4. Goal: 30 to 60 minutes a day
Canada’s Physical Activity Guide recommends that adults accumulate 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity a day. The guide recommends that children and teens accumulate at least 90 minutes a day. As the time is cumulative, you don’t have to do all these activities at the same time. Adults can add up 10 minute sessions, whereas children and teens can add up 5 minute sessions.
Want some more good news? You don't need to go to the gym! Everything you do in your daily life counts, big or small: climbing stairs, walking to take care of errands, playing with the kids, gardening, shoveling snow etc. The more you do, the better you’ll feel.
Researchers believe that it takes 60 minutes of physical activity every day to stay in shape or improve your health. But in fact, the recommended duration varies according to the amount of effort given. As you move towards more moderate or vigorous activities, you can reduce your goal to 30 minutes, four days a week.
It is also recommended that you include strength building exercises 2-4 times a week plus flexibility and endurance exercises 4-7 times a week to maintain good health. On your mark? Get set? To each his own activity!
Are you physically active enough? Find out at My Healthy Weight Assessment!
