Why exercise really could be the best medicine

According to a recent report it's estimated that in the next 15 years more people will die from chronic diseases then were killed in both World Wars!

Most of these chronic diseases are preventable by eating healthily and exercising regularly.

Experts agree that a lack of exercise has a harmful effect on our health and becoming more physical active will help reduce the risks of getting heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and certain cancers.

It's estimated if things don't improve by 2050 obesity will cost the NHS £45 billion! Childhood obesity will be a huge problem with 1 in 3 clinically obese and cancers and heart disease increasing dramatically among this group.

At present physical inactivity costs the NHS £1.5 million each year.

Due to exercise's health benefits and the added benefits to being cheaper and side effect free compared to prescription drugs, more doctors are prescribing gym membership to help combat obesity, lower blood pressure and help with depression and stress.

Those who are physically inactive will in their lifetime spend 38% more days in hospital, visit their GP 5.5% more times and have 12% more nurse visits.

However fear not it's never too late to start to become more active to improve your health. Studies show that at any age the body will respond and become stronger and fitter with moderate exercise. Also studies have shown that the greatest improvement is when the least fittest become more active.

As well as helping to prevent chronic diseases, long term exercise can help delay the onset of dementia and increase independence in the elderly.

Current government guildelines suggest that we should perform at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise 5 times a week such as walking, swimming, jogging or any other activity that will help increase the heart rate, cause prespiration and become slightly out of breath. You can do 30 minutes straight off or you can do it over the course of the day - it all adds up.

If you are not used to exercising always start off at a gentle pace, listen to your body and stop if you feel any sharp pain. As you get used to the exercise you can slowly increase the intensity over the course of a few weeks. If in any doubt consult your GP or a fitness professional.

Begin to get more active today and make that first step towards a fitter you.

Breakfast-Why it's the most important meal of the day.

In my business I hear a lot of excuses why people avoid breakfast, "I can't eat that early," "I'm trying to lose weight," "I don't have time." And I always tell them that missing out on such an important meal is doing them a disservice.

Breakfast literally means to break fast. Your body has slept an average of 6-8 hours with no nutrition and once it wakes up it needs food to top up its depleated energy stores. Eating first thing in the morning boosts your metabolism, the faster this is the more efficient the body is at burning fat. Also eating at this time will reduce the risk of grabbing something when you're really hungry which is often an unhealthy choice.

Here's a few tips to help you.

1. If you'e not used to breakfast then start light by having a slice of wholemeal toast, a protein shake or fruit smoothie.

2. Try to eat a breakfast full of fibre and complex carbs such as wholemeal toast, porridge, Bran Flakes, All-Bran or muesli. These all take longer to digest so will keep you fuller for longer and will therefore avoid snacking on those unhealthy snacks later on in the day.

3. Avoid high sugary cereals such as 'Crunchy Nut Cornflakes,' which contains 35g of sugar per 100g. Read the back of the packet, all of its ingredients are listed with greatest first. If sugar comes in the top three-avoid.

4. A glass of juice contributes to 1 of your 5 a day and will help boost your body first thing in the morning. However if you're trying to lose weight don't go too heavy with it. After all it still contains sugar, even though it's natural your body will still store it as fat if you don't burn it as energy.

5. Mix it up a bit, you'll get bored if you have the same thing each day, variety is the spice of life after all.

New venue for Family Fitness

Good news for Family Fitness. The Salvation Army in Forest Rd has kindly allowed us to run this class at their hall and so we can continue with this class on Tuesdays at 10.30-11.30am.

For those new to this it's an hour's fitness class, first half is stand up exercises such as basic kickboxing/boxing moves to help fat burn, tone muscles and increase stamina. The last half involves mat work exercises often found in Yoga & Pilates, which will help strengthen muscles and posture.

This is open to all parents and their children up to the age of 5.

Price is £1.50 per family (1 parent 2 children) Any bigger £2.00

If someone is 3 stone overweight

If you are 3 stone overweight:-

13x more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

4x more likely to have high blood pressure

3x more likely to have a heart attack.

Have a greater risk of osteoarthritis, due to the extra weight on the joints.

More susceptible to gallbladder disease and gallstones due to raised cholesterol levels.

At greater risk of developing several types of cancer.

(Stats from medical sources including The World Cancer Research Fund).