Ways to Activate Your Life

Most Americans know that being physically active is good for their health and helps them lose weight by burning calories.

Still, most American adults—up to 63 percent, according to some studies—don't accumulate even an hour of moderate exercise in a week’s time.

One fitness and motivational trainer says he knows a way to motivate adults to get a move on and begin reaping the benefits of an active lifestyle.

“As children we rode bikes, played in the woods, or kicked a soccer ball around, not because we had to or someone told us to, but because we wanted to,” says Jay Snyder, a personal trainer in Springville, Utah. Snyder is certified by the American Council for Sports Medicine. “As adults, we still can tap into that spirit of play and be active because of the enjoyment it provides.”

As a busy person with family, work, and civic responsibilities, how can you find time for yet another activity?

“It’s essential to take a look at and address the circumstances of your life,” says Snyder. “If you’re a parent, for example, it’s easy to put yourself at the bottom of the list. But to nurture others, you have to nurture yourself and make your desire to swim or take a dance class as important as your child’s baseball practice.”

Do what you love

“One of the most important questions to ask yourself is, 'What do I love to do?'” says Snyder. “And then address the 'but' that follows. As in, I love to surf but I don’t live near an ocean, or I love to ski but I live in Florida.”

Find ways to solve the barrier the "but" presents.

“For instance, I love to surf and I only get to do it once in a while because I live in Utah,” says Snyder. “But I can always be in training for surfing by strengthening my arms and swimming laps so that when I get to the ocean, I’m in shape to do what I love.”

If you have a hard time coming up with something you enjoy doing, think about the activities you enjoyed as a child or teenager.

“Riding bikes, swimming in a river, dancing around the living room, whatever you remember—get back to that place where you did those things, not because they would help prevent heart disease, but because they were so much fun and made you feel more alive,” says Snyder.

Drop your excuses

“I don’t have enough time” and “I’m too busy” are two common excuses for staying stuck in a sedentary rut.

One way to find out if you’re really booked every day is to keep track of how you spend your nonwork hours for a week.

Chances are, you’ll find you don’t need to add more time—just use what you have differently.

For example:

• Instead of reading a magazine for an hour after work, take the dog for a walk.

• Reconsider your activities in civic groups. Perhaps you can still serve your favorite cause but do so in an active capacity. You can clean up trails instead of stuffing envelopes if you’re involved with an environmental organization.

“At work you’re creative and a problem-solver,” says Snyder. “Use these skill sets to address the problem of how to be more physically active. This new lifestyle will bring balance to your life by bringing balance and strength to your body.”