KeepActive blog
Virtual walking challenges can help people move more while they are running. A large app study found participants averaged 23% more steps during competitions, although badges and points alone appear to make a smaller difference. Making your goal public can create accountability, Facebook groups can offer encouragement and fundraising for...
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Virtual fitness challenges let Australians walk, run, ride or complete an activity goal on their own schedule while still gaining structure, progress tracking and a shared purpose. They can be especially useful for beginners, busy parents, shift workers and people who live far from organised events. Here is how they...
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A 2026 meta-analysis of 71 studies found group and individual exercise programs produced broadly similar results. Group formats showed a small functional advantage, while social connection may depend more on how a group is designed than simply exercising beside other people.
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Poor sleep can make everything harder, from mood and memory to finding the energy to stay active. A 2025 randomised controlled trial of 160 older women found that 12 weeks of supervised resistance training improved sleep quality, anxiety, mood, cognitive function, and physical capacity. The useful part is that the...
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A 2026 Curtin University study followed Australian men after they completed the AFL-linked Aussie-FIT program to see who stayed active and why. The answers were less about motivation and more about structure, routine and social connection. Men who kept moving usually had regular group activities, clear plans and a sense...
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Most people do not stop exercising because they are lazy or unmotivated. They stop because they slowly lose trust in their own promises. Mental fitness coach Maya Raichoora draws a useful distinction between external confidence and quieter self-trust, the kind that helps you keep showing up on cold mornings and...
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A new Australian-led study suggests that less than four minutes a day of vigorous movement, spread across everyday life, may be linked to a substantially lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. The research shifts the conversation away from formal workouts and toward small, intense bursts like climbing stairs or carrying...
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Google’s new Fitbit Air lands in Australia on 27 May for $199, betting that less screen time might mean more movement. It is lighter, quieter and designed to stay out of your way. But can a fitness tracker really change your walking habits? Australian-led research says step counts matter, but...
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If "just start walking" advice has failed you twice, the problem usually isn't the exercise — it's the lack of structure. Australia has two large, free, beginner-built community programs most adults have never heard of: parkrun and Heart Foundation Walking. Both are scheduled, volunteer-run, and full of walkers. This piece...
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Every June, tens of thousands of Australians take on the Push-Up Challenge — a 24-day event pairing daily push-up targets with mental health facts. A University of Melbourne study tracking over 42,000 participants found the challenge led to significant reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, and made participants twice as...
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