Physical Activity

You’ve heard it before but we’ll say it again -- getting regular physical activity is a critical part of staying healthy! Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight and delay or prevent diabetes, some cancers and heart problems. Most adults need at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days per week.

If it is fun, you are more likely to stay motivated. Try thinking outside the box, physical activity is more than just running or biking. Try some of these suggestions from the US Department of Health and Human Services for inspiration:

• Ballroom and line dancing
• Biking on level ground or with few hills
• Canoeing
• General gardening (raking, trimming shrubs)
• Sports where you catch and throw (baseball, softball, volleyball)
• Tennis (doubles)
• Using your manual wheelchair
• Using hand cyclers—also called ergometers
• Walking briskly
• Water aerobics
• Aerobic dance
• Biking faster than 10 miles per hour
• Fast dancing
• Heavy gardening (digging, hoeing)
• Hiking uphill
• Jumping rope
• Martial arts (such as karate)
• Race walking, jogging, or running
• Sports with a lot of running (basketball, hockey, soccer)
• Swimming fast or swimming laps
• Tennis (singles)