Was your New Year’s resolution to lose weight? Are you still looking to shed those pounds? Maybe you’ve already begun your weight loss journey, and are looking to keep it off. Perhaps you’re just ready to kickstart the journey to good health in general. Island Doctors’ providers are here to help you on your fitness journey! And, all it takes to get started is to get on your feet, and take the first steps….literally!

If you are ready to get healthy and looking to lose some extra weight in the process, you can accelerate your weight loss by walking. Daily physical activity is a boon to any healthy living plan, and you may be surprised by just how many calories you can burn just from making an effort to engage in more walking. The first step is having an idea in mind as to how much weight you would like to lose, and you can begin to create a daily ‘step goal’ to help you reach your ideal healthy weight even faster. There are even apps for that these days! Set a small goal to start, and slowly increase it until you are getting a daily routine you can live with.

Eventually, you can utilize this routine to help maintain a better, healthier lifestyle in a low impact way, leading to high impact results. Finding the time to take a 30 minute constitutional each day can help in a myriad of ways. It begins by lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and anxiety levels, improving restfulness, and helping relieve depression. And it doesn’t stop there. Getting out of the house, in general, to just spend some time with alone (or with a loved one), walking around the neighborhood and enjoying the nice weather will improve anyone’s day.

It’s not just about the weight.  Becoming more aware of personal health is something that many adults should do, especially as we get older. Trying to get motivated when you don’t feel active can be tough, but there are small adjustments to daily life that can help you get started. Take the stairs! Choose to park your car at the farthest end of the lot when you go to the store. Walk those 9 holes, or even work your way up to the full 18 next time.

Here’s the official consensus: the The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends about 2.5 hours of moderate activity per week for adults, as this is the magic number that can help fight against many potentially chronic health issues like cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and even some forms of cancer.  Don’t wait another day to get started on the path to a healthier lifestyle. Eat a delicious meal, then go take a walk in this beautiful weather and start feeling better today! For more ideas on how to get healthier, call Island Doctors today at 877-434-4676 to schedule an appointment with one of our providers and learn more. You can also schedule a tour of a facility near you, sample our best wellness program and receive a complimentary pedometer.