Spring is here and the weather is perfect for enjoying the outside and being more active. The transition from winter to spring is the ideal time to dedicate yourself to reaching those goals you set at the beginning of the New Year.

Are you among the 40 percent of Americans who are sedentary? Sedentary or inactive individuals can greatly reduce their risk of developing heart disease and other health problems by participating in 30 minutes of moderate activity each day. Physical activity is directly related to lowering the risk of premature development of many health problems including coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and high blood pressure just to name a few.

How can you lower your risks for developing major health problems? Regular exercise combined with a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol are a great place to start! And we want to help you achieve your goals! Diet and exercise can be as fun and interesting as you make it. If you have the wrong attitude about diet and exercise, you are setting yourself up for failure. Most people look at exercise as punishment, an obligation, painful, time consuming, impossible to stick to over a long period of time, and boring. Before you can have success in diet and exercise you must change your attitude. Exercise is a good thing and it has many positive outcomes. Try to think of exercise as:

— A break from a stressful work day

— A way to boost your energy and mood

— The only time of the day you have to yourself

— A chance for you to be physical and let your mind rest

— A way to improve your quality of life immediately

So what are you waiting for? Come learn the benefits of exercise, how to get started exercising, how often to exercise, and other considerations for beginning an exercise program that is right for you.

Oconee Regional Medical Center’s To Your Health lecture series is a monthly event dedicated to improving your life. Join us in the ORMC Education Center on April 24, 2008 at 6:00pm to learn more on the topic of exercise. Our enthusiastic and motivating speaker will be Angie Childre, Certified Personal Trainer. Light refreshments will be served.