The Benefits of Exercise

Everyone's fitness level is different. This means that walking may feel like a moderately intense activity to you, but for others, it may feel vigorous. It all depends on you – the shape you're in, what you feel comfortable doing, and your health condition. What's important is that you do physical activities that are right for you and your abilities.

There are many ways you can strengthen your muscles, whether it's at home or in the gym. Ideally, the activities you choose should work all the major muscle groups of your body (legs, hips, back, chest, abdomen, shoulders, and arms).

You may want to try:

* Lifting weights
* Working with resistance bands
* Simple, yet effective exercises that use your body weight for resistance - like push ups or sit ups
* Shoveling snow
* Gardening (digging and shoveling)
* Yoga or pilates
* Jumping rope

Aerobic activity or "cardio" gets you breathing harder and your heart beating faster. From pushing a snow shovel, to taking a dance class, or even riding your bike to the store – many types of exercise can help you get a good cardio workout! As long as you're doing them at a moderate or vigorous intensity for at least 10 minutes at a time. Even something as simple as walking is a great way to get the aerobic activity you need, as long as it's at a brisk pace. Walk as fast as you can. If you start getting winded or too tired, slow it down a bit. Then, once you regain your breath - pick up the pace again!

Try to walk, run, swim, or get some cardio exercise in for 150 minutes each week. That may sound like a lot of time, but it's not. That's 2 hours and 30 minutes, about the same amount of time you might spend watching a movie. The good news is that you can spread your activity out during the week, so you don't have to do it all at once. You can even break it up into smaller chunks of time during the day. It's about what works best for you, as long as you're doing physical activity at a moderate or vigorous pace for at least 10 minutes at a time.

For even better results- try to work up to 4 or 5 hours a week. I read somewhere that the average american spends almost that much time in front of a TV - Every Day! ( Although I haven't met this average person yet. Who has time for that much TV? )

Many fitness lovers watch TV while they work out! Pop in a favorite funny video and do some push ups, jumping jacks, and crunches while you laugh to your heart's content! Spend a few minutes doing squats and jumping rope!

Whatever choices you make this year, I hope you'll find plenty of joy in the many benefits of exercise!