Information

How much activity & how often

How much activity and how often

View EVERY chance to be active as an OPPORTUNITY not an inconvenience and remember there’s many ways to get your body moving.

* Walk whenever you can – get off the bus early, park further from the supermarket,
   walk to meet friends.

Reduce long periods of INACTIVITY like watching TV or sitting at the computer –   take activity ad-breaks or walk’n’talk on the phone!

*  Play actively with your kids or grandkids – it’s good for them too!

*  Walk the dog – if don’t have one, borrow one!

Walk down every isle in the supermarket – even when you’re only picking up
    a couple of items – choose a basket instead of a trolley.

*  
Try a new sport or activity – join an exercise group or try a dancing lesson – it’s a
    great way to meet new people.

*  Start slowly – every little bit counts!
  

Activity Tips…  
…how MUCH and how OFTEN?

*   Accumulate 30 minutes of moderate activity every day to improve and maintain
     health.

*  
Accumulate 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on most days of the
     week to increase cardiovascular fitness, improve strength and help weight loss.
 
LIGHT, MODERATE or VIGOROUS – what does it mean?
The level of INTENSITY is different for everyone, depending on current fitness, mobility, injuries, age or medical conditions – use this as a guide:
 
VERY LIGHT
EFFORT
LIGHT
EFFORT
60 minutes
MODERATE
EFFORT
30 – 60 minutes
VIGOROUS
EFFORT
20 – 30 minutes
MAXIMUM
EFFORT
·      Strolling
·       Light house-work
·        Light walking
·       Stretching
·       Easy gardening
·       Chair exercises
 
 
·         Brisk Walking
·         Biking
·         Sweeping Leaves
·         Dancing
·         Low-impact classes
·         Aqua activities
·         Playing with 
  kids
·         Washing the
  car
·         Mowing lawns
·        Vacuuming/cleaning
    .     Aerobics
    .     Hockey
     .    Netball
     .   Fast Swimming
     .    Fast Dancing
 ·       Sprinting
 ·      Hill Running
 ·       Hill Cycling
  ·     Competing in events / races
 
Exercise choices…
…making sense of the terms
 
ENDURANCE = continuous activity for the heart, lungs and circulation system, helps to increase fitness
eg. brisk walking, jogging, biking, swimming, aerobics classes…
 
FLEXIBILITY = gentle reaching, bending and stretching activity to keep muscles relaxed and joints mobile
eg. yoga, pilates, tai chi, home stretching videos…
 
STRENGTH = activities against resistance to strengthen muscles and bones and to improve posture
eg. lifting weights, using a dyna-band or doing things like press-ups, squats and sit ups…
 
SNACKTIVITY = taking 10 minute “bites” of activity throughout the day
eg. incidental activity like stairs instead of lifts or walking to the shops…