 Pedometer Lending Program.
The Town of Niverville's Recreation and Wellness Commission has initiated a pedometer loan program sponsored by Manitoba in Motion that will be available to all residents. The Town of Niverville is a "community in motion" and this program will continue to help our residents reach the goal of becoming healthier by encouraging walking activities. A pedometer is a simple tool that is used to count the number of steps you take. If walking is your main form of exercise, it is recommended that you reach a goal of 10,000 steps per day. The average person walks 3,000 - 4,500 steps in 30 minutes when walking briskly. Walking has many physical, emotional, and social benefits and assists in the fight against obesity, cardiovascular disease and other illnesses associated with inactivity. As a member of the program you will receive a pedometer, personal tracking sheets and other walking resources to get you started for a $15 deposit. Once the pedometer has been returned, you will receive your deposit back. If you are interested in participating in the pedometer loan program you can either call Donna @ 388-4600 ext 110 or stop by the Town office. | Some helpful and informative links:
~Manitoba In Motion
~Manitoba Fitness Council
~Manitoba Healthy Living, Youth and Seniors
 ~Active Healthy Kids Canada
~Active Living Coalition for Older Adults
~Experience Manitoba's Trails
~South East Sno-Riders
~Bodyworks Toolkit
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What is Standing in Your Way?
"I am too busy to exercise."
- Make physical activity a priority. Schedule some time each week to be active, and put it on your calendar. Try waking up a half-hour earlier to walk, scheduling lunchtime workouts, or taking an evening fitness class.
- Build physical activity into your routine chores. Rake the yard, wash the car, or do housework.
- Make family time physically active. Plan a weekend hike through a park, a family softball game, or an evening walk around the block.
"I am just too tired to work out at the end of my day."
- Think about the other health benefits of physical activity. Regular physical activity may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also lower your odds of having heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer. Research shows that people who are overweight, active, and fit live longer than people who are not overweight but are inactive and unfit. (Also, physical activity may lift your mood and increase your energy level.)
- Get fit by doing something fun. Play a team sport, work in a garden, or learn a new dance.
- Train for a charity event. You can work to help others while you work out.
"Get on a treadmill or stationary bike? Boring!"
- Meet a friend for workouts. If your buddy is on the next bike or treadmill, your workout will be less boring.
- Watch TV or listen to music while you walk or pedal indoors.
- Get outside. A change in scenery can relieve your boredom, and there are fantastic trails at Hespeler Park to bike or jog on!
"I don't want to hurt myself."
- Start slowly. If you are starting a new physical activity program, go slow at the start. Even if you are doing an activity that you once did well, start up again slowly to lower your risk of injury or burnout.
- Choose moderate-intensity physical activities. You are not likely to hurt yourself by walking 30 minutes per day. Doing vigorous physical activities may increase your risk for injury, but moderate-intensity physical activity carries a lower risk.
- Take a class. A knowledgeable group fitness instructor should be able to teach you how to move with proper form and lower risk for injury. The instructor can watch your actions during class and let you know if you are doing things right. Contact the Rec and Wellness Department to find out what's available in Niverville!
- Work with a personal trainer. A certified personal trainer should be able to show you how to warm up, cool down, use fitness equipment like treadmills and dumbbells, and use proper form to help lower your risk for injury. Personal training sessions may be cheap or costly, so find out about fees before making an appointment.
"I have never been into sports."
- Find a physical activity that you enjoy. You do not have to be an athlete to benefit from physical activity. Try yoga, curling, hiking, or planting a garden.
- Choose an activity that you can stick with, like walking. Just put one foot in front of the other. Use the time you spend walking to relax, talk with a friend or family member, or just enjoy the scenery.
"I do not want to spend a lot of money to join a gym or buy workout gear."
- Choose free activities. Take your children to the park to play or take a walk.
- Find out if your job offers any discounts on memberships. Some companies get lower membership rates at fitness or community centers. Other companies will even pay for part of an employee’s membership fee.
- Choose physical activities that do not require any special gear. Walking requires only a pair of sturdy shoes. To dance, just turn on some music.
"I do not have anyone to watch my kids while I work out."
- Do something physically active with your kids. Kids need physical activity too. No matter what age your kids are, you can find an activity you can do together. Dance to music, take a walk, run around the park, or play basketball or soccer together.
- Take turns with another parent to watch the kids. One of you minds the kids while the other one works out.
- Hire a baby-sitter or try exercising when the kids are sleeping.
"My family and friends are not physically active."
- Do not let that stop you. Do it for yourself. Enjoy the rewards you get from working out, such as better sleep, a happier mood, more energy, and a stronger body.
- Join a class or sports league where people count on you to show up. If your beach volleyball team counts on you, you will not want to miss a workout, even if your family and friends are not involved.
"I would be embarrassed if my neighbors or friends saw me exercising."
- Does it really matter? You are doing something positive for your health and that is something to be proud of. You may even inspire others to get physically active too.
- Invite a friend or neighbor to join you. You may feel less self-conscious if you are not alone.
- Go to a park, nature trail, or fitness center to be physically active.
"I have a health problem (diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis) that I do not want to make worse."
- Talk with your health care professional. Most health problems are helped by physical activity. Find out what physical activities you can safely do and follow advice about length and intensity of workouts.
"I have an injury and do not know what physical activities, if any, I can do."
- Talk with your health care professional. Ask your doctor or physical therapist about what physical activities you can safely perform. Follow advice about length and intensity of workouts.
- Start slowly. Take it easy at first and see how you feel before trying more challenging workouts. Stop if you feel pain.
- Work with a personal trainer. A knowledgeable personal trainer should be able to help you design a fitness plan around your injury.
"I am too busy to exercise."
- Make physical activity a priority. Schedule some time each week to be active, and put it on your calendar. Try waking up a half-hour earlier to walk, scheduling lunchtime workouts, or taking an evening fitness class.
- Build physical activity into your routine chores. Rake the yard, wash the car, or do housework.
- Make family time physically active. Plan a weekend hike through a park, a family softball game, or an evening walk around the block.
"I am just too tired to work out at the end of my day."
- Think about the other health benefits of physical activity. Regular physical activity may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It may also lower your odds of having heart disease, type 2 diabetes, or cancer. Research shows that people who are overweight, active, and fit live longer than people who are not overweight but are inactive and unfit. (Also, physical activity may lift your mood and increase your energy level.)
- Get fit by doing something fun. Play a team sport, work in a garden, or learn a new dance.
- Train for a charity event. You can work to help others while you work out.
"Get on a treadmill or stationary bike? Boring!"
- Meet a friend for workouts. If your buddy is on the next bike or treadmill, your workout will be less boring.
- Watch TV or listen to music while you walk or pedal indoors.
- Get outside. A change in scenery can relieve your boredom, and there are fantastic trails at Hespeler Park to bike or jog on!
"I don't want to hurt myself."
- Start slowly. If you are starting a new physical activity program, go slow at the start. Even if you are doing an activity that you once did well, start up again slowly to lower your risk of injury or burnout.
- Choose moderate-intensity physical activities. You are not likely to hurt yourself by walking 30 minutes per day. Doing vigorous physical activities may increase your risk for injury, but moderate-intensity physical activity carries a lower risk.
- Take a class. A knowledgeable group fitness instructor should be able to teach you how to move with proper form and lower risk for injury. The instructor can watch your actions during class and let you know if you are doing things right. Contact the Rec and Wellness Department to find out what's available in Niverville!
- Work with a personal trainer. A certified personal trainer should be able to show you how to warm up, cool down, use fitness equipment like treadmills and dumbbells, and use proper form to help lower your risk for injury. Personal training sessions may be cheap or costly, so find out about fees before making an appointment.
"I have never been into sports."
- Find a physical activity that you enjoy. You do not have to be an athlete to benefit from physical activity. Try yoga, curling, hiking, or planting a garden.
- Choose an activity that you can stick with, like walking. Just put one foot in front of the other. Use the time you spend walking to relax, talk with a friend or family member, or just enjoy the scenery.
"I do not want to spend a lot of money to join a gym or buy workout gear."
- Choose free activities. Take your children to the park to play or take a walk.
- Find out if your job offers any discounts on memberships. Some companies get lower membership rates at fitness or community centers. Other companies will even pay for part of an employee’s membership fee.
- Choose physical activities that do not require any special gear. Walking requires only a pair of sturdy shoes. To dance, just turn on some music.
"I do not have anyone to watch my kids while I work out."
- Do something physically active with your kids. Kids need physical activity too. No matter what age your kids are, you can find an activity you can do together. Dance to music, take a walk, run around the park, or play basketball or soccer together.
- Take turns with another parent to watch the kids. One of you minds the kids while the other one works out.
- Hire a baby-sitter or try exercising when the kids are sleeping.
"My family and friends are not physically active."
- Do not let that stop you. Do it for yourself. Enjoy the rewards you get from working out, such as better sleep, a happier mood, more energy, and a stronger body.
- Join a class or sports league where people count on you to show up. If your beach volleyball team counts on you, you will not want to miss a workout, even if your family and friends are not involved.
"I would be embarrassed if my neighbors or friends saw me exercising."
- Does it really matter? You are doing something positive for your health and that is something to be proud of. You may even inspire others to get physically active too.
- Invite a friend or neighbor to join you. You may feel less self-conscious if you are not alone.
- Go to a park, nature trail, or fitness center to be physically active.
"I have a health problem (diabetes, heart disease, asthma, arthritis) that I do not want to make worse."
- Talk with your health care professional. Most health problems are helped by physical activity. Find out what physical activities you can safely do and follow advice about length and intensity of workouts.
"I have an injury and do not know what physical activities, if any, I can do."
- Talk with your health care professional. Ask your doctor or physical therapist about what physical activities you can safely perform. Follow advice about length and intensity of workouts.
- Start slowly. Take it easy at first and see how you feel before trying more challenging workouts. Stop if you feel pain.
- Work with a personal trainer. A knowledgeable personal trainer should be able to help you design a fitness plan around your injury.
