Getting Active Now Builds Positive Habits

Fall is an incredibly beautiful time of year offering plenty of sunshine, cooler temperatures, and of course, the spectacular colors of leaves and foliage. It is also the perfect time to begin walking near your home or taking hikes in the many wonderful forest and park trails available in our area.

Begin by walking five to ten minutes each day, you will build a new routine that will in time become a healthy habit that you’ll likely come to enjoy. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise that burns calories, elevates your heart rate and helps maintain healthy balance through the development of leg muscles and trimming extra inches many of us added during the COVID-19 lockdown.

A recent study at the University of Maryland indicated a single session of exercise increased activation in the brain circuits associated with memory -that’s quite a bonus. Other longer-term studies have shown that people who log over 8,000 steps per day substantially lower their mortality rate. Wristwatch type tracking devices and smart phone apps are useful in tracking step data, keeping you tuned in to your progress.

Although we don’t want to think about winter approaching, establishing a daily habit of movement will be important. As long as the weather holds up, you can add a layer or two of clothing and stick with the program. Once the inclement weather arrives, you can keep that momentum going by shifting to a treadmill or indoor walking track.

There’s no better time to begin than today. To keep you motivated, Elderwerks will be holding Stepping Out to Fitness Challenges beginning January 1, 2022. The Challenge is free and offers prizes during the monthly drawings. If you track and submit your progress during each month of the three-month challenge your name will go into a drawing to win an Apple Watch! Visit Elderwerks.org or call 855-462-0100 for more information.