Stay Fit and Enjoy the Holidays!

   Autumn colors give us cause to celebrate the abundance of nature's beauty. They also serve to remind us that the Holidays are just a few short weeks away! Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas parties fill our schedules and our plates! 

   As the days seem to grow shorter and the temperature outside continues to fall many of us find it harder to fit in a little exercise. Fewer hours of daylight after work or school make it easy to skip your daily workout and  fitness time. 


Well, the good news is - you can stay fit amidst these shorter days and Holiday gatherings! 


Here are the amounts of activity necessary for the average healthy person to maintain a minimum level of overall fitness. Included are some of the popular exercises for each category.


WARMUP - 5-10 minutes of exercise such as walking, slow jogging, knee lifts, arm circles or trunk rotations. Low intensity movements that simulate movements to be used in the activity can also be included in the warmup.


MUSCULAR STRENGTH - a minimum of two 20-minute sessions per week that include exercises for all the major muscle groups. Lifting weights is the most effective way to increase strength.


MUSCULAR ENDURANCE - at least three 30-minute sessions each week that include exercises such as calisthenics, pushups, situps, pullups, and weight training for all the major muscle groups.


CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE - at least three 20-minute bouts of continuous aerobic (activity requiring oxygen) rhythmic exercise each week. Popular aerobic conditioning activities include brisk walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, rope-jumping, rowing, cross-country skiing, and some continuous action games like racquetball and handball.


FLEXIBILITY - 10-12 minutes of daily stretching exercises performed slowly, without a bouncing motion. This can be included after a warmup or during a cooldown.


COOL DOWN - a minimum of 5-10 minutes of slow walking, low-level exercise, combined with stretching.