While some people have fallen into more sedentary habits during the pandemic, YES 933 DJ Hazelle Teo has, in fact, picked up the pace of her physical activity over the past two years.
Much of her inspiration comes from her 100-year-old grandmother, who stays as active as she can despite her age.
“My grandmother stays active by walking around the house and doing chores like laundry and dishes,” said Hazelle, 27. “I can see how her perseverance has paid off, considering how mobile she is for her age. . I would like to be like this when she is older.”
Hazelle, a dance and fitness enthusiast, currently keeps fit in a variety of ways, such as doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or running around the neighborhood in the middle of her busy schedule. This is in addition to dance rehearsals and weekly training sessions with a personal trainer.
WHY MOVE?
Singaporeans can do more when it comes to physical activity. The National Population Health Survey (NPHS) 2020 found that only a third of Singaporeans are physically active during their leisure time. This is despite the many health benefits of getting enough physical activity.
Dr. Aaron Sim, deputy director of the Division of Weight Management and Physical Activity at the Health Promotion Board, shared that adequate physical activity can help reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and certain types Of cancer. It also improves cognitive health, sleep quality, and mental health.
“To obtain substantial health benefits, the average adult should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity during the week. This can be broken down into shorter bouts of exercise, such as 30 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) a day,” Dr. Sim said.
Moderate-intensity physical activities refer to activities that cause a noticeable increase in breathing and heart rate—think brisk walking, hiking, and recreational biking, where one can carry on a conversation, but not get enough breath to sing.
Vigorous-intensity physical activities, such as jogging, aerobics, and sports such as soccer and badminton, cause your breathing rate and heart rate to increase significantly. Those who engage in such activities will find it difficult to carry on a conversation, even if they are not out of breath.
SIMPLE LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS TO GET IN SHAPE
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