Sitting vs. Moving
Your Workout Matters...
And So Does What You Do the Rest of the Day
A great workout matters, but your daily movement also affects your health.
MOVE MORE, SIT LESS
The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans make this the first key message for adults: move more and sit less. Greater sedentary behavior is associated with higher risk of premature death, heart disease and high blood pressure. Physical activity helps offset those risks.
EXERCISE AND DAILY MOVEMENT ARE NOT THE SAME THING
Structured exercise is planned activity designed to improve fitness — such as strength training, brisk walking, cycling or intervals. Daily movement includes standing, walking around the house or workplace, taking stairs, doing chores, gardening and other activity accumulated throughout the day. You benefit from both.
MOVEMENT DOES NOT NEED TO LAST 10 MINUTES TO COUNT
Older recommendations emphasized activity performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes. Current federal guidelines removed that requirement.
Short periods of movement throughout the day can contribute to your overall activity. The bigger message is simple: look for opportunities to move.
EASY WAYS TO BUILD MORE MOVEMENT INTO YOUR DAY
Stand up and walk periodically during long sitting periods.
Take the stairs when practical.
Walk while talking on the phone.
Park farther away when it is safe and practical.
Do household, garden or ranch tasks that keep you moving.
Take a short walk after a meal.
Use brief movement breaks between periods of desk or screen time.
YOUR WORKOUT IS THE FOUNDATION — NOT PERMISSION TO BE INACTIVE
Meeting the weekly exercise guidelines is important, but it does not make the rest of the day irrelevant. A healthy movement pattern combines purposeful exercise with a generally active lifestyle.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Do your workouts — and keep moving between them. Every day offers dozens of opportunities to stand, walk, carry, climb and move. They add up.
RELIABLE RESOURCES
If you'd like to start a fitness program with MedFit Master Trainer Lisa Dougherty, complete the form below!
You can also click here to learn more Lisa's experience and education.