A healthier happier YOU
Going to the gym has many benefits, writes Carolyn Hansen
THERE AREAFEWbasic needs that most of us, as humans, require to live a long, healthy, fulfilling life. Health is number one, because without it everything else suffers.
Happiness is second, becausewithout it nothing in our lives makes sense.
Hot— okay, so maybe it’s not a human need, butwho doesn’t appreciate a body that is fine-tuned, in shape and dripping with confidence?
Truth is, whenwe look and appear our best, our confidence soars and our selfesteem enjoys a nice boost and there’s one pathwith all the tools to get us there. Agymmembership.
If you are disciplined enough, you can perform your workouts athomebut when you look at the rewards and benefits that gymmembership offers beyond just shaping your body, it’s easy to see it’s the best return for any dollar spent.
After all, what else has the power to change our body shape, shift health so dramatically, extend life, boost happiness and offer shared friendships? Here are some of the benefits of a gymmembership:
Better health
Health is the number one concern in most people’s lives. For good reason. Everything else wedo in life is dependent on it.
Heart disease remains the number one
killer. But just one challenging exercise session lowers blood pressure for up to 16 hours. Exercise reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes because it increases sensitivity to insulin and that’s what lowers blood sugar levels. It keeps our telomeres healthy (the DNAthat protects our chromosomes from damage) and in turn slows the ageing process.
Itmakesdieting easier
Dieting is tough for most people because of the unrealistic, extreme demands made. Because their focus is usually on some sort of deprivation, they simply don’t work for the long term. But there’s another approach to losing weight.
Rather than focus on subtracting things (our psyche is tough when it comes to giving things up), we can get better, more permanent results by adding something— a gymmembership.
Agymmembership comeswith hidden benefits too. Because our bodies andminds are intimately connected, whenwe work out on a regular basis, something rather magical happens. We start to naturally lean towards and crave healthier foods, leaving fried foods, sugary snack foods, soda and other unhealthy choices far behind.
Our diets begin to change for the better
as wegravitate towards the natural, clean and vital taste of fresh fruits, veges, and other highly nutritious food choices.
As for calories burned, the scales reveal that for every 100 calories burned during a fitness session, 15 calories are burned after! That numbermayseemsmall, but not when you begin multiplying it. Burn an extra 500calories daily through diet and exercise and you’ll drop about one pound aweek. An Australian study employed overweight people in a four-week programme strength (resistance) training. The results showed that those that participated reduced their abdominal fat by 12 per cent. If they accomplished thatmuch in just four weeks, think of what you could do over time! Used together, exercise and a healthy diet result in fat soon givingway to lean muscle.
Happiness
Your body is not the only thing that’s revved up and ready to tackle the world after a visit to the gym— the mind enjoys manybenefits as well. For starters, challenging physical exercise activates growth-stimulating proteins in the brain, which helps to form healthy newcells.
It helps develop newblood vessels in the brain that, in turn, trigger the release of chemicals empowered to lightenmood or dull pain. Basically, you get to enjoy your own personal endorphin high, as dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, all moodenhancing endorphins, flood your brain and continue this “happy shower” for more than twohours after you’ve finished exercising. Whenyou’re on an endorphin “high”, it’s muchtougher for any kind of stress to get the upper hand.
And, the increased flow of blood and oxygen to your brain keeps you alert and super focused.
Studies show that lonely and isolated people have compromised immune systems and are more likely to suffer with heart disease and stroke, sowecan’t minimise the positive effects thegymoffers when it comes to social interaction.
Get hot
Whenstrength training or resistance training is involved in theworkout, muscles get leaner, the core gets stronger, and bones and joints benefit as well. All this adds up to firm, strong muscles, a sturdy, ablebodied skeleton, flexible joints and better posture.
Our clothes fit better, welove whatwe see in themirror, and enjoy a newlevel of self-esteem. It screams health, vitality and confidence! This is what makes us “hot”.
1pm Christmas Day
St Andrew's Hall, St Andrew's St Waipukurau (Off Porangahau Rd) Are you spending Christmas alone or would you enjoy sharing a meal with awider community on Christmas Day?
Singles, couples, families, all welcome.
Ph Gael, (06) 858 9407
CHB's Community Christmas Dinner is on at 1pm on Christmas Day at St Andrew's Hall, St Andrew's St Waipukurau .
Housie
When: Wednesday 7pm-9pm Where: Waipukurau Bowling Club Viewpoint CHB Women's Dinner Group
When:
Waipukurau Club with guest speaker
New members welcome, contact Rae on 021 421 223.
at Waipawa
includes afternoon tea
Contact: Judith Cook 06 857 8813.
Menz Shed Waipukurau When: weekdays 10am to 12 noon
Where: 156Mt Herbert Rd, Waipukurau
Details: Dowoodwork projects for yourself or others. All blokes welcome.
Phone (06) 858 8883 or (06) 857 7818.
every first Friday of the month, 9.30am
Waipawa Volunteer Fire Brigade Hall
Contact: phone (06) 857 7202 Women's Institute When: Second Tuesday and Thursday of month
Waipawa, Takapau and Wakarara
(06) 856 6800
2nd and 4th Monday Meet 1pm CHB Settlers Museum, Waipawa or at AW Parsons Pool car park, Waipukurau
Hazel Wiley (06) 858
7.20pm, 2nd and 4th Thursdays
Where: Learning Innovations, 85 Ruataniwha St, Waipukurau
027 332 2832 or 021 049
Masonic Lodge, Waipukurau, at 7.30pm
All brewers and winemakers welcome
(06) 858 9697 (06) 858
Memorial Hall
When: Every Tuesday 9.30am10.30am. $5 per session Contact: Nicki Heremaia (06) 858
Where:
Takapau Indoor Bowls When: Every Monday, 7pm
Where: Takapau School Hall
Contact: Shona (06) 855 8900.
Otane Market
When: Every Sunday, 9am-1pm
Where: Otane Hall
Contact: Jan (06) 856 8462.
CHB Freshwater Anglers Club When: First Wednesday ofmonth
Where: St Mary's Hall, Waipukurau
Contacts: Phone (06) 858 9733.
CHB Concert Choir
When:
Where:
Fibre Fun: Tania 0276932285 Garden: Chris (06) 856 5428 Quilting & Stitching: Pat (06) 858 9130
Mosaics: Trish (06) 855 8241 Memory Albums: Joan (06) 855 6887
Upholstery: Trevor (06) 858 7954 Wine Tasting: Judith (06) 855 8074 Yoga: Joan (06) 855 6887
Fortnightly on Sundays Waipawa Golf Club 9am sharee_tim@xtra.co.nz or (06) 857 5057.
1st and 3rd Thursday Waipawa Fire Station Phone Themba Ncomanzi on 027 441 2660 for information.
Starts June 21. Basic dancing 1.30pm-2.30pm, $3 per session. High beginners 2.30pm-3.30pm, $5 per session.
When: Every Friday
Where: Karate Club rooms, Svenson Rd Waipukurau
Jan, (06) 858 8172