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Frequently Asked Questions Why is Active for Life 10 weeks long? Why is Active for Life 10 weeks long? Can it be longer? It can be, but the Active for Life program was designed to last 10 weeks because research shows that this is the optimal length of time for trying out a new program. 10 weeks will allow you to get a feel for scheduling exercise into your life and will enable you to see results. It takes time to experiment with new goals and schedules. How do I earn Life Points? As a participant in Active for Life, you earn 1 Life Point for each minute of daily activity, and it doesn’t have to be as part of a formal exercise program. For example: If you do 45 minutes of yard work on a given day, you’re still entitled to 45 Life Points. Depending upon how your company chooses to run the program, you may also earn points for activities such as participating in a workshop or evaluating the program at its conclusion. Talk to your team captain about opportunities to earn extra points. Do I have to be active during work to earn Life Points? No. You can find time to be active before, during, or after work. You might find active things to do on the weekends, and then begin experimenting with ways to work activity into everyday life. Examples include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or parking your car at the far end of the lot so that you increase the walking distance to your office. It’s important to fit Active for Life into the daily rhythms of your busy life. That’s the secret ingredient to achieving your fitness goals. Why is it important to set goals and keep track of my Life Points? Goal setting and record keeping are important skills for helping a person change behavior. Goal setting allows people to take an honest look at where they are and where they want to be. One of the best methods for achieving a goal is to create a contract with yourself. This forces you to make a commitment. Tracking your points allows you to see the progress you are making and where you need to go. These tools promote self-accountability and help keep you motivated over the long haul. What is the American Cancer Society’s recommended level of activity? The American Cancer Society recommends that you engage in at least 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity 5 or more days a week. If followed, this level of activity puts you at the Silver Level. In other words, you are exercising for at least 150 minutes (2½ hours) a week. What is the maximum amount of Life Points I can set as my goal? Even though the recommended point goal for the week is 150 points, you can set a higher goal. Part participants have set ambitious goals like 1,000 points a week. Others stick to the American Cancer Society’s recommended 150 points a week. You decide. What do I do if I surpass my goals before the program is over? There will be many people who will underestimate how active they can be. These people should continue to participate in the program and record their points. They should be challenged to see how many points they can get. Participants have not completed Active for Life just because they have earned all their points. They should still participate in the full 10 weeks. What are the Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels of activity? Active for Life is based on 3 levels of activity – bronze, silver, and gold. You set your goals based on the number of minutes you will exercise during the week. Below is a list of each activity level:
What is the difference between moderate and vigorous activity? Moderate activities make you breathe as hard as you would during a brisk walk. These include dancing, heavy house work, walking, yardwork, and biking. Vigorous activities are those that make you breathe as hard as you would while running. These include many sports and jogging. Stretching and strength-building activities, such as weightlifting, yoga, and tai chi, also count in Active for Life. It doesn’t matter what people do, as long as they find an activity they enjoy. What is the definition of regular exercise? Most fitness professionals refer to regular exercise as a scheduled period of 3 or 4 times a week. For example, if you walk your dog every day for 15 minutes, you are participating in regular exercise. The goal of Active for Life is to encourage you to schedule exercise into your daily routine. |
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