01 Dec Get back into shape week: What activities should you be doing?

Don’t wait until Jan. 1 to set a resolution to get fit. Usher out 2010 by starting a physical fitness routine now and make it the best Christmas present you’ve ever had. It’s “Get back into shape week” here at AtHomeFitness.com — today here are some activities that will help you stay more fit.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following as a means of physical activity: “Accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate-intensity physical activity over the course of most days of the week.”
Incorporating more activity into your daily routine can improve your health status.
Daily activities to get physical activity may include:
Walking stairs (instead of taking the elevator)
Gardening
Raking leaves
Dancing
Brisk mall walking while shopping
Carrying a grocery basket rather than pushing a cart (when applicable) Parking in the farthest parking spot and walking to the office or store
Carrying or pushing a golf bag instead of taking a cart while golfing
Alternately, 30 minutes of activity may come from planned exercise or recreation
To achieve aerobic exercise try the following for 20-60 minute durations on average (note: check with doctor before starting a new workout program and gradually build up. At first, you may only be abler to walk for 5-10 minutes).
Take a brisk walk around neighborhood
Walk or jog on a treadmill machine
Exercise on an Elliptical machine
Go cross country skiing
For strength training, have a doctor or trainer set you up with a program on a home gym machine and/or free weights.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com