Latest News
Motivating Kids to be Physically Active
Research has shown that parents who display confidence in their child's abilities, support their physical activity involvement, and who enjoy their own activity are most likely to motivate their kids towards frequent physical activity and confidence. There are four key strategies parents can use to motivate their children, according to the experts.
First, suggest activities that are more fun (through action, variety, a degree of choice, and a component of friendship) than alternative unhealthy activities. Second, help him/her to set “optimal challenges”. That is, activities where the skills they need to master are neither too easy (“boring”!) nor too difficult or frustrating. Third, try to emphasise cooperative learning through friendships, rather than promoting competition or peer comparison. Finally, help your children to help themselves by teaching them strategies such as goal setting and self-monitoring with training diaries or logs.
With a bit of thought and imagination, you can help give your child a head start to an active, healthy life.
Added on 26th March 2008
Sedentary Life Speeds Up Ageing
Leading a sedentary lifestyle may make us genetically old before our time, a study suggests. A study of twins found those who were physically active during their leisure time appeared biologically younger than their sedentary peers. The researchers found key pieces of DNA called telomeres shortened more quickly in inactive people. It is thought that could signify faster cellular ageing.
An active lifestyle has been linked to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer. However, the latest research suggests that inactivity not only makes people more vulnerable to disease, but may actually speed up the ageing process itself.
The King's College London study appears in Archives of Internal Medicine.
Added on 26th March 2008
How To Be Great in Bed
Sleep deprivation is often the silent culprit behind a whole range of life’s challenges and setbacks including accidents and injuries, poor performance at work and school, depression, immune deficiency, sexual dysfunction, and relationship difficulties. Research has shown consistently that, except in rare cases, the adult human body requires about 7.5 – 8.5 hours’ sleep a night to restore itself fully.
I’ve had a lot of people say to me, “I catch up on my sleep on the weekends”. Sorry, but it’s not so simple. It can take a few days of consistent sleep habits to “reprogram” your sleep clock and refresh and replenish your body. Every time you change your sleep hours, you’re setting up a new expectation within your body. Stick to the same good sleeping routine as closely as you can every day of the week and you’ll notice the difference. Go easy on the napping, too, as it will impact on your night time sleep. However, if you are operating under risky or unusual conditions, a brief nap (15 – 45 minutes) can sometimes be lifesaver.
Added on 26th March 2008