Importance of Physical Activity
Know the good stuff
Being active is good for the heart, making it work harder and stronger
- Good for getting rid of stress
- Good for keeping in tune with friends and family
- Good for your bones, making them stronger
- Good for keeping weight off
- Maintains healthy weight
- Prevents chronic illness, such as diabetes
- Reduces blood pressure to avoid stoke
- Reduces lipid: cholesterol, triglycerides
- Improves mental health
Tips for becoming active
Make a definite plan
Decide your activity plan for the week. Use a calendar
on your wall or refrigerator to plan ahead of time your active times.
(activity: develop calendar)
Guidelines recommend that everyone should participate in 60 minutes of
physical activity everyday.
Physical Activity is for families and friends
Having an active lifestyle includes walking instead of driving, sports
activities with family and friends
Keeping a calendar to schedule or record activity progress
Learning about and practice physical activity safety
Safe physical activity include:
• warm up and cool downs to avoid muscle or bone injury
• walking, biking and sports in safe areas, and low traffic areas
• stretching before aerobic activities, such as slow stretches
or toes touches- without bouncing and holding stretch
to count of 10
• Be active in groups.
• Practice safe pedestrian behavior when active.
• Use Crosswalks
• Work with local police to enforce speeds in and around the neighborhood
and school.
• Have your parents request crossing guards for children on their
way to and from school.
• Tell parents and school teachers about bullies or gangs loitering
at street corners, or strangers lurking in our neighborhoods.
