The US Government's New Guidelines for Physical Activity

Welcome to the blog of Lifeline Personal Training! We are a personal fitness training and consulting practice located in Toronto, Ontario. Our focus is helping people use exercise to manage their medical problems. This includes back problems, arthritis, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular risk factors and disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, autoimmune disorders, orthopaedic conditions including joint replacement, and exercise for people undergoing cancer treatment. Jennifer Salter, MSW, has been director is Lifeline Personal Training for fifteen years, and holds three personal training certifications - two which are specifically for working with individuals with medical conditions and special needs

How Much Should You Be Exercising?
The US Government’s New Guidelines

At the end of 2008, the US Department of Health and Human Services published the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The guidelines are the most comprehensive to date, taking into account a massive body of research of the impact of physical activity on health and longevity. Here they are:

• Children and Adolescents -One hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorous intensity physical activity at least three days a week.
• Adults - Adults gain substantial health benefits from two and one half hours a week of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous physical activity.
• Older adults - Older adults should follow the guidelines for other adults when it is within their physical capacity. If a chronic condition prohibits their ability to follow those guidelines, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.
• Women during pregnancy - Healthy women should get at least two and one half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week during pregnancy and the time after delivery, preferably spread through the week.
• Adults with disabilities - Those who are able should get at least two and one half hours of moderate aerobic activity a week, or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week.
• People with chronic medical conditions - Adults with chronic conditions get important health benefits from regular physical activity. They should do so with the guidance of a health care provider.