Becoming more active and fitter can help you be ready for what life throws at you
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HOW active are you? Did you know the NHS physical activity guidelines for adults is two hours per week while a child is one hour per day?
Today I want to focus on how we can get more physically active as adults.
Really, two hours per week is not a lot of time, and personally I would encourage you to be physically active every day even if that is only for 20 or 30 minutes.
After my accident, doctors told me that they put my recovery down to the fact I was so physically fit and strong which is why it is so important to me to encourage as many people as I can to become fitter and healthier so we can be best prepared for whatever we might face in the future.
The first piece of advice I would give to an adult who is looking to increase their physical activity levels and improve their health but doesn’t know where to start, is to get into a routine.
Being physically active doesn’t mean you have to be out running a half marathon every other day, you need to find something that works for you but first you need to get into a manageable routine and hold yourself accountable.
Find time on a Sunday to plan out your week. What days are you working? What hours are you working? How long is your commute? Are you doing the school run? Are you taking the
kids to any night-time activities? Write it all down in a diary, notepad or whatever works.
OK, so now you have a base to start from and you can plan in physical activity around your free time. “Wait a minute Steph, I want a bit of time to myself and catch up with friends too!” No problem, why not take a 20-minute walk with your family after dinner or plug in your headphones and call a friend while out on a walk, even better if they live nearby, you can meet up with them and go together.
Walking is a great starting point for everyone, and you can even encourage your work colleagues to go out with you for 20 minutes over lunch time – helping not only your physical health but mental health as well. One 20-minute walk a day is already one hour and 40 minutes of activity for the week!
Another way of getting those minutes in could be taking up a new sport or joining a class. Google or look at a community noticeboard or timetables at your nearest leisure centre, community hall, church etc to find out what local clubs and classes are in your area.
Better yet why not go with a friend, strength in numbers as they say, and it can be something fun to look forward to each week.
Yoga, badminton, swimming, boxing, judo there are so many different classes available that offer adult recreational sessions, so don’t worry you won’t be expected to train for the Commonwealth Games next year.
Not only will joining a new club help contribute to those essential minutes it will also help support our local clubs.
Exercise can be scary, especially if you are unsure where to begin, you can download lots of different free apps and carry out some workouts in the comfort of your own home. One free app I enjoy is FitOn.
You can also look to join your local gym and speak with a personal trainer who can design you a programme to help you achieve your fitness goals, guide and motivate you along the way.
“Steph, this can all start to add up and get expensive.” I totally understand this, but again we are not training for the next Olympics. All you need to increase your activity levels is a positive attitude, a pair of trainers and the ability to hold yourself accountable.
We must begin and look forward to where we will be in four weeks’ time, by Christmas, Summer 2022 and so on. Consistent effort will lead to results. I believe in you.
As an adult, getting into a good routine of exercising regularly will normalise this for younger generations and help create a butterfly effect of them following in our footsteps becoming fitter and healthier versions of themselves.
I will also discuss how we can help and encourage young people to get more active in the coming
weeks.
Becoming more active not only makes you healthier and stronger and maintaining a healthy weight but it is also great for your mental health.
