The answer that may come to mind regarding how exercise can affect your health …” It helps me become fit or skinnier”.

While this is true, there are so many more positive effects. The main reason I wanted to join the gym in high school was because I wanted to tone my body. I then realized that I was also less fatigued and in a bouncier mood after I left the gym. Afterwards, I wanted to know what else exercising really did for people besides help them lose weight. Out of my curiosity, I began surfing the internet.

I found many articles and experiments online. I discovered that being physically active helps to decrease and maintain health issues, reduces risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. It helps individuals at post-cancer to avoid any long-term side effects of any treatment they might have received. It also helps those who are depressed and anxious, and it truly did help me with these issues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, chronic diseases are the cause for 7 out of 10 deaths in the United States of America. There is so much we can do to prevent ourselves from getting illnesses.

How to be More Active

Life for adults can be hard to maintain. Working in an office setting where you are sitting all day can seem challenging to remain active. Many people are tired and choose to continue sitting at home after as well.

Here are a few tips to fit physical activity in a busy schedule!

  • If you are sitting for 8 hours a day, try to walk around your office every 30 to 60 minutes. This will keep your blood flowing and stretch out your body (joints).
  • Same with studying – take constant breaks
  • Go for walks after eating dinner
  • Jogging or running outside or on a treadmill
  • Swimming
  • Household chores
  • Having a few hobbies

We know how easy it is to say, “I’ll start tomorrow or next week”, but you must push yourself to go today because you have time and you want to look and feel better. So, is it really worth it to choose to sit at home and watch television over being active and feeling proud and ecstatic? Most certainly not.

It’s not hard to find a hobby you’ll love doing that involves being active. Explore your options and find out what you enjoy doing!

Children these days are not as active as they used to be. According to Active Living Research, they found that children and adolescents spend an average of 6 to 8 hours per day being sedentary.

A few ways to keep them active at home can include:

  • Household chores
  • Riding bikes
  • Jumping ropes

You can also get them involved in organized sports teams! It is best to limit their time with sedentary activities such as watching television and playing video games. Being physically active early in life will help to build self-esteem, prevent obesity and help to reduce the risks of high blood pressure and diabetes. Let’s motivate ourselves and our community!

Author Bio

My name is Navjot Reen and I am currently a student in my second year at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology for a diploma in Personal Fitness Training. I was interested in fitness when I was 16-years old and I am glad I started at that age! I’ve dealt with mental health issues almost my entire life and I still do today. Being physically active has definitely helped to improve my mood naturally. Though I have never been over-weight, I still want to tone and shape my body to be a certain way. A couple of hobbies that keep me active are dancing and cooking. I enjoy dancing with a passion, and it is something I would love to do every day. Thankfully, I enjoy going to the gym to feel better and I am motivated to work hard and sweat to get the body I want.