During the holidays, overeating and New Year’s resolutions cause many people to think about weight loss. Focusing on physical activity for weight loss can reap great benefits. If you find a place for physical activity in your life, other healthy habits will likely follow.

Researchers have found that people who take walks during their lunch break consume fewer calories for lunch and typically eat healthier foods. A quick 20-minute walk can enhance metabolism and burn 111 calories (based on a 160 pound person walking a 20-minute mile). The walk may boost energy levels and help people feel healthy.

Experimenting with different types of exercise can be a fun way to shed excess pounds. Enrolling in a class such as karate, yoga, or dance is a good way to get active. Also, taking up a fun hobby, such as paint ball or golf, can be a great way to get outside and burn calories. If you have extra cash left over from the holidays, investing in a jump rope, hula hoop, or trampoline can also be a creative way to incorporate physical activity into your day.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular physical activity helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles, reduces the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseas, and decreases feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being.

Despite the proven benefits of physical activity, more than half of American adults do not get enough physical activity to provide health benefits. A quarter of adults are not active at all during their leisure time. The CDC states that adults should strive to meet either of the following physical activity recommendations:

• Engage in moderate-intensity physical activities for at least 30 minutes on 5 or more days of the week (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American College of Sports Medicine)

         OR

• Engage in vigorous-intensity physical activity 3 or more days per week for 20 or more minutes per occasion (Healthy People 2010)