Updated Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

I received an email from a health education organization to which I belong announcing the release of the revised Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans by the US Department of Health and Human Services. You can find them here.

I think it's interesting how little exercise they recommend for adults: only 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity or 1 hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. That's only 75 minutes a week of hard core aerobic exercise! Most aerobics classes offered 3 times a week are 45-60 minutes long! So my point is that we really don't have to push ourselves to the extreme to get a good workout and obtain substantial health benefits.

I appreciate how they say that you can perform your aerobic activity in episodes of at least 10 minutes. That makes me feel better about my walking. Being 8 months pregnant is tough. My current aerobic exercise regime consists of walking about 15 minutes to the bus stop 3 times a week, then walking 5 minutes uphill from the bus stop to work, and then doing it in reverse at the end of the day. I mix in strengthening exercises about 3 times a week, and I do prenatal yoga exercises as often as I can to help relieve my back pain. I'm hoping to keep being able to exercise (in my own little way) right up until I go into labor! And then I can hardly wait to seriously start working out again. It really is a drug once you get into it.