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Why should I exercise?
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Being physically fit is essential to good physical and emotional health. Regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. The physical activity makes you stronger and more coordinated. Your quality of life improves because you sleep better and can more easily perform daily activities such as climbing stairs. Your emotional health improves; physically fit people feel better about themselves and cope better with daily stress. Regular exercise also burns calories that help you lose weight. No one regrets being physically fit, but you’ll regret not having made the effort if you are diagnosed with a lifestyle-related chronic disease or injury. Start small, but start. And then stay with it. |
Is there an easy way to work out?
Achieving physical fitness isn’t solely about working out. Activity should be part of your daily routine. For instance, take the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car on the far end of the lot and walk into buildings, spend one-half of every TV show moving while you watch, walk in place while you talk on the phone, dance while you listen to music. Get up from your computer and take a 10-minute mini-exercise break two or three times a day. You’ll concentrate and feel better when you return.
Do I need to exercise every day?
Try to include at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. If your goal is to lose weight, shoot for 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity most days of the week. To make sure you achieve your exercise goal, plan in advance by exercising in the morning before your day gets too busy or put the exercise on your calendar just as you would schedule any other important meeting. Cardiovascular activities, muscle building and flexibility should all be incorporated into your fitness regimen.
Should I join a gym?
If you can afford to join a gym, you’ll receive instruction and support from fitness trainers. But you can improve physical fitness without the aid of a gym membership. Walking is one of the simplest weight-bearing activities. Find a friend to walk with you and you’re more likely to stay with it. Vary your exercise by trying water aerobics, swimming, Zumba or other types of fitness classes. Variety will help keep you motivated.
What should I know before I start?
Before beginning a fitness routine, it’s a good idea to talk to your family medicine doctor. Beginning a regular exercise regimen is one of the most important steps you can do to positively impact your overall health. Some health factors, such as genetics, are not within your control. But exercise is one thing you can do that can help prevent or modify the course of disease. It’s important to start with realistic goals because you will be more likely to stick with it.
Dr. Kinsey Shultz Piatz is a family medicine doctor at Medcenter One Mandan Family Clinic North. She is a graduate of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and completed her residency at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City, Iowa.
