Monica's Motivation to Move!

Have you made your plan for physical activity today?

Too busy?  Too many meetings?  Too many appointments?

I often hear from clients, friends, family and acquaintances that they are just too busy to fit in physical activity.  You may feel this way, too.  We are probably all justified in feeling this way - our lives have gotten jam packed with responsibilities from the start of our days to the end.  But, I have to ask...can you find 10 minutes in your day to do something good for yourself?

Research shows that moderate-intensity exercise performed in 10 minute bouts can accumulate throughout the day and will provide the same health benefits as one longer exercise session.  So, if you don't have 30 minutes at one time to devote to exercise, break it down into smaller components - a brisk 10 minute walk in the morning before leaving for work, a 10 minute walk during your lunch hour, a 10 minute walk before or after dinner with your family.  There's your recommended 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity!

On some days, you may only be able to fit in one 10 minute bout and that's okay.  The goal with physical activity is to remain consistent and make it a part of your daily routine. 

The National Weight Control Registry, established in 1994, was developed to investigate the characteristics of people who have been able to maintain a minimum of a 30 pound weight loss for at least a year.  They track over 5,000 individuals who have lost significant weight and been successful at keeping it off.  In addition to maintaining a low-fat, low-calorie diet, over 94% of these individuals increased their physical activity (mostly walking) and 90% exercise, on average, at least one hour per day!

The conclusion:  successful weight loss and weight management must incorporate diet and exercise!  For some fun ideas on how to fit in physical activity, click here.

Now, I call that motivation to move!