Many benefits to be gained from exercise

It is time to reverse the high rate of one in four children being overweight or obese by promoting healthy nutrition which encourages children as well as adults on making healthy food choices, using correct portion sizes, and eating fruit and vegetables on a regular basis.

I appeal to the public to live active lifestyles through the use of gyms and other fun and innovative physical activities. This will produce and improve self-confidence and self-esteem in children and young adults. It should be noted that happy youth with high self-esteem are not involved in crime, and programmes that increase happiness and self-confidence could deter crime and drug use.

As you begin your workout, your brain’s neurotransmi t ters connect memory with muscle to get you moving. The feelings of satisfaction and accomplishment you experience during your workout stimulate the pleasure centre of your brain and lift your mood.

Consistent workouts at the gym will eventually help you achieve your fitness goals. When you look in the mirror and see a leaner or fitter-looking body staring back at you, you are more than likely to gain improvements in self-esteem and self-confidence.

Additionally, time spent exercising with other people in a spin or Pilates class provides you with a social environment where you can reap the emotional benefits gained through the camaraderie you develop with other gym members.

Because exercise helps use up oxygen, it causes your body to burn stored fat and helps you maintain a healthy weight. For instance, if you walk three miles a day five times a week, you can burn about 1,500 calories or nearly half a pound a week. If you don’t alter the way you eat at all and keep walking the same distance over six months, you’ll lose approximately 12 pounds. Walk the same distance for a year and you’ll drop twice the amount of weight.

It is important to remember that when it comes to physical activity, anything is better than nothing. Start with whatever seems manageable. Even a ten-minute walk on the treadmill at the gym can be beneficial to your health. You will likely be able to increase the amount and frequency of physical activity slowly as you start to feel better.

Generally, doctors recommend about 20- 30 minutes of exercise three to five times a week, but it can be a good idea to talk with your own healthcare provider to decide what’s best for you.

SIMON WRIGHT Chaguanas