Let Go of the Lazy and Get Moving

Louisiana is one of the laziest states in the country, according to a new study, with 30 percent of residents doing no physical activity. Many people sit at a desk during the day and during long commutes, then come home to sit some more – on the couch or at a home computer.

While occasionally taking the stairs or parking further away are small ways to get active, they aren’t enough to get the recommended 150 minutes of activity per week. Here are some easy ways to step up your exercise routine.

If you already have a wearable tracker like Fitbit or Apple Watch, you can easily set goals for steps and activity. Plus, with a Fitbit you can check out workouts and other tips within the app. You can pay a premium to add a Fitbit Coach, which takes the daily activity you log and recommends workouts and activities. This may be a good option if you’re bored with just walking around the neighborhood and want to challenge yourself with something new.

Nike Training Club is a free app with a library full of workouts to try, ranging from 15 to 45 minutes and varying intensities. You can search for workouts aimed at specific body parts or fitness objectives.

Aaptiv is another good option for audio, coach-led workouts including running and circuit type training. YouTube is another great resource, especially for easy, at-home HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts.

Couch to 5K, and other similar apps, uses interval training to take you from the couch to running a 5K in nine weeks. You get a training course of 20 to 30 minutes, three times a week to build up your stamina.

If you have any health complications, or maybe just some hesitation about starting a new workout routine, talk to your doctor. It’s fairly rare to be told you can’t exercise at all, but it may take a little time to find the right fit.

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Victoria Campesi, RD, LDN
Outpatient Clinical Dietitian
Baton Rouge General Health & Wellness Center

(225) 819-1175