The Importance of An Active Lifestyle

by: Ron swerdfiger

Over the past 15 years or so, we have been told that a healthy lifestyle is important. Scientists recommend we should be accumulating on average 60 minutes of exercises a day in order to maintain healthy levels. What exactly does that number mean? Over the course of a regular day, we should be doing some sort of physical activity that adds up to approximately 60 minutes. Whether it is in the gym on the treadmill or just in the garden for the afternoon, adding physical activity is vital.  First we need to know what actually constitutes exercise. The term Healthy activity can be broken down in to three categories; Cardiovascular, Resistance, and Flexibility.  Cardiovascular training  It is recommended to do cardio 2 or 3 times a week. Depending on your fitness level., cardio can consist of a nice walk with your dog, or a vigorous run on the treadmill. Ideally you are trying to increase your cardio capacity. which has many health benefits.  Resistance Training  Part of living an active lifestyle is by doing some sort of resistance training at least 2 times a week. That doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym and lift weights, you can easily do it at home by doing movements as simple as pushup and sit-ups, or by using something like resistance bands. Resistance training is just as important as cardiovascular activity and adds to your overall physical health.  Flexibility (stretching)  After you exercise, it is recommended you stretch for roughly 10 minutes, holding each stretch for 15-30 seconds. Stretching is crucial to maintain flexibility and reduce the chance of injury from exercise.  Benefits of Exercise  So now we know that working out is important, but what are the actually benefits of living an active lifestyle? Below are just 5 of the countless benefits of being active.  Reduces the Risk of Dying Prematurely - Those living a healthy active lifestyle live longer compared those who are more sedentary.  Lowers the risk of developing diabetes - Exercise keeps body fat in control and helps regulate sugar levels  Increase muscular strength - Having an increase in strength helps make daily activities less difficult.  Helps reduce the risk of heart disease - Regular exercise strengthens the heart, respiratory system, and lungs which aids to reduce the risk of heart disease.  Decreases Body Fat - Exercise along with a balanced diet will reduce body fat significantly.  As you can see there are many excellent benefits of living an active lifestyle. By adding a small amount of cardio, resistance training and some stretching to your daily routine, the overall benefits are almost endless. Essentially being healthy is about adding balance to your life. You don’t have to be a Lance Armstrong, or a Venus Williams to be considered active, you just have to add some extra activities to you routine.  About the author: For more great info on athletics visit the womens sports forum a Community to discuss women's sports and chat about female athletes. or check out rons article blog