Do you have any fitness-related New Year’s resolutions that have fallen by the wayside? Do you just need an excuse to tone up or slim down?
If so, now would be a good time to get out the headbands and leg warmers.
May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month.Since 1983, The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) has been urging Americans to recognize the importance of being physically fit through activities and exercise.
“Americans of all ages need to incorporate more movement into their daily lives. Adults need at least 30 minutes of activity 5 days each week,” according to Melissa Johnson, executive director of the PCPFS.
Billie Sanders, chairperson and associate professor of Exercise, Nutrition and Sport Sciences at Sinclair Community College, echoes Johnson’s thoughts on the importance of movement.
“We just don’t move enough,” Sanders said. “(The month) is to help to motivate people to move…through exercise or general activities.”
>Sanders oversees approximately 200 sections of activity classes at Sinclair, which include physical education, nutrition, health and sports management courses. Her department services students who intend to be instructors in the field of physical fitness, as well as students who just want to be active. “We service about 5,000 students per quarter,” Sanders said.
Sanders, herself a former Sinclair student, suggests that students go to the official web site of the PCPFS at www.fitness.gov. She stated that individuals can track their activities, receive instruction and get suggestions on how to be more physically fit. The site is useful for all age groups, according to Sanders.
“My goal is to get you hooked,” she said. “I want to impress on people that anyone can do it regardless of shape, size and physical condition. If you add just a little movement to your day, you will see leaps and bounds in your health.”
Here a few tips from Sanders on how to improve one’s health.
Don’t take on too much, too fast. Progression is key. Take a look at your day and ask, “What can I change to make it more active?” For example, take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Accumulate time. Exercise throughout the day. Break up 30 or 60 minutes of exercise into ten-minute intervals.
When you walk, walk with a purpose. Walk with intensity. Try to imagine yourself walking to reach your favorite retail store before it closes.
Get enough sleep. Adults need seven to nine hours a day.
Take a PED class. Sinclair offers a variety of classes at different skill levels, ranging from swimming and weight training to country western dance.
Do activities you enjoy. If you’re having fun, it’s going to be easier to stick with it.