ME AND MY HEALTH
Former All Blacks lock Ian Jones, now a commentator on Sky TV, shares some of his thoughts on keeping healthy.
What were PE classes like for you at school? PE was cool. I had a great teacher in Tuck Waaka, who gave us all a chance to try a wide variety of sports, and the big open fields at Kamo High School meant we had plenty of space to test our new skills and burn off our energy. The lasting lesson I learned was that to get good at anything takes a lot of hard work. Plain and simple, there are no short cuts. What’s your favourite way to exercise? Exercise and training for me are about just getting out in the open with my mates and enjoying their company, plus the coffee afterwards. What I am into to get fit at the moment could be anything from the gym to running, biking, kayaking, etc, but the thing that makes me feel the best and the strongest is swimming and, particularly at this time of the year, ocean swimming. I love it and really enjoy competing in the State Ocean Swim Series. It’s a fun, well-organised event. You should all give it a go. What’s your favourite indulgence? Icecream – if you train hard enough, you can have as many scoops as you want. If I came to your house for a weekday dinner, what would be on the menu? Meat of some variety and plenty of it. When the furnace is burning bright, it needs to be fuelled. You would also get a good helping of carbohydrates and a nice fresh salad to add some colour. And don’t forget the icecream, if we have been out for big a swim or run beforehand. Who do you admire in the world of sport and fitness, and why? I admire people who just get out there and give things a go, whatever the level. It makes me really proud at events and post-events to see people accomplish their goals and become active. What would you like your kids to know about health? That your health is your wealth. Look after that and you can do anything in your life.