Does it matter what sort?

Wearing a step counter is a great way to find out how active you are currently and to motivate yourself to walk more – aim for 10,000 steps a day.

Basically, the answer is no. Any sort of activity will be good for you, but you will get specific benefits from particular choices. For example, for protection against osteoporosis (bone thinning) you need weight bearing exercise (that’s when you’re carrying your own weight while moving, like when you’re walking, as opposed to cycling or swimming, where your weight is supported by the bike or the water).

You’re aiming for a level of activity which makes you feel warm and just a little bit out of breath (but you should still be able to hold a conversation while you’re doing it).

Why not try some of these suggestions?

Walking

This is the easiest one to fit into your everyday life – you don’t need special equipment, just a comfortable pair of shoes. Walk to the shops or the office or walk the kids to school and you’ll be getting fitter and greener at the same time.

Cycling

Northern Ireland now has miles of cycle paths, many of them traffic-free and ideal for beginners (see www.cycleni.com for details). If you haven’t cycled before, try borrowing or hiring a bike to see if you enjoy it. Maybe you could commute to work by bike and avoid all those boring traffic jams too!

Dancing

Whatever sort of dancing takes your fancy, whether it’s salsa, line dancing, ballroom or just bopping about to Top of the Pops in your living room, it’s all good exercise! It’s also a great activity for meeting new people, as there are loads of classes and clubs you could join.

Everyday activities

You can turn your housework or gardening into a workout quite easily, by just putting a bit of extra effort into all those things you have to do anyway. Vacuuming, mopping the floor, mowing the grass, cleaning the windows – get yourself fit and your home looking great in one go!