So you’ve read all about the benefits of exercise and staying active, such as lowered risk of terminal illness, longer cognitive thinking and heart health. But where do you begin? Any new direction starts with taking the first step:

(As a side note, for those who don’t believe in the power of a good jingle, this song is the only one I remember from this Christmas special!)

It really is as easy as taking the first step. You don’t have to walk or run a marathon, but the bottom line is choosing walking or running for your physical activity is a great way to get in your daily activity. All you need is a good pair of shoes, a path in front of you, and a resolve to walk every day for two weeks. You really will start to feel the health effects of being more active after two weeks. Your energy levels will increase, you’ll sleep better at night, and because of this you’ll wake up feeling more refreshed in the morning. And this may be just the ticket to give you the motivation to keep going.

Health Canada recommends adults do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five days a week. Once you get past your first two weeks, you can adopt this schedule or stick with your own. There are several ways to incorporate your walks during the day, too. When you go to the grocery store, try parking further away from the building to get a small walk in. At work, take the stairs instead of the elevator. (I’ll be honest, I’m working up to this one but I’m not quite there yet… I work on the seventh floor!) If you need to run to the corner store to grab something quick, literally “run to the corner store”!

If you have any equipment at home such as a treadmill, elliptical, or even an aerobic step, choose a favourite show you like to watch and work out while you’re watching instead of sitting on the couch. You don’t even specifically need equipment to do this, either. March in place, raising your knees up a little higher than a normal step to give yourself a little workout. TV time doesn’t have to be “veg out” time!

Very important, after you’re done walking or running, don’t forget to stretch out. Sore muscles and stiff joints make it even more challenging to stick with your exercise schedule, so be pre-emptive in keeping this from happening. The following chart can assist you:

 Hold each stretch for a fifteen count. Breathe deeply as your stretch… you’ll be amazed at how relaxing a simple stretch can truly be. Stretching alone has several benefits, which we’ll explore more in another article.

So now that you have the tools, set your resolve and take the first step!

Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/take-the-first-step/