Starting an exercise program can sound like a daunting task, but just remember that your main goal is to boost your health by meeting the basic physical activity recommendations.

Even a small increase in physical activity can have a positive impact on your health and quality of life. Remember, it’s not all about weight loss. Physical activity is very beneficial to anyone’s health whether or not they lose weight.  

The currrent Asutralian guidelines for physical acivity include:

Try finding something new or just find an activity that you genuinely like. There isn’t much point in doing something that you’re not interested in. It will leave you frustrated, unmotivated and place you back at square one!

Here are some ideas:

Swimming	Golf
Yoga	Pilates
Stroll at your nearest beach	Exercise with a friends
Running	Bike riding

Getting started is the most difficult part of any exercise routine. Scheduling exercise into your day and making it your priority will increase your chances of success.  Writing down your exercise schedule will also help you stick to your exercise routine.

Make sure you start small and work your way up. Don’t feel you need to jump straight into 30 minutes of exercise. Start with 5-10 minutes of exercise a day and each week add five more minutes to your routine until you reach 30 minutes of moderate intensity on a minimum of five days per week. Do 8 to 10 strength training exercises, with 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise twice a week. This can be accomplished by using dumbbells, resistance bands or your own body weight. 

If you are unsure how to perform the exercises correctly seek the advice of an accredited exercise physiologist, exercise scientist. Older adults or adults with chronic conditions should have an exercise or activity plan developed by an appropriate health professional to manage risks and take therapeutic needs into account. This will maximise the benefits of exercise / physical activity and ensure your safety. To find a local accredited exercise physiologist, please visit www.essa.org.au

If you are concerned about your health or have an injury, we recommend you speak to your doctor about referral to an appropriate allied health professional such as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. Eligible patients can claim AEP services through Medicare, DVA, workcover and private health insurance.