Cooperative Extension: Food & Health

Physical Activity

Physical activity is important for all ages. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PDF) recommend that each week adults complete 2.5 to 5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (or cardio) and muscle-strengthening activities at least 2 times a week.

If that seems intimidating to you, that’s okay!

To kick off your physical activity journey, we recommend focusing on two areas – minutes and moments.

• Minutes Matter: Even 5 minutes of physical activity can make a difference and contribute to your overall physical activity goals.
• Moments Matter: The decisions you make daily can make a difference too, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking further away so that you can get more steps in on your way into the store.

Take advantage of your minutes and moments by using the buttons below to find resources that’ll help you stay motivated and moving!

Muscle and Bone Strengthening

There are many benefits to strengthening our muscles and bones including increasing our muscle mass and helping to prevent osteoporosis. Check out our Muscle and Bone Strengthening page to learn more and to find exercises you can do to strengthen your muscles and bones.

Balance and flexibility help your body do everyday activities and prevent falls and injuries. Check out our Balance and Flexibility page to learn more and to find exercises and stretches that target your balance and flexibility.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic activity helps your whole body stay healthy, including your heart and lungs, and helps to decrease your risk of developing certain chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Check out our Aerobic Exercise page to learn more and to find activities you can do to get your heart rate up!

Motivation

Staying motivated to stick to your physical activity routine can be challenging. Check out our Motivation page for resources to help you stick to your movement goals.