Exercise pyramid is the path to fitness.

With more and more information being released about the appropriate amounts and levels of exercise for optimal fitness, the National Exercise for Life Institute (NEFLI) has developed an exercise pyramid. Similar to the widely used food pyramid, it provides recommended amounts and benefits of the different types of exercise activity, as well as guidance for undertaking any workout program. The exercise pyramid is designed to help people understand the various components of physical activity, take steps to increase their personal activity levels, and reduce confusion.

"From enhancing quality of life to reducing the risk of heart disease, adopting a regular exercise program has been shown to be as equally strong a health influence as quitting smoking or even improving eating habits," explains Jeff Zwiefel, an exercise physiologist and NEFLI director. "At the base of the pyramid are daily lifestyle activities, such as doing housework and yard work, taking the steps instead of the elevator, or walking instead of driving. These need to be the foundations of our lifestyles. While many Americans are already at this basic level, their goals should be to work up the pyramid, increasing their physical activity in order to gain additional health and fitness benefits. Moving to the next levels on the pyramid, a person should begin to integrate a regular program of planned or...

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