Like sound eating habits, regular physical activity is a part of a healthy lifestyle. Among its many benefits, exercise not only burns calories and can help you manage your weight, but it can also help keep blood pressure and stress under control reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Remember, the only way to lose weight is to use more calories than you consume. Apply the same principles - variety, balance and moderation to both food choices and exercise.

Variety

Enjoy many different activities to exercise different muscles, including your heart.

Balance

Because different activities have different benefits, balance your exercise pattern. For overall fitness, you need exercises that build cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, bone strength and flexibility.

Moderation

You don't need a heavy workout everyday. And although exercise recommendations vary, experts advise 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise in your daily routine, most days of the week.

Set Realistic Goals

Find an activity (or activities) that is convenient and you enjoy and feel comfortable doing. Try it alone or with a partner, whatever works best for you, the key is to keep moving! Set your goal at 30 minutes of moderate activity in 10 minute increments on most days. Take a brisk 10-minute walk in the morning, at lunch and after dinner to total 30 minutes a day. Walking, biking (outdoor or stationary), dancing, swimming, roller blading, playing sports (like tennis, basketball, baseball etc.), or ice skating are all good ways to get exercise. Suggestions for remaining active within your already set daily schedule: Take a brisk 10-minute walk on your lunch break. You'll feel good and have more energy!

Hop off the bus a few blocks early and walk briskly the rest of the way. Keep active around the house: scrub the floors, vacuum the rugs, trim the shrubs, weed the garden.

Climb the stairs instead of riding the elevator. You'll be more fit without adding additional time to your fitness routine. Take a brisk walk with the dog, don't just walk the dog.