Spring is here! In many parts of the country, the weather is warming up and folks are ready to start going outside again. Some people tend to do more activity when the weather is nicer, since cold air can sometimes cause COPD to flare up. Do you notice that your activity levels change with the seasons? I know mine do! It’s a good idea to track your activity levels and look for changes and patterns.
Tracking your activity can help you to stay on track and keep your fitness levels up. Increasing your fitness and activity levels can also improve your shortness of breath and other COPD symptoms. You know the old saying, “if you don’t use it, you lose it.” Adding a little bit of activity to each day can build up to improve your stamina and help you reach your health goals. Every little bit counts. Walking a few extra steps a day might not sound like much, but if you use a fitness tracker or pedometer, pretty soon you’ll see that you’ve added quite a few steps to your week! Fitness trackers and pedometers count every step you take so that you can see how many steps you took each day. And before you know it, you’ll have walked further than you ever thought possible. No amount of activity is too small. It all adds up to help improve your breathing and stamina. But be sure to talk to your health care team before increasing your activity levels. It is important to exercise safely and avoid overdoing it.
How do you like to track your activity? Some people like to use a Fit Bit or smart phone fitness tracker. Others like to make check off sheets and to-do lists. The tool you use to track your activity doesn’t matter. What’s important is that it works well for you. Some people don’t track their activity at all, and instead just commit to exercising every day as part of their usual routine. This works for some people, but there will always be times where you don’t feel well enough to exercise that day and need to take a break for a few days. It’s ok to take a break, especially if you are feeling short of breath. You might need to slowly ramp up your activity again once you’re feeling better.
Now we’d like to hear from you! How do you like to track your activity? Share your tips and tricks with us and learn more about how to exercise safely with COPD by downloading a free copy of the COPD Foundation’s guide to Exercise and COPD. And if you aren’t tracking your activity yet, you can find a free activity tracking calendar in the COPD Foundation’s COPD Pocket Consultant Guide smartphone app. I can’t wait to hear from you all!