When it comes to exercise, "all movements count"

Incremental Steps

Starting an exercise routine doesn't require a drastic overhaul; it can begin with small, manageable steps. Marielle Segarra likens this process to climbing a ladder, where each rung represents a gradual increase in activity, such as standing up from a chair repeatedly or taking short walks 1. These small actions can significantly improve health by clearing fat and sugar from the blood, reducing the risk of diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension 1. Maria Godoy shares her personal journey, emphasizing that the key to sustaining exercise is focusing on how it makes you feel rather than solely on health benefits or weight loss 1.

Don't exercise because you want to look better or be healthier. Instead, focus on how it makes you feel.

--- Michelle Seeger

This approach fosters self-efficacy, encouraging individuals to achieve more as they progress.

   

Lifestyle Integration

Incorporating exercise into daily life doesn't have to be daunting or time-consuming. Maria Godoy highlights that many everyday activities, such as climbing stairs or even vacuuming, can count as moderate-intensity exercise if done with enthusiasm 2. The concept of metabolic equivalents (Mets) helps quantify the intensity of various activities, making it easier to integrate exercise into busy schedules 2. Michelle Seeger encourages a shift in mindset, suggesting that all movement counts and that there's no need to adhere to outdated notions of exercise requiring sweat or long durations 3.

The research does now show that basically all movement counts and anything counts and anything is better than nothing.

--- Michelle Seeger

This perspective allows for flexibility and creativity in maintaining an active lifestyle.