While nutrition needs to be the number one focus when it comes to health and longevity, daily movement is also very important.  The key is to find activities you enjoy participating in, increase your heart rate, challenge your muscles and do it consistently.

Most of us sit at a desk a lot of our day, or travel extensively for work. Others of us have physical limitations due to illness or injury.  There’s no one fitness regimen that can suit all people; you must find what works for you and honors the needs of your body.

If you’re ready to get started, take these steps to set yourself up for success:

• Commit to movement every day:  A body in motion stays in motion. Be sure to have days of rest built into your schedule too. Taking a light walk on a rest day will help you accomplish your daily movement.

• Sit down and schedule your activities for the week.

• Select activities that challenge you but are still supportive of the needs of your body. For example, if you have arthritis in your knees, you would want to select an activity such as swimming; it’ll challenge you while supporting your joints.  Hard pounding exercise can be replaced with biking, swimming, walking, yoga, and more.

• Change things up: Take part in various activities to ensure you’re using all muscle groups and getting a combination of cardiovascular exercise as well as strength-building exercise.

• Look at your surroundings and find ways to get bits of exercise into the workday to increase your fitness level

• Find a partner and be accountable to one another.

• Track you progress, make changes when necessary and keep on moving.

• Access a professional or a fitness app if you’re in need of some direction.

There should be a few non-negotiables in life to achieve optimal health and happiness and movement is one of them.  No excuses, no cancellations, just do it!