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Lack of Exercise -
Jean Shaw© -
....................................................
I have to admit I've put on a considerable amount of weight over the past year and
I know why. It's not because I've been eating more, but rather exercising less.
I've
been writing another book and my research has had me virtually glued to the chair
in front of the computer and only my brain and fingers have been getting a workout.
That's my excuse, but not for much longer as the book is almost done. The stupid
thing is I feel really lethargic. I know just a few minutes exercise a day would
really energise me and most likely make me more productive. However, I can't seem
to drag myself away from the computer and find myself saying things like, "I'll just
do this first", or I'll do it "later", "tomorrow", "next week", and the truth is
I just haven't done anything.
As a result the pounds have piled on.
According to
the latest BBC television news, half the nation will be obese within the next twenty-
Obviously, not everyone is writing a book so what's happening?
Well, it appears there's a lack of education as far as food labelling is concerned
and people are having a hard time deciding what's good or bad. Despite the government
recommendation of a simple traffic light system on packaging which clearly indicates
green is good, orange requires caution and red is bad, some major supermarket chains
have adopted their own versions which appear to be confusing everyone. Maybe that's
the idea?
Advertising too is being blamed for targeting young children with delicious
but unhealthy snacks. Manufacturers know youngsters can be very influential when
it comes to items in the trolley at the supermarket checkouts and of course they
are the shoppers of tomorrow so it makes sense to get to them early.
Another important factor is the lack of exercise at school, especially for girls.
I went to an all girls school, and whilst admittedly I left thirty six years ago,
I could only see two pupils who I would consider to be "fat" on my dreaded final
annual school photo.
Back then we only actually had sports lessons twice a week but
they were double lessons and I hated them, mostly because we had to wear horrible
big navy knickers and a white tee-
Oh yes,
we also had athletics in the summer and did running races like sprints, hurdles and
relay, and threw the javelin, shot, discus and rounders ball. We also attempted the
long jump and high jump. I distinctly remember landing on a rake once which someone
had left in the sand. I wasn't too badly injured and my Fosbury Flop got me out of
the rest of the lesson so I wasn't too upset.
Of course, back then, we also used
to either walk everywhere or ride our bikes and it seems the youth of today do neither.
It's not actually their fault as we've become a society obsessed with safety and
a fear of letting our children out of our sight but I do have to admit there are
some strange people around now. Also, there are far fewer safe areas to play these
days as many parks and playing fields have been built on, and many big building firms
who get permission to build huge estates on the basis they will provide play parks,
etc. seldom do.
As a teenager I never ventured far but as my parents were unable
to ferry me backwards and forwards to the local village dances I often found myself
hitch hiking. Actually that just meant standing on the corner at the crossroads and
someone would always stop and give me a lift, but in those days everyone knew everyone
else so the likelihood of a stranger picking me up never crossed my mind. Now I wouldn't
dare contemplate either hitching a ride or giving anyone else a ride which is a shame.
It's a sign of the times though, and I reflect upon that sadly every time I see the
face of an unlucky hitchhiker in my rear view mirror.
Going back though to my younger
days, and outside of school I always used to exercise although I never thought of
it in those terms. Rather, it was having unsupervised "fun" with my friends, something
which also seems to be a thing of the past.
Every week night until I started work
I used to play football. This was long before it was fashionable for girls to do
so and whilst you would never guess it now, I was quite good. I had lots of energy
and could run. My friend, Josephine also played football, but in goal, and was extremely
good too. I can picture her now diving for the ball with her long thick hair tied
up in bunches with elastic bands.
In case you are wondering why we didn't play more feminine games it was because we both had older brothers and went to a very small school which only took in pupils from the village and local droves. In the final year of junior school there were some problems with the building and our class of only eighteen was housed in the Village Hall.
There were twelve boys and six girls so our games lessons were football, cricket
and rugby and so I grew up either kicking or throwing a ball at a brick wall with
some white lines painted on it.
At night a gang of us would meet up at the local
recreation ground, pick two teams and play football until it was too dark to see
the ball. Then we'd either run or ride our bikes straight home. It kept us fit and
cost nothing.
Now, it's very rare to see children playing any sport or taking any
exercise at all unless the games are paid for and organised. Parents drop off and
collect their offspring, all of whom have their own mobile phones.
For those children
whose parents can't afford these activites the opportunity for exercise is limited.
They either spend most of their lives in front of a television or computer screen,
or hang around street corners. It's no wonder the nation is getting bigger and less
sociable.
As I said I have an excuse for gaining weight but really I shouldn't need
one. Exercise should be as fundamental as breathing, not something I have to schedule
in. I know lack of exercise and excess weight is a recipe for major health issues
so unless I want to sleepwalk my way into obesity and be part of the aforementioned
BBC statistic in a few years time I need to do something about it now.
How about
you?