Every Movement Counts

We’re super excited to invite you to the Third Annual Movetober Fitness Program! Movetober is all about revving up your motivation and getting in those active minutes throughout each day. If you’re a healthy adult you should aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic fun five days a week or crank it up to 20 minutes of vigorous activity three times a week.

But here’s the million-dollar question: Do you really have to sprint, stroll or pump iron to rack up those active minutes? Spoiler alert: Absolutely NOT! Every little movement counts—from berry-picking and floor-mopping to getting your hands dirty in the garden or chasing after the kiddos! So, get moving and have fun!

Those regular activities you tackle each day are sneaky calorie burners. So, remember, every movement counts! Now, don’t just plop down and chill; keep that body moving! Here are some ideas that can help keep your body happy and healthy.

• Shopping: Pushing a cart up and down the supermarket aisles.
• Opening jars: This burns calories and helps build strength.
• Cleaning: Activities like vacuuming, mopping and dusting contribute to calorie burn.
• Cooking: Preparing meals and washing dishes can also help burn calories.
• Gardening: Digging, planting and weeding are physical activities that contribute to daily calorie expenditure.
• Dancing: It could be inside with the music turned up or outside in the rain puddles; it could be traditional or not, it could be side-to-side or waving your arms in the air. Just dance!
• Walking: Don’t do it solo, grab a friend or take your pets for a stroll around the neighborhood for a social and physical boost

Ultimately, everyone should aim to move more and sit less throughout the day. Any amount of physical activity is better than being inactive. For significant health benefits, the goal for adults is to engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise each week. But you can reach that number in whatever increment that works for you (even as little as 10 minutes at a time).  And if you can try incorporating muscle-strengthening activities (e.g. using light weights or doing push-ups), these exercises offer extra health advantages. For some additional ideas, check out: Don’t Sit, Get Fit – UNM Exercise Science

The moral of this story is that if we move every day, we are doing positive things for our mental and physical health. Activity and exercise do more than decrease your risk of chronic disease – they also help:

• Keep your body strong and functioning properly.
• Improves your mental health with movement.
• Allows our joints to achieve their potential through regular physical activity.
• Enhance the quality of your sleep.
• Increase your independence.

If you are interested in joining, learning and moving this October, join our Movetober fitness program, kicking off October 1! It is a FREE five-week program for everyone across Southeast Alaska. Click here for more information: Movetober – SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium – SEARHC