TIPS FOR ENGAGING IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Talk to your healthcare team about completing a pre-exercise assessment (PAR-Q)
• Focus on aerobic exercise that uses large muscle groups; and exercise 3-5 times per week for 20-40 minutes.
• If 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity is too challenging, short bouts of exercise for a total of 20 minutes a day is a good starting point.
• Moderate to vigorous activity means that you can speak, but not have a full conversation without losing your breath. You should be sweating and breathing heavily.
• Stop exercising if you feel faint, nauseous, or extremely hot.
• Stay hydrated – drink water before, during, and especially after exercise.
• Ensure you have eaten a nutritious meal before exercise to help maintain blood sugar levels.
• Take at least two days of rest a week.
• Inform your friends, teammates, and/or coaches of your epilepsy and your first aid protocol.
• If you are going for a walk or jog, inform someone of your route and how long you are expected to be out.
• Wear a medic alert bracelet or carry a card that identifies your epilepsy and first aid protocol.
• Take your medications as directed while engaging in regular physical activity.
• Wear protective gear associated with your activity (i.e. helmet when biking or roller skating, etc)

Simple Ways to Incorporate Physical Activity into your Day

• Walk to your destination, or get off the bus a few stops away from your destination.
• Find a local walking or jogging group and make some friends while you exercise!
• Try out a beginner fitness class; such as yoga, Zumba, or Pilates.
• Volunteer your time by walking dogs at your local animal shelter.
• Housework such as vacuuming, raking leaves and shoveling snow counts as physical activity too!