Del Norte CalFresh Healthy Living promotes physical activity through multi-level interventions, social marketing, direct education, and community and public heath approaches.
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Physical Activity
How can I be more physically active every day when my life is so busy? Physical Activity for Your health, Your neighborhood, and Your Life.
Why is it good to be physically active?
- Makes you look and feel great
- Gives you more energy
- Lowers stress and helps you relax
- Helps you get to and keep a healthy body weight
- Lowers your risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and certain types of cancer
- Helps build and keep healthy bones, muscles, and joints
How often should I be physically active?
- To take care of your health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases, you need at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every day.
- To keep your weight under control, you need 60 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity on most days of the week.
- If you lost weight and want to keep it off, you need 60-90 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every day.
What is moderate-intensity physical activity?
It gets you up and moving and makes your heart beat faster. Brisk walking, biking, taking the stairs, and raking leaves are examples of moderate-intensity physical activity.
What is vigorous-intensity physical activity?
It makes you breathe hard and sweat. Running, jogging, playing soccer, fast dancing, and fast biking are examples of vigorous-intensity physical activity.
How can I be more physically active every day when my life is so busy? Go to Be Active for more fun physical activity ideas
Divide your daily routine into a few 10-15 –minute physical activity breaks. Slowly increase the time as you become more active. There are many fun ways to get physical activity throughout your day.
- Walk with a co-worker during breaks or lunchtime.
- Ride your bike or walk to work.
- Park your car farther away from the entrance.
- Walk, bike, or jog with a friend or family member.
- Play with your kids-tag, jump rope, and hide and seek.
- Dance to your favorite music.
- Plant and take care of a fruit and vegetable garden.
- Play Frisbee, toss a softball, or kick around a soccer ball.
- Exercise while watching TV.
Painting Preschool Playgrounds for Movement
CDPH and CSU Chico developed a guide to aid in designing and painting playgrounds. The guide addresses: preschool physical activity recommendations, fundamental movement skills, suggested playground elements, and preparation and instructions for painting the playground designs. The playground activities associated with the use of the stencils will help the children and schools to meet the CDC’s recommended standards: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education (2012).
Contact us if you need to learn more about Stencil Kit Guide and borrow Stencil Kits to paint your playground to promote physical activity.
Stencil PDF File
Download your copy today!Sami’s Little Sprouts Stencil Project
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