Increasing physical activity has protective health benefits. Being physically active for at least 30-60 minutes every day helps achieve or maintain a healthy weight, lowers blood pressure, raises good cholesterol in your blood, helps prevent type 2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease, reduces stress, depression and other mental illness, strengthens your bones, delays onset of dementia and is associated with a reduced risk of cancer!

To read about moving more and staying motivated click read more below.

Moving more:
• Being physically active for at least 30-60 minutes every day
• Enjoying a wide variety of physical activities
• Being active throughout the day – like walking to work or school, taking the stairs instead of the lift
• Spending less times sitting, for example, watching television or at the computer
• Choosing an activity or sport that suits your ability of fitness level
• Including gentle stretching
• Seeking the expert advice of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP)

Staying motivated:
• Be convinced of the benefits of exercise – it can add years to your life!
• Persevere through the initial discomfort – with regular exercise you will find it easier
• Keep it simple – do any exercise you enjoy
• Measure your heart rate and aim to increase it – set realistic goals
• If time is a problem try doing three lots of ten minutes exercise each day – get up ten minutes earlier and go for a walk, take time out at lunch time and again before your evening meal
• Reward yourself with something like a low kilojoule treat or MP3 player or some new running shoes
• Use a pedometer and aim to walk over 10 000 steps each day
• Try to set a goal like beating your pedometer reading or training for a charity walk or attending 30 Activate NT events.

Exercise can often improve common problems such as joint and back pain, and asthma can be treated to allow normal exercise. Be sure to speak to your GP before embarking on a new exercise program.