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Being active

Making exercise more convenient

Feel like you have no time to exercise? Remember, every minute of activity counts. Consider trying some of these:

  • keep a pair of walking shoes at work
  • keep clothes you need for a workout in your car
  • keep hand weights near your television or phone

When an opportunity for exercise comes along you’ll be ready.

Start W​al​ki​ng

When you start walking with a pedometer, go through your normal daily routines and wear the pedometer, so that it keeps track of your steps for one full week. If you would like to increase your walking start by adding only 200 steps per day for the first week, and then add another 200 steps after that, and then add another 200 steps and so on.

If walking is your main activity for long-term healthy physical activity, then walking 10,000 steps a day is recommended.

Walking is a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends, and to be re-connected to the land.

Walking will also:

  • increase your energy level
  • enhance your mental well-being
  • help you relax and sleep better
  • help you reduce your body fat and tone your muscles
  • increase bone density, thereby helping to prevent osteoporosis
  • help increase flexibility and co-ordination

Pedometer (​​Distance Counter

A pedometer is a gadget that you wear on your belt to record the number of steps you take. To check the pedometer reading, press the reset button ensuring that the screen reads all zeros. Take approximately 20 steps with the pedometer placed upright on your hipbone. If the pedometer does not read 19-21 steps during this time, try placing the pedometer in a slightly different position on your hip and re-test again.

Advantages of a pedometer:

  • provides immediate feedback on the number of steps taken in any given day or period of time
  • makes it possible to track activity
  • assists to set and attain healthy physical activity goals
  • the pedometer is small and lightweight and can be worn

First Nations Act N​o​w Initiative

In support of the First Nations Act Now Initiative and the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative, initiate, coordinate and monitor projects and activities at the regional level related to helping First Nations improve their health through regular physical activity. Efforts to focus on population health promotion and the primary and secondary prevention of type 2 diabetes by increasing levels of physical activity in the target populations.

FNHA Programs

Resources and Organizations

The following resources provide support, outreach, coaching, training or capacity building events and opportunities to help create community social and physical environments that are supportive of regular physical activity; and to increase knowledge and develop personal skills to enable First Nations to adopt and sustain healthy, active lifestyles.

First Nations Physical Activity Resources

First Nations Clubs, Events, Leagues, and Programs

Programs with First Nations Involvement and Valuable Resources

References

Eating healthy

FNHA Wellness Roadmap and Diary Nutrition Tips Four Healthy Eating Strategies Resources and OrganizationsRead more

30×30 Active Challenge

Get the Most Out of Your Experience • Stories from Previous ChallengesRead more

How to contact us

For general inquiries:

info@fnha.ca

1-866-913-0033