Why be more active?
By being regularly physically active you can improve your health, your
social life and your environment:
- Helps control weight
- Helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints
- Helps reduce blood pressure
- Reduces the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers
- Makes you feel good about yourself
- Can help you to meet new friends and enjoy activities with old friends
- Cuts down on car emissions
Where to start?
If you have not been active for a while, start gradually. Try to build
a little activity into your daily routine. Make active choices wherever
possible:
- Take the stairs instead of the lift or escalator
- Get off the bus a stop early
- Park the car and walk 5 minutes of your journey
- Make sure you dance the next time you go to a party
- Do some gardening
Once you are in the swing of things, gradually increase
the number of activity periods that you do each day:
- Walk to the shops and get the bus back
- Walk all the way to work
- Go for a brisk walk at lunchtime
- Go for a cycle or a swim with a friend in the evening or at the weekend
- Visit your local sports centre and see what activities you can take
part in
- Almost everyone can be more active, but if you are in doubt, speak
to your doctor if you wish to start a more energetic programme.
For links to local information on sporting activities and facilities
go to
North
Lanarkshire and/or
South
Lanarkshire.
