Now in the final stretch of G.R.I.T. – Get Real, It’s Time – my new online 21 day transformation featuring SMART goals, nutrition education and movement activities to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle during the new “normal” we live in.

So now that we are on the fitness module, what makes active movement so darn important anyway?

Here are the top ten benefits of exercise (in no particular order)

1. Increases your daily energy (and who doesn’t need that?).

2. Exercise has a positive impact on mood, decreasing anxiety and depression.

3. Strengthens your heart, keeps your arteries clear, and improves blood flow.

4. Increases your stamina and strength.

5. Helps reduce disease risks such as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and even certain types of cancer.

6. Helps keep those excess pounds off.

7. Improves your sleep.

8. Maintains and improves mobility as you age.

9. Activates your immune system.

10. Boosts your confidence when you set fitness targets for yourself and achieve them.

BONUS; You only need to commit to 30 minutes per day to see the benefit of exercise in your life. And now that many of us are not commuting to and from work, we have freed up some additional time in which we can schedule our workouts.

Not sure where to start? Start walking. It is the simplest, most effective, less impactful exercise you can do, and you don’t need any special equipment or place to do it. Just put one foot in front of the other.

I usually walk after my workday is done. It is great to get outside and clear my head, stretch my limbs, listen to an interesting podcast, or catch up with a friend (at a safe distance). I love when my fitness tracker hits 10000! I feel so accomplished.

Can’t walk for half an hour? Break it up throughout your day and commit to walking for ten- or fifteen-minute intervals.

Whatever you decide to you, walking, running, yoga, or strength training, decide which days and times you will exercise for the next 2 weeks.

1. Put it on your calendar as if it is an important appointment – because it is an important appointment for yourself!

2. Determine what type of exercise you will do during the next 2 weeks and how long each workout will be.

3. Call a workout buddy. Do you have a friend that can join you to help be your accountability partner and make it more fun?

Can’t wait to get started? Excellent!

Need some help? Feel free to reach out to me for information on our next 21 day G.R.I.T. course, coming up in June. I will get you on the right track towards hitting all of your healthy lifestyle goals. Promise!