We’ve added new physical activity videos to the Spend Smart. Eat Smart. website and this time we partnered with Iowa State Athletics to have Cyclone athletes in the videos. How fun! Arianna, Maya and Morgan did a great job leading the videos.

Arianna is a guard on the Cyclone Women’s Basketball Team and she leads us through a 5-minute cardio workout. This up-tempo workout will get your heart pumping! During the workout, exercises are done for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest. You can follow along with Maya for a modified version of the exercises.

Regular aerobic activity has many benefits. Here are just a few.

• Strengthen your heart: A stronger heart doesn’t have to beat as fast. It also pumps blood more efficiently, improving blood flow to all parts of your body.
• Manage chronic conditions: Aerobic activity may help lower blood pressure and control blood sugar. It can also reduce pain and improve function in people with arthritis.
• Ward off viral illnesses: Aerobic activity activates your immune system in a good way. This may leave you less susceptible to viral illnesses, such as colds and the flu.
• Boost your mood: Aerobic activity may ease the feelings of depression, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. It can improve your mental well-being and your self-esteem.

Next week I’ll share about the new Upper Body and Lower Body Strength workouts.