What's happened? Maybe we think “enough” is too much so we just don't bother. But to reap preventative health benefits – and that's how “enough" is defined – we only have to move around for about 30 minutes a day. A half hour of something, anything, that elevates our heart rate a little. No need for spandex (thank goodness) - just a little sweat now and again.

THE SCIENCE

About a decade ago the Surgeon General issued a landmark report chronicling the positive relationship between physical activity and health. Read the study - it’s as important to our health as the studies about smoking. It shows overwhelming evidence that regular, moderate physical activity – not just high intensity as previously thought – can have tremendous health benefits. It’s going to reduce your risk of developing life-threatening conditions, it’s going to make you feel better and more energetic, it’ll help you achieve and maintain a healthy body weight... the list is long and really encouraging. More than almost anything you can do, moving your body on a regular basis is going to have positive effects on your health & well-being. (And in the short term, think of how good you’re going to look!)

SO NOW WHAT?

Any time is a good time to get active. Even if you can’t remember the last time you worked up a sweat, you can benefit from getting active now. Start slow, pick up the pace when you’re ready. Don’t try to do it all, just do something. Soon enough, it’ll become a regular part of your day. You’ll find yourself taking stairs instead of escalators, grabbing far-away parking spots, giving Rex longer walks after dinner. Being active will become a way of life, and when you realize how good it feels, you won’t want to go back.