

• Using the stairs not the lift

• Washing the car

• Cleaning the windows

• Cycling

• Dancing

• Walking the dog

• Walking into town

• Swimming