Fitness - Steps to a Healthy Life

Kinds of exercise

Aerobic exercise Aerobic exercise burns fat, gets your heart rate going (you will be able to feel it beating faster) and makes your heart muscle stronger. It also increases the number of blood cells you have, which helps your blood carry more needed oxygen to blood vessels throughout your body. Exercise ideas: Fast walking Jogging Swimming Dancing Biking Basketball Jumping rope Hiking Rollerblading Cross-country skiing Tennis Kickboxing

When you think about a new physical activity, ask yourself these questions:

1. Will you enjoy it?
2. Is it safe?
3. Is it available to you?
4. Do you have the time to do it?
5. Do you have friends who do it, too?

If you answered “no” to these questions, find another activity. It is better to find something that fits into your schedule, that you will enjoy, and that you can do safely. The important thing is that you get moving and there are lots of ways to get started! Walk when you talk on the phone, use the stairs instead of an elevator, and walk to the school. Don’t worry if you don’t have athletic equipment – you don’t need anything special to exercise. You can:

• Use canned foods as weights
• Go for power walks or run around your neighborhood or the school track
• Use your own body weight to strength train by doing push-ups

There are many different exercises to work all parts of your body. The chart at the bottom of this page shows the specific muscles worked by the different exercises.

Return to Fitness Main Page

Other Fitness Pages:
Why get fit?
Exercise: How much & what kind?
How do I get started?
Getting a good workout
Staying active by playing organized sports
Exercise and safety
For more information...

girlshealth.gov Glossary

Last updated August 2007