How can I improve my fitness levels?

Adding just a few minutes of activity each day can begin to improve fitness levels. Physical activity guidelines suggest that in order to achieve health benefits, American adults should try to accumulate 2 1/2 hours per week of moderate physical activity (or 1 1/4 hours of vigorous activity) and engage in activities that strengthen the major muscles of the body twice per week.

Whether you exercise moderately for 30 minutes five times per week or vigorously for 25 minutes three times per week, the overall goal is to accrue minutes of physical activity.

Improving fitness levels can be as simple as beginning a walking program. A 20 - 30 minute walk 3 - 4 times per week would do wonders in a normally sedentary person.

In an active individual this task becomes much more specific to the individual goal.
Fitness event goals have specific needs that would have to be considered when designing a fitness program as well as the current fitness level of the participant.

Generally, these 5 tips will work for anyone:  (from the IFS book '90 Days to a New You)

Your FITNESS Rules: Here are very simple steps to take to look and feel great.

MOVE X’s 5 = Just Move

• Move: Just Do Something
• Move More: Aim for a minimum of 100 minutes of 'Huffy Puffy' exercise every week
• Move More Often: Aim to do something everyday
• Move Quicker: Aim to go faster over the same distance or further in the same time
• Move Differently: Choose different activities or do the same activity differently. E.g. run or walk a different way every day, run hills, flat, sand, slower for longer and shorter and quicker

Commit to take the path of MOST resistance. Escalators and elevators are a friend to weight gain and low performance. Remember Newton’s law of motion – An object in motion stays in motion. An object at rest stays at rest. You are the object. If you begin your day moving you will stay moving. If you begin your day with the habit of inactivity it is that much harder to get motivated to move.

"Surprise Exercise." IFSism - Look for opportunities to move where you would not normally. Take a phone call while standing, pace during a conference call, set your laptop high so you can stand and work, take the furthest parking spot every time.

Make Exercise a non-negotiable priority. We do what is important to us. Know that exercise/movement aids in reducing pains, increasing metabolism, creating sustained energy, and makes us feel better. Do not accept not exercising.

There you have it. Basic, simple and effective.

Consistently apply these strategies and you will most certainly improve your fitness level.

To your health,

Robert