Benefits of Physical Activity

Balancing healthy eating habits with regular physical activity will make you feel healthier and more energetic throughout the day. Here are a couple of things that are good to know about staying active:

• Exercise can be done all at once or in different amounts of time throughout the day.
• You should always have the approval of a health care provider before starting a new exercise routine.
• You should start slowly and build–up to more and more activity. Trying too hard at the beginning increases your chances of an injury.
• Staying active for 30–minutes a day, three to five times a week will:
  • Strengthen and improve muscular health
  • Help manage your weight
  • Reduce stress, anxiety, and depression
  • Help you sleep better and improve breathing
  • Prevent constipation and hemorrhoids
  • Improve circulation, therefore preventing varicose veins and leg cramps
  • Reduce back pain
  • Lower blood pressure as well as risk of death from heart disease or stroke
  • Reduce the likelihood of contracting heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes
  • Keep bones and joints healthy
• Physical activity isn’t just about working out; it’s about doing every day things that keep you moving.

Check out the Physical Activity handout and discuss what kinds of activities the participant can begin doing today.

Instructor Tips:
Explain how balancing nutrition with regular physical activity leads to overall health.