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Be more active

Photo: Shahed Karim

For good health and to help you control and manage your weight, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity on at least five days of the week. The more this fits in with your daily lifestyle, the more you will be able to keep it up.

1. Find an activity you enjoy. It could be as simple as walking, dancing or gardening. Some swimming pools offer women-only classes. Bhangra and raas-garba are great ways to keep fit whilst having fun.
2. Get fit with friends or family. It is often much easier if other people are having fun with you. Perhaps you could schedule a family swimming day or a badminton game with a friend? Even a brisk walk around the block every evening after dinner can help you to burn off some calories.

Photo: Shahed Karim
3. Wear a step counter or pedometer. Track the number of steps you take on the first day and gradually challenge yourself to take a few hundred more steps over the next few days. Simply being conscious of the number of steps you take can help you to walk more.
4. When driving to the supermarket, park your car further away so it forces you to walk.
5. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Even walking up an escalator is better than standing still!

Being more active helps to enhance flexibility, increase self-esteem, lessen lower-back pain, help the heart beat stronger and it can even act as a stress buster. What are you waiting for?