Louisiana Could Stand to Be a Little More Active

Americans in general need more exercise in their lives, but Louisiana could amp up the intensity.

As a kid, being active was easy. It seemed like the energy would never leave your body and you had plenty of activities, like sports, to keep you busy. But being an adult is hard. Not only are our energy levels decreasing, but seeking out those activities can feel more like a job than our 9 to 5.

This shows across the nation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published a report confirming that we are living very sedentary lifestyles. Less than a quarter of us are getting the exercise we need. The agency recommends strength activities like weightlifting twice a week and either 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity. Walking for just 30 minutes a day and a few body weight exercises could easily satisfy this.

And yet, only 22.9 percent of us are accomplishing this.

The level of activity also varies in each state. Louisiana, while not the most sedentary state, is in need of some more exercise. We are just short of the national average with 20.3 percent of us satisfying the recommended exercise goals.

I would encourage you to find small ways to get in more movement. Take a walk around your office at the top of each hour. Park farther away than usual in the grocery store parking lot. Or take the stairs whenever possible.

These simple lifestyle changes all add up to those exercise goals.

Recently I found an app that fits into my schedule with 15-30 minutes workouts. It's the Nike Training Club app. There are different workouts for whatever your preference may be, plus there are all levels of difficulty, from beginner to advanced.