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Hassle free exercise
Section two: What does being more active mean?
Being more active will mean different things to different people, it all depends on your current lifestyle, for example how active you are at the moment, whether you smoke, what you eat, etc.
The type of activities outlined in this book and the level at which you do them means you can start off at a very low level and build up gradually. The activities that you can start off with are everyday ones, like walking. You don’t need immediately to take up a new sport – maybe you can do that later, if you want to. These activities might seem so ordinary that you’d think that they wouldn’t have any benefit but they do. You will be benefiting your health by being more active than you are at the moment. Keeping physically active also helps to keep you mentally alert and feeling good.
Will being more active improve fitness?
You can only become fitter and maintain fitness by being physically active regularly. The more active you are, the fitter you will be and the better your body will work.
Research has been done into the benefits for your body of doing regular activity. It shows that:
- IT HELPS TO RELIEVE STRESS AND DEPRESSION
- IT HELPS KEEP YOU SUPPLE AND MORE MOBILE
- IT HELPS STRENGTHEN YOUR MUSCLES, JOINTS AND BONES
- IT HELPS YOUR HEART WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY
- IT IMPROVES YOUR CIRCULATION
- IT HELPS PROTECT AGAINST HEART DISEASE AND COLON CANCER
WHY other people like being active …
‘Meet new friends. support of other people.’
James, 64, retired, from Paisley
‘Coping with stress — I feel calmer, more relaxed, less jumpy.’
Iain, 42, sales rep, from Stonehaven
‘Coping with changes in your life.’
Christine, 51, factory worker, from Glasgow
‘Able to dance all night …’
Christine, 62, grandmother, from Ayr
‘Getting out of a rut, making a change to your life.’
Danny, 20, unemployed, Dundee
‘I never thought such little changes would make such a difference.’
David, 47, driver, from Edinburgh
‘I sleep much better and have more energy.’
Gayle, 22, student, from Dumfries
What would be the benefits to you of being more active?
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What are the main things stopping you?
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If you can think of more obstacles than benefits, then read on — it might not be as difficult as you think. If you can see that the benefits outweigh the obstacles then you have taken an important step into active living.