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

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.

[Back to top]