Regardless of what study you read, the most popular physical activity going, especially for adults, is almost always walking. This trend is consistent with our First Nation communities, not only in Atlantic Canada, but across the country.
Did you know that a brisk walk qualifies as ‘moderate physical activity’? So to get your 30 minutes a day all you need to do is go for a walk or two! Remember, those 30 minutes do not all need to be accumulated at once. You can bank those minutes throughout the day. So parking away from the grocery store, taking the stairs, walking the dog, parking a couple blocks away from the office, playing with your kids, joining, or better yet, starting a walking group with your friends… These are all great, effective and incredibly easy and cheap ways to be able to label yourself as being physically active.
To some walking sounds
pretty easy, but to others being active of any kind is a challenge due to health concerns. Check out http://www.walkaboutns.ca/ for an endless number of resources around walking and other activities. Get yourself a pedometer and start tracking your steps. You can borrow one from any library in Nova Scotia. The Heart and Stroke Walkabout website also has online tools to help you set up a walking group, track your steps and even helps you calculate the number of steps associated with other activities like swimming or biking!
The benefits of physical activity cannot be stressed enough. Walking 30 minutes a day, combined with a healthy diet, will instantly help you get in shape, feel happier, increase your energy levels, sleep like a baby, reduce back pain, reduce joint pain, relieve menstrual pains, lower your stress levels and keep your bowels healthy.
As well as keeping you in tip top form now, staying active will help prevent a whole range of health problems in the future, some of which are serious or life-threatening. Lack of exercise is just as bad for your health as smoking. Meeting recommended physical activity targets by walking will reduce the risk of, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, especially colon, breast and lung cancer and osteoporosis.
Walking is free, easy and gets you where you need to go. Encourage your communities to open up their community centres, gymnasiums and arenas so you and your friends can walk laps in the winter time. In the summer, get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Remember, regardless of your situation, walking, and any other forms of active transportation will help you get active!