Five Reasons to Keep Physical Activity Intensity Levels Low

If long term or lifetime fitness is your goal, then the following reasons to keep physical activity intensity levels low to moderate may work for you.

1. It relieves most or all of the pain that comes with high intensity physical activity. Only a minority of people like the discipline and pain that high intensity workouts yield. Most of us just want to have fun while getting healthy and pain is not fun.

2. It reduces the chance of injury as compared to high intensity physical activity. The more physical stress placed on the body, the greater chance the body will breakdown. Low stress in the beginning to moderate stress after conditioning takes place is healthy for the body.

3. For most people, it’s easier to maintain a physical activity routine when it’s shared with others. The number of friends and colleagues who will be willing to join you at low to moderate intensity levels is far greater than those who wish to pursue high intensity activities. It’s also easier to enjoy your physical activity companionship at lower intensity levels.

4. During physical activity we burn from two sources of energy; carbohydrates and fat. The higher the intensity level the more carbohydrates we use. The lower the intensity level, the more we burn directly from fat.

5. Mentally and over a period of time, it’s easier to continue physical activity that is low or moderate in intensity. Way too many people get caught in the “more” trap. They begin a physical activity routine, feel the conditioning effect, and then increase their intensity because they want “more”. After continuing this cycle over a period of time, all of a sudden it gets to be too much like work and they quit altogether. The better “more” is “more” years of maintaining an easy, fun physical activity lifestyle.

Give it a try. You’re worth it. Better yet, take your friends with you!