Steps You Can Take to Get Moving

- Stay motivated by choosing an activity that's fun.

- Change your activities, so you don't get bored.

- Doing yard work may not be fun, but it does get you moving! So does walking the dog and housework!

- If you can't set aside one block of time, do short activities during the day, such as three, 10-minute walks.

- Create opportunities for activity, such as parking your car farther away, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or walking down the hall to talk to a coworker instead of using e-mail.

- Don't let the cold weather keep you on the couch! You can still find activities to do in the winter like exercising to a workout video or joining a sports league or gym.

- Use different jogging, walking, or biking paths to vary your routine.

- Exercise with a friend or family member.

- If you have children, make time to play with them outside. Set a positive example!

-Make activities into social occasions — have dinner after you and a friend work out.

- Read books or magazines to inspire you.

- Set specific, short-term goals, and reward yourself when you achieve them.

- Don't feel badly if you don't notice body changes right away.

- Make your activity a regular part of your day, so it becomes a habit.

- Build a community group to form walking clubs, build walking trails, start exercise classes, and organize special events to promote physical activity.

 

 Talk to your doctor before you start any physical activity if you:

 

- have heart disease or had a stroke or are at high risk for them

- have diabetes or are at high risk for it are obese (body mass index of 30 or greater)

- have an injury (like a knee injury)

- are older than age 50.