Sit less move more
Sit less move more - our bodies are designed to move and be active - so break up sitting time with some action - it makes a big difference
No matter what stage of life you’re at, everyone can benefit from being active, and it doesn’t have to be strenuous to be good for you!
All it takes is 30 minutes a day to feel better and live longer.
Even 10 minutes of activity three times a day can mean:
It can also mean less chance of developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.
And if you can, there are even greater benefits from including some more vigorous physical activity into your week.
Remember physical activity and healthy eating go hand in hand, so if you want to lose weight then a healthy diet is absolutely essential.
Most of us can get started straight away.
At the beginning, take it gently so your body gets used to moving again.
The more we do though, the easier it gets. We can always put more effort in as our bodies get stronger… and this doesn’t take long.
Walking is a great way to get started and it's an easy and fun way to get our 30 minutes of physical activity per day.
However, if you haven’t been active for a while, if you are over 50 or if you have any medical issue that you are concerned about, check with your doctor first.
No matter what kind of activity we do, making physical activity a daily habit is the key to success. It is important to sit less and move more.
It might seem hard at first, so here are some tips to help you to get on your way:
If you are too tired when you get home at night, try going for a walk at lunchtime instead. Or if you are free in the evenings, find out what activities are available locally.
Make small changes to your daily routine, for example walking part way or using the stairs.
Being more active can simply be a matter of spending more time on the things you already like doing, such as:
If you find something you enjoy, you’re more likely to keep it up.
Thinking about why we want to be more active will help in setting and sticking to our goals. The more important the goal is to us the more likely we will try to reach it.
Following these ideas will help you get started:
Ask yourself, “How important is it to be more active?” (On a scale of 1 for ‘not very’ to 10 for ‘extremely’).
The more we value the benefits of a healthy lifestyle the more likely we are to embrace it.
Now ask yourself, “What will I gain? Is it worth the effort? What might happen if I do nothing?”
Think about what you're missing out on and how much better you could feel now and years down the track.
Once you start being active on a regular basis you may find that something comes up to interrupt your routine. That’s OK. The key is to treat these setbacks as temporary and to get going as soon as you can.
When facing setbacks it might help to:
Share your story or discover what others are doing to be active and eat well – you too can be part of the inspiration.
How about downloading the “Getting Started” booklet for some great ideas on getting active?