by Michelle Wilkinson

Created on: September 09, 2009

Everyone could benefit by becoming more active - you only have to look at statistics on obesity to see that the majority of people aren't getting enough exercise. It doesn't really come as that much of a surprise, though, since most individuals have jobs which involve sitting at a desk all day whilst they usually drive everywhere. When people do have some time to themselves they don't usually feel like going for a run or going to the gym, and opt to watch television instead. Exercise is often regarded as tiresome and as something best avoided, even though it can help you control your weight and improve your health. It would be better for people to embrace a more active lifestyle, rather than continually finding excuses to get out of doing exercise.

If you regard exercise in a more positive way it will be much easier to motivate yourself to do it, rather than if you think about how hard you're going to have to work, how sweaty you're going to end up, and how everyone is going to stare at you in your feeble attempt to get fit. What other people think doesn't matter, as it is your health and fitness you should be concerned about, and besides most people aren't interested in what you're doing - it is all in your head.

Exercise should become part of your daily routine so that you learn to accept it as something that must be done, though it also helps if you enjoy it a little bit. Half an hour of moderate exercise, five days a week is the bare minimum recommended, and if you can do more than that then you should go for it. Exercise is good for your heart, bones and joints, and can reduce your chances of developing serious health issues as you get older. It can also benefit your mental health, making you feel more alert and better able to cope with stress and anxiety, which it is why leading a more active lifestyle is something to aim for.

There are a whole range of activities that don't require any specialist equipment and which can help you achieve your objective of being more active. Walking is usually a favourite because you don't have to be particularly fit to do it, you already know how it's done, you can do it alone or with others, and it can be done anywhere. Just walking around the block a few times can work towards boosting your cardiovascular health, but if walking isn't challenging enough there is always running. It is not unusual to see joggers in the morning who like to get exercise out of the way early in the day so that they don't have to worry about not being able to fit in a workout later on. It also can also boost their energy levels and improve their mood.

If you are unable to leave the house to do exercise you could invest in some exercise equipment that will allow you the freedom to get active in your own home. You don't even have to spend a fortune, as a simple jump rope or stepper will give you the opportunity to work on your fitness levels.

Leading a more active lifestyle is just as much about having a positive attitude as it as about doing more activity. If you are actually willing to put effort in and stick to an exercise routine then clearly you are in a better position than someone who just does exercise because they feel they have to.

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