HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-04-21, Page 1212
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Wedneedsy. Apr 21. 1999
It's spring...
time to get active!
By Craig Bradford
'IlMES-ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — Ah April. The winter blahs
are over. March madness is a memory.
It's time for spring cleaning, getting the
garden ready for planting, putting the
winter clothes away and thinking of the
summer heat that's yet to come.
And it's time to get active.
Winter for most people is a time of
hibernation. Yes, there are winter sports
and activities like skating and skiing, but.
most people just cuddle up with a good
book in front of the fire. Now that the
snow is gone for good and the sun is
warming up the ground, people are get-
ting the itch to get moving.
And get moving they should. Huron
County Health Unit Healthy Lifestyle team
member Sandra Feltz says inactivity is
one of the leading causes of many dis-'
eases including heart disease, osteoporo-
sis, adult onset diabetes and colon cancer.
Twenty-five per cent of all deaths due to
heart disease are caused by inactivity.
Feltz said being inactive carries the satne
health risk as sinoking a pack of cigarettes
a day.
On top of that, 63 per cent of all
Canadians (about the same ratio in
Ontario and .Huron County), or two out of
three of us, are physically inactive. That's
a lot of couch potatoes.
And children are at risk too. Forty per
Cent of children have at least one risk of
heart disease — inactivity.
Besides not getting sick, there are lots of
good reasons to get moving. Getting some
exercise helps us sleep better, gives us
more energy, reduces• stress, relaxes us,
helps us maintain good body weights and
maintains healthy joints, bones and mus-
cles.
To achieve a healthy active lifestyle
doesn't' mean you have to sign up for a
aerobics class or get a membership at a
swank health club
(though both are good ideas).
Feltz said people who are
inactive that want to get out
of their rut should shoot for
an hour of light activity
every day. Light activi-
ty includes walking (the
number one light activi-
ty), stretching, light gar-
dening or even playing
catch with the kids.
"We're awake for 15
hours a day," Feltz said.
"It's not too hard to fit
in one hour of activity." /i
Even housework counts.
Instead of putting off vacuuming,
dusting or cleaning windows,
think of it as getting active.
It doesn't have to be
60 minutes all at once. Feltz said breaking
the activity up to six 10 -minute stretches
is fine. Walk to the corner store for bread
or milk instead of getting behind the
wheel. Take the stairs instead of the eleva-
tor. Stretch or even wiggle your toes at
P
your desk. Ask a co-worker to walk
around the block with you at lunch or
break. Take 10 minutes out of channel or
Internet surfing toputter in the back yard.
It's that simple.
One good idea is to post easy exercises
at the photocopier, fax machine, water
cooler or coffee machine — any where
people are prone to stand around for a
stretch of time.
Feltz agreed that walking is probably the
easiest light activity for most people.
"Walking is great," she said. "It's cheap
and you don't need special equipment."
Once you'• e gotten the hang of light
activity you an graduate to moderate
activity that includes brisk walking, bicy-
cling, in-line skating or swimming. Thirty
minutes a day over four days a week is all
you need to maintain a healthy active
lifestyle, Feltz said.
"That's probably what most people
should aim for," she said. "The heart is a
muscle, it should be exercised too."
It's important that inactive people don't
start out exercising strenuously.
"Don't just go out and play tennis," Feltz
said. "Always consult with your doctor."
Those people looking for some incentive
to get active will get some with the
Summer Active national campaign that
kicks off May 1 and lasts till June 15. Feltz
called the campaign a "celebration of
healthy living," something to "get people
moving a little more."
The focus will be on adults who will be
asked to fill out ,a 'personal challenge log'
documenting their activity. The key for-
mula will be '30 X 4 X 2' — 30 minutes of
moderate activity four times a week times
two weeks equals "a healthier happier
you."
Those participating can send their per-
sonal challenge log to participACTION for
a chance to win one of 250 prizes includ-
ing 'I' -shirts, running shoes and bicycles.
Contact your local rec centre or the Huron
• County Health Unit at 1-800-
265-5184 for more infor-
mation. •
If you have less time to
- spare, 20 minutes of vig-
orous activity like jogging or
step classes four times
44 it
° vi a week will maintain
L.
!irk' 2- i
a healthy level of
activity.
South Huron Rec
Centre program co-
ordinator Jo -Anne
Fields agrees with
Feltz that you don't
have to be a fitness
freak to stay healthy.
41-1
� "You don't have to
PORTI NITIg ,$, do strenuous activity
to get fit," she said.
"You 'can walk through
MacNaughton Park or Morrison Dam.
Wash the car. Just get out and do some-
thing. Don't be a couch potato."
(See the sidebar on this page to find out
what the Rec Centre has to offer.)
Enjoying the great outdoors is a perfect
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Ilore are some activities offered through the Rec Centre:
*Exeter Karate .school. l'xc;elient fitness and self-defcnre training program in karate
and weapons under the instruction of Sense' Jeff 13alsdon. Operates all year round on
Tuesday. and Thursday from 7-8:3t) p.in. at Exeter Public School's grym. (:all 262-
2936 for more information.
•South I luron Martial Arts. martial arts training, fitness, discipline, self-defence and
respect through. Shorin Ji Ityu Karate and Ju ,iitsu under the instruction of Sensei
s.
tl 23 )-
a on at �, .
Out for a walk. Hensall's Lucielle Beer, 62, walks the traits at Morrison Dam
almost every day with her 5 -year-old black lab, fake. "It's a great spot for the dog
and i like it too,' Beer said.
way to get active. Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority general manager
Tom Prout said the ABCA offers 95 acres
of land that people can roam on (except
for the portions underwater — that's
when a canoe comes in handy). There are
five kilometres of trails at Morrison Dam
alone.
Prout cautioned people shouldn't walk
the stretch from MacNaughton Park to
Morrison Dam without getting prior per-
mission from the private landowners to
walk on their land. He said the ABCA's
long term plan is to. develop a public trail
from MacNaughton Park to the Dam.
There are also ABCA trails at Hay
Swamp and Parkhill Conservation areas
and there are occasional guided trail
tours. Prout encourages anyone interested
in finding out more about ABCA walk-
ing/biking trails to call the ABCA at 235-
2610 or visit their offices to pick up a
map.
Prout said those using the trails should
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be aware what it takes to offer the
resource. ,
"The conservation authority is the only
public entity that has to pay property tax,”
Prout said, adding all provincial grants
are history.
Although enforcement has not been a
high priority with the ABCA, Prout said
people should make an effort to pay for
their use of ABCA lands. The ABCA offers
Conservation Lands passes which people
can use to fish, hike, bike, bird watch and
picnic for an entire year. A single pass
costs $25 a year to use any ABCA conser-
vation area and only $15 to use just one
like Morrison Dam. A family pass to use
all areas costs $50 a year or $35 a year
for just one area.
Those wishing to fish or hunt also need
the mandatory Ministry of Natural
Resources permit. •
z;
t king 'Wa ers' ctr,► theitsr'hills of South`' iiiron) ocsl' or'
to work '(7:3 )-x:;30 ate.) or in the evenings on werkdays':throu :ot the'school year.
Route maps are avail ble at the Iles Centre. Call the Her, Centre for more information.
•Swimming. The Eiteter Public Pool is located adjacent to MacNaughton Park and is
open July and August for swimmers of ail ages. Public swimming is offered Monday-
l"riday, 2-3:30 p.m, and 6:30.8 p.ni. and Saturdays and Sundays from 2-4 p.rn. The
adult only public swim is Monday -Thursday, 6-6:30 p.m. The pool also offers swim-
ming lessons and pool rentals. Call the Rec. Centre or 235-3169 after the pool opens
for more information.