Congratulations! You have taken the first step to moving a bit more and building activity into your routine. Here at Active Together we can help support you to find the right activity, just for you.

It is widely recognised that physical activity can have a positive effect on both physical and mental wellbeing. Building activity into a routine can help you feel good and stay healthy.

We know that physical activity is safe, even for people living with symptoms from multiple medical conditions. Medical professionals confirm that the benefits outweigh the risks (1). If you want to know more about exercising with a long term condition visit our long term health conditions page here.

Try and be as active as you can everyday but listen to your body. Some days you may be able to do more than others and that's fine. Any movement will help but activities that get you slightly out of breath (able to speak not sing) will provide the biggest health benefits. It's best to start gradually with something you enjoy and feel comfortable with.

Benefits of moving more include improving your confidence and self-esteem, maintaining your independence, boost your wellbeing, meet new people, reduce your aches and pains, and get a better nights sleep.

Everyone has their own starting point, for some this would be doing some gardening, or walking to the shops each week, for others this might be attending an exercise class. To start your journey to a healthier, happier you follow our top 3 tips:

This is a good way to make sure that you have something that is achievable. The smaller the initial challenge you set yourself the sooner you will see the outcome, which will serve as good motivation as you move more.

In order to make sure your change sticks in the long-term, it helps to go at your own pace, whatever this looks like. Finding exercise hard and tiring will likely not be as enjoyable as something a bit more manageable. Once you're comfortable you can raise the intensity to keep improving.

Moving more is also about being less sedentary. Being more mobile is as essential to your health and wellbeing. Make sure you remind yourself that doing more than you were before, whatever that looks like, is a great achievement.

There is a local Physical Activity, Sport and Health Team in each locality across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland and they have created a programme of regular activities to help you become more active. From walking, cycling, pilates, seated exercise, buggy fit and bowls, they will be available to tell you about more specific opportunities near you.

1. Reid H, Ridout AJ, Tomaz SA, et al Benefits outweigh the risks: a consensus statement on the risks of physical activity for people living with long-term conditions. British Journal of Sports Medicine Published Online First: 14 October 2021. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2021-104281