Fitness: Adding more activity to your life

What is involved in getting more active?

Doing an exercise or some other physical activity once isn't so hard. The hard part is making changes in your daily life so that you start moving more—and keep moving more as part of your daily routine.

Jumping in too far too fast doesn't usually work, especially over the long haul.

Starting an exercise program—or any kind of change in the way you live your daily life—is like being on a path. The path leads to success. And there are three steps you have to take first:

1. Have your own reasons for doing this.
2. Set goals. Include long-term goals as well as short-term goals that you can measure easily.
3. Think about what might get in your way, and prepare for slip-ups.

Test Your Knowledge

1. The hardest part about exercising is making it a permanent part of your life.

1. True
2. False

Continue to Why do you want to get more active?
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Author:	Cynthia Tank	Last Updated: August 26, 2008
Medical Review:	Catherine D. Serio, PhD - Behavioral Health Heather Chambliss, PhD - Exercise Science
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