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Whatever your level of fitness, your health may benefit from increased physical activity.
Being physically fit helps you:
- feel better and have more energy
- manage your weight by burning more calories, even when you're at rest
- improve your heart, lungs, bones, and joints
- lower your risk for heart attack, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers
How can you be more physically active?
If you're ready to add more physical activity to your life, here are some tips to get you started:
- Make physical activity part of your regular day. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Walk or ride your bike to do errands.
- Start walking. Walking is an easy, safe way to add more activity to your schedule. Track your steps with a pedometer to motivate you to do more.
- Find a partner. Exercising can be more fun with friends, family, or coworkers. You’ll also help to encourage each other to succeed.
- Consider joining a health club. Go to the Health & Fitness page to find out about the $150 reimbursement CHP offers for fitness center memberships.
- Find an activity that you enjoy, and stay with it. Vary it with other activities so you don't get bored.
- Set small, realistic goals to improve your fitness. Write them down. Reward yourself each time you reach a goal.
Talk to your doctor before becoming more active, especially if you haven't been very active or have health problems.
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