92 11th Avenue, Tauranga

1 Palmer Place, Te Puke

17b Commerce Street, Whakatane

Job Club Newsletter

...October 2009...

Maintaining your physical fitness is an important factor in succeeding at work.  Being fit and healthy helps prevent disease (you take less sick days); reduces stress (you enjoy better work relationships and performance) and gives you a source of self-esteem.

Keeping fit is just as important for your mind as your body.  Maintaining a health weight and fitness levels helps your ability to concentrate and reduces the risk of developing anxiety disorders, Alzheimer's and dementia in later life.

But when you are juggling a fulltime job, family and home commitments and often study as well, fitting in a regular exercise schedule can seem like the proverbial straw that broke the camels back.

Relax!  A few simple and easy adjustments, made gradually, can improve the health and fitness of yourself, your family and often your bank account!

• Take time to enjoy your food.  Don't eat on the run.
• Talk to your doctor or nurse before starting a diet or exercise plan
• Don't skip meals - especially breakfast.  If you are hungry, you are more likely to crave high fat and high sugar foods
• Try not to shop when you are hungry and fill your pantry with healthy foods that are low in fat and sugar.
• Drink water throughout the day.  Try having a water bottle with you at all times.
• Limit your alcohol intake, add water, ice or low-calorie mixers.
• Use the stairs instead of the lift and try either getting off the bus at an earlier stop, or parking your car further away.
• Join in with your children's games
• Keep motivated by involving your friends and family - you only need 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise each day to keep fit.

Being fit will keep you mentally sharp and people forget that.

Peter Shilton

Inside me there is a thin person struggling to come out.  Hopefully he is burning a lot of calories.

Push Play is a campaign run by SPARC to encourage more New Zealanders to get active.

The website has lots of great information, advice and hints aimed at everybody, from those getting started to competitive athletes.

NZ Well@Work is another SPARC initiative, with advice, activities and hints for improving workplace health.

Be a great resource for a work project...

Remember the Heart tick?  The Heart Foundation website also has some great, simple and easy to follow advice - and recipes!

Diabetes NZ has some more detailed advice, including food pyramids, help reading food product labels and a dietician to answer your questions.  Excellent site, worth a visit!