What is “Active?”
Every time I go to the doctor I always get the same question: “Are you active, do you have an ‘active’ lifestyle?” I never know how to answer with my life as it is. I sit around on my computer for hours a day, but I also hang student walls in my classroom, move heavy boxes around, reorganize, get up on ladders and staple stuff in. I run across campus quite often in a hurry, I walk (more lately). I don’t think I am inactive, but it doesn’t seem like I exercise much either!
Having lately been diagnosed with some “getting older” ailments (I’m 38) I have been forced to look at my habits and my diet. My wife is helping immensely with the diet part by focusing on healthy low-cholesterol recipes and I have been trying to stretch my legs more to get out and walk. We have a beautiful street to walk down in the mornings and evenings. I think I can reason to say that active means 20 minutes or more of planned (not accidental) heart rate increased exercise where you sweat and where the blood courses through all the veins and arteries. If I am not doing that at least 3-5 times a week, then I am probably not active. What do you say?
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe via 
-or- 
I'm Damien Riley, author and teacher. Here you'll find "think outside the box" posts on psychology and inspiration. 
I never know how to answer that either. I run like a nut all day, but most of it is driving and I guess I’m not really moving when I do that. I am really good in the summertime…walking, swimming, biking, etc..and less in the wintertime, I guess, but I do go rock chicking probably once a week (which means four hours of dancing) and in the winter I try to take dance classes..still doing belly dancing…not that you have to do bellydancing, but there’s so many affordable classes now at park districts, etc. for exercising! I can’t stand machines and health clubs but there’s so many differnt kind of exercise classes everywhere..you should try one!!!
Jessica
Whoa! You da girl! Yeah . . . the walkin’ 2 x a day is good for now. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step ;)
Damien, there are no 2 ways about it. You are not active ha ha ha. Sorry for the little joke at your expense, but we computer-types (a 90s phrase actually, but you are an old-timer :) ) are NOT active.