Being active
If we are not active and eat too many calories we will put on weight every year. The more weight we gain, the less active we become and so the situation worsens.
If you eat 50 calories too many each day, then you will put on approximately half stone per year. So in three years you will gain one and a half stone.
Foods, which contain 50 calories include:
- One jaffa cake
- Three quarters of a digestive biscuit
- Half a crumpet
- Two pieces of chocolate
- 7g of margarine used for 1 piece of toast (thinly spread)
- A third of a can of coco cola (119ml)
- Half a packet of wotsits
- 100ml fruit shoot (1/2 small bottle)
- One apple
- 15 grapes
- Two medium satsumas
Keep moving
The more you move the more calories you will burn. If you are sitting down tap your feet, swing your legs, drum your fingers, stand up and stretch, move your head from side to side, change position, wriggle and fidget. Get up and pace up and down, use the upstairs toilet, stand up when you’re on the phone, clench and release your muscles.
The more you move the more calories you will burn. If you are sitting down tap your feet, swing your legs, drum your fingers, stand up and stretch, move your head from side to side, change position, wriggle and fidget. Get up and pace up and down, use the upstairs toilet, stand up when you’re on the phone, clench and release your muscles.
Easy ways to increase the amount of exercise without going to the gym:
- Get off one bus stop before you need to and walk
- Park in the furthest corner of the car park
- Walk up the stairs rather than taking the lift
- Walk to the corner shop to get your newspaper rather than jumping in the car
- Walk your children to the park to play
- Walk your children to playschool/school
- Plan to go for a walk with a friend for fitness once a week
- Gardening
- Cleaning the house
- Wiggle whilst you are ironing
- Skipping
- Playing games for example tennis in the garden
- Cycling with the family
See our resources page for posters, leaflets and activity sheets.