Health and Fitness for Busy Parents

Paula Dewar outlines the importance of exercise provides some useful tips on how to bring physical activity into our everyday lives.

Many of us want to fit exercise into our lives but often we seem to be so busy that regular exercise gets neglected. It is a fact that although we are so busy we are not as active as previous generations have been. We drive everywhere, watch more television, spend time at computers and change television and radio channels with remote controls! The result of this is an increase in the incidences of coronary heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancers. Studies have also shown that there is a link between these diseases and obesity.
However a few simple lifestyle changes involving exercise and diet can reduce the chances of suffering from these diseases and give us more energy to deal with the challenges that life throws at us! The American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM) recommend that we exercise for 20 to 60 minutes, three to five times per week. That seems like a lot doesn`t it? Now that does not mean that we have to sweat it out at the gym most days of the week! If you can make a trip to the local gym, that's great but be sure to book an induction session with a fitness professional there to be sure you are getting a safe and effective programme suited to your needs.

However, as busy parents with small children the gym may not be an option. The good news is that any aerobic activity like walking, jogging or dancing means that the muscles of the arms and legs are used rhythmically raising our breathing and heart rate. According to the British Heart Foundation, the more we use our muscles the more efficient our bodies become and by increasing our activity levels we may notice a difference in energy levels and well being in as little as eight weeks. Everyday activity boosts may include parking in the furthest bay from the supermarket, taking walks with the children, using stairs where appropriate, even dancing in the kitchen or "power walking" with the buggy!
Exercising with the children is significant too. Not only is it fun (play with their skipping rope, ball or hoopla) but it also sends healthy heart messages to them, encouraging them to lead active lifestyles too.

Any activity is better than none, so switch off that television, stick on your favourite music and off you go!

Paula Dewar MSc, ACSM Cert, is a Personal Trainer based at Hunters Gym,Tonbridge and can be contacted on 07855 417850 or paula@dewar854.fslife.co.uk