Plan Your Healthy Lifestyle

The road to better health and fitness involves active living and smart eating. Being active is fun and has many health benefits. Most adults will benefit from just 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (above their usual activity) most days of the week, preferably daily.

Whatever activities you choose - you can do it all at once or spread them out during the day. Add activities to your daily routine, like gardening, walking to and from your bus or train, using stairs instead of the elevator, cleaning house, or playing with your little ones! (You all win when you play with the children.) Fit in a regular exercise program, such as swimming, bicycling, power walking, or playing a team sport. Or - have even more fun and add a variety of sports and workouts to your fitness efforts!

Getting fit is much easier if make a plan and then Take Massive Action towards fulfilling your plan.

Set up a few simple short-term goals, like walking 10 minutes a day, 3 days a week. Once you are comfortable, try to do more. Try 15 minutes instead of 10 minutes. Then walk on more days a week while adding more minutes to your walk. You can try different activities too. To add variety, you can do low-impact aerobics or water aerobics for 30 minutes, 2 days a week. Then walk on a treadmill or outdoors for 30 minutes, 1 day a week. Then do yoga or lift weights every other day.

Eating a well balanced variety of healthy foods will give you the fuel your body needs to get more exercise and enjoy better health! Try to enjoy more fruits and vegetables every day. Get at least half your grains from whole-grain foods - like whole wheat bread or pasta. Mix in some low-fat or fat-free milk or foods made from lowfat or fat-free milk. Choose lean meats and get more of your protein from fish and beans. Eat less often foods high in saturated fat or trans fat, or with added sugars.

Track your progress by writing down your goals and what you have done each day, including the type of activity and how long you spent doing it. Seeing your progress on paper - in black and white can really help keep you motivated. Celebrate your success. Don't worry if you miss a target or slip and fall. Just adjust you plan - and your actions - and keep your eyes on the big goal. Enjoy your journey. Don't let little setbacks get in your way! They happen to us all!