Health Tips A to Z

Physical inactivity is as dangerous to your health as smoking – so it’s time to ‘get moving’! Here’s a checklist to help you set up an active living action plan.

Strategies for success

Set goals you can keep – Why are you thinking about getting fit? Do you want to feel better? Look better? Lose weight? There are plenty of reasons to add fitness to your life. But make sure your goals are realistic. Will you really walk for an hour every day? Maybe planning for twice-weekly walk at lunch is a more achievable target. Take your schedule into consideration when setting your fitness goals and you’ll be far more likely to succeed!

Write it down – Once you’ve decided on your fitness goals, write them down. Aim for goals that are specific and measurable. ‘Exercise more’ may be your plan but ‘walk five miles a day’ is a goal that can be measured, evaluated and reviewed. Once you’ve set your goals, track your progress in a daily journal. If you write it down, you’ll be less likely to cheat or skip your fitness activities.

Get a friend to join you – Ask a friend, neighbour or family member to be your workout partner. Or gather some of your co-workers and start a walking group at lunch or after work. Sharing your goals with friends or colleagues makes fitness fun – and will keep you motivated when you’re tempted to quit!

Vary your exercise routine – Break your exercise routine into manageable chunks. Start your morning with 10 minutes of stretching, add a 20-minute walk at lunch and end with 15 minutes of vigourous vacuuming after work. Reaching your fitness goals seems so much easier when you approach it this way. And make sure you change your routine regularly to avoid a discouraging fitness plateau.

Reward yourself when you’ve done well – You’ve added an extra five blocks to your jogging route. You’ve finally mastered that aerobics routine. Whatever your goal, treat yourself to something special when you pass an important milestone. That’s the best way to keep feeling enthusiastic and positive about your new active lifestyle.

Keep moving – and have fun – Add exercise to whatever you do. Walk everywhere. Take the stairs. Do buttock squeezes while driving your car. Wear ankle weights to do your housework. Put energy into everything you do and you’ll notice the difference in weeks!