Getting started
How much physical activity should I strive for?
According to the Surgeon General's Report, men and women of all ages can
benefit from getting 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on five or more
days per week. Moderate activities, like walking, yard work, or house cleaning,
cause a slight-to-moderate increase in breathing rate or heart rate or may cause light sweating. You can get the 30 minutes of moderate activity all at once or in smaller segments of 10 minutes at a time. For example, if you take three 10-minute walks, this will equal 30 minutes of moderate activity.
Additional health benefits can be gained by increasing the amount of time that
you are physically active and/or by increasing the intensity of the activity to vigorous activity. More intense activities or vigorous activities, like aerobics or jogging, cause heavy sweating or large increases in breathing or heart rate. If you are exercising at a vigorous level, the recommended minimum time and frequency is at least 20 minutes at a time on three or more days per week.
Both moderate and vigorous physical activities increase endurance and improve cardiovascular health.
More topics
Before I start being more physically active, should I check with my doctor?
How do I start to become more physically active?
What counts as physical activity?
Overcoming roadblocks to increasing physical activity
