I grew up in the pre-internet era when parents threw suburban kids outdoors for hours of unstructured and unsupervised play. I rode a bike. I swam. I ran around and played games with friends. In school, daily physical education and team sports were integral to the curriculum. Being active was just part of being a kid.

 

Like millions of other Americans, when I began working for a living I started sitting at a desk. As a public health professional and later as a nurse, I knew exercise was important, but I stopped doing it. Eventually, I stopped missing it.

 

Then I got a dog. She needed to be walked … twice a day, every day. The more I moved, the more I wanted to move. Walking made me feel stronger, healthier and happier. I lost weight and my clothes fit better. I was able to decrease the medications I was taking for high blood pressure and arthritis.

 

As I learned more about the exercise recommendations of the national Centers for Disease Control (CDC), I added strength training to the aerobic activity of brisk walking. It doesn’t take much to realize the significant health benefits of physical activity. The CDC recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity each week plus twice-weekly muscle-strengthening. Flexibility and balance exercises are also important as we age.

 

Whether you are new to exercise, returning to it or trying to kick your routine up a notch, I invite you to try personal training in your home or a group fitness class with Longevity Home Fitness. I would be delighted to talk to you by phone or email or to meet with you for a complimentary consultation to discuss your goals and describe how I can help you achieve them.

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Derry Tanner, BSN/RN, MPH, CPT