Quick... How many hours did you spend exercising this year?

December 7, 2011

By Linda Gottlieb, MA, CPT, CET

www.FitTraining.net

A. Haven't a clue
B. Nowhere enough!
C. 150 minutes minimum, consistently- every week

It's the time of year to look back and review -- including peeking at your health and fitness habits.

This one question can alert you to areas where you can improve (and those New Year's resolutions for a fitter, healthier you aren't far away!). This may have been the year you or a friend or family member was diagnosed, or the year you completed treatment. It may be a year that you celebrated a milestone like 5 years cancer free.

No matter where you are on your survivorship path, looking back and assessing where you can improve is critical. It gives importance to the activities and behaviors you are working to reinforce (in this example, exercise) and allows you to make slight changes to improve your efforts moving forward (for example, take the stairs at work Monday, Wednesday and Friday in addition to that Zumba class).

In Japan, its called Kaizen, Japenese for "improvement", or "change for the better" referring to a philosophy or practice that focus upon continuous improvement.

The American Cancer Society recommends every cancer survivor (and all your friends and family too!) do a minimum of 150 minutes of brisk activity (like walking) a week. How do you stack up?

Answering the question posed today honestly and with the best intention to make those important changes is a way for you to be prepared to move your body and improve your life in 2012.