Get off the couch and get moving…
It's almost Summer – the best time of the year. Let’s get off the couch and enjoy the great outdoors, boost our health, and have fun!
Physical Activity Can Help… 
- Control your weight
- Reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease
- Reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome
- Reduce your risk of some cancers
- Strengthen your bones and muscles
- Improve your mental health and mood
- Improve your ability to do daily activities and prevent falls, if you're an older adult
- Increase your chances of living longer
You want to be physically fit? Regular exercise is the key. It's hard for people to set aside time to exercise daily. There is always an excuse: I am busy/tired, or it's raining/hot, etc. But maybe it is not that hard – just think about bathing and brushing your teeth, if you can do these activities on an everyday basis automatically, you can do your daily exercise without even thinking about it! What it requires is commitment. If we commit ourselves and nurture this habit it becomes part of our lifestyle, and you will feel that something is missing – even if you skip it just once.
Walk Your Way to Health…
You don't have to run a half marathon to be physically active. For most people, walking is an excellent alternative. The best part is, you don't need a special outfit or equipment except a pair of reliable and comfortable shoes, just walk anywhere! (for tips see Get Your Move On). You don’t even need to set a special time aside: if public transit is your way to travel, you can always get off the bus or subway a couple of stops before your destination and walk. It's that easy! To add some fun to your walking, you can even borrow a pedometer from the Toronto Public Library to pace yourself!
Read Your Way to Health…
Check out some books on exercise and health from the Toronto Public Library as well:
More Information on Physical Activity and Health:
- City of Toronto: Physical Activity
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Physical Activity for Everyone
- MedlinePlus: Exercise and Physical Fitness
3 thoughts on “Get off the couch and get moving…”
Exercise is great in so many ways, you just feel more energized and get that natural workout high. Once you get in the habit, the more exercise you do the easier it becomes to stay in the habit.
There are lots of people who are so busy in their jobs that they almost forget the needs of their body. I am one of those busy folks. But I always make sure that I maintain my healthy body. Exercise is one of the important things you should know.
This is great advice. We’re so lucky in Toronto to have so many great bike paths and walking trails in the city.