Setting Goals
Great! You’re incorporating more exercise into your lifestyle. Now you’re well on the way to becoming fitter and managing your weight.
The key is to stick to it, so exercise becomes as second nature as having a cup of tea or brushing your teeth.
Think Ahead
Whether you’re just getting started or building up to a higher level of activity, it’s important to work out what your exercise aims are for the coming month.
Think about how many minutes exercise you get every day. Aim to increase this gradually over the next month. If you’re just getting started, think about ways in which you can work more activity into your daily routine.
If you’re already quite active but want to build up to the next level, think about which activities you could introduce to your exercise programme. Are you working hard enough?
You are exercising at the right level if:
- Your heart is beating faster than usual, but not racing.
- Your breathing is deeper and more rapid than usual, but not uncontrolled.
- You’re warmer than usual and slightly sweaty, but not dripping.
- You feel you could comfortably continue exercising at the same level without stopping.
- You can carry on a conversation while doing the activity.
Sensible precautions
If you have any concerns about your health, or any illness or injury, check it out with your doctor or practice nurse before becoming more active. There are many different ways to be more active, but it’s important to find activities which are safe and right for you.
Remember to:
- Build up gradually.
- Warm up and stretch exercises before you start any sport and cool down afterwards.
- Stop exercising if you get any pain, or feel dizzy, sick, unwell or very tired. If the symptoms don’t go away or come back later, see your doctor.