New research this week shines the spotlight on how being physically active may help you improve your heart health by up to 90 percent and lower your risk of getting Alzheimer's disease later in life, regardless of your age.

Couch potatoes may think that changing their lifestyles to include more physical activity is tough, but they should remember the task is getting active, not becoming an Olympic athlete.

Set your first goal of simply starting to move more each day. As in the words of famed educator Marva Collins, "Success doesn't come to you . . . . You go to it."

If you've decided to take the advice to get more active, health experts first suggest you visit your doctor for a complete physical exam. Follow your doctor's recommendations on getting physically active.

Start slowly, hide the remote

Then if you get a clean bill of health, try these tips from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to get going more easily, if you've been inactive:

 •  Start slowly and gradually work your way up to more daily - and possibly more intense - activity;

 •  Park further away from your office building, grocery store or other location so you can increase your walking;

 •  Hide the remote control for the TV so you have to walk to the set;

 •  Take the stairs, not the elevator;

 •  Walk, don't drive, to the grocery, school or other locations if they're close to your house;

 •  Play with your children or pets;

 •  Get a buddy, who'll help you keep up with your exercise plans and you, in turn, can do the same for your friend;

•  Take "moving breaks" at work, rather than coffee or smoking breaks;

 •  Think of yourself and act now not as a couch potato, but as an active, physically fit person;

  •  Develop the discipline to make exercise part of your daily and weekly schedule, no matter how busy you may be - and even write the word 'Exercise' in big, bold letters on your calendar to remind you.