Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Cycling
Pedal power is a great aerobic activity. Unlike running, it has no impact on the knees, so is a fantastic way of building or maintaining fitness with less chance of injury. Benefits include a lower resting heart rate, lower blood pressure, stronger calves and a reduced risk of type-2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
It’s a cheap and effective way to stay in shape. If buying new, any specialist bike shop will be happy to advise you on something appropriate in terms of size and weight, or if buying second-hand there are plenty of bargains to be had on eBay. If you’re lucky there may even be some available via your local Freecycle scheme. If you do get a second-hand machine, it is recommended to get it serviced before use.
Making cycling a habit is the easiest way to see the benefit. A commute to work and home again soon racks up the infamous ’30 minutes of daily exercise’. Now that smartphones have GPS pretty much as standard, it’s also easy to deliberately get lost out in the countryside, away from traffic. Pedalling up and down rolling hills and quiet country lanes is a great way to explore new places.
Bowls
For those looking for something a little more sedate, there’s bowls. If you think bowls remains the preserve of pipe-smoking old men, think again. Bowls is one of the fastest-growing pastimes in the UK. Clubs boast members in the hundreds. They usually have a very active social scene, with competitions for every standard. Club rivalries are abound, but any club will tell you, the sport is as casual, friendly or competitive as you want to make it. Pretty much all clubs have regular intra and inter club competitions, and once the summer passes — everything moves indoors.
Costs are not particularly high, but there is typically a dress code, as well as club etiquette to consider.
Denne historien er fra Summer 2016-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
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Denne historien er fra Summer 2016-utgaven av Optimum Nutrition.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Summer Of
Summer is when we want to be out and about, as the warm embrace of the sofa on a cold winter’s night becomes a distant memory. So where do you go when the brain is willing but the body just can’t cut it at the same level of performance that it managed decades ago? Graeme Wilcockson reviews a few ways to satisfy those competitive weekend instincts that will tax both mind and body — yet leave you able to move on Monday morning
Common Kitchen Practices Making Us Sick
Every year, thousands of us fall sick from food poisoning because of how we have handled food. Louise Scodie and Louise Wates look at common ways in which we are going wrong
Could Antioxidants Save Our Bacan?
Nitrates and nitrites have long been linked to cancer. We look at how they are part of a chain reaction that may not always be harmful to human health... So what’s the case with bacon?
Eat For A Glow That Is More Than Skin Deep
Now that summer is here, it’s time to peel off the layers and make some vitamin D. But if your skin isn’t as peachy as you would like, or if you are worried about staying safe in the sun, find out how good nutrition may support your skin’s health. Maggie Charlesworth writes
Natural Beauty
If headlines about microbeads from cosmetics polluting our seas have got you wondering how you can do your bit for the environment, try using nature’s harvest to feed your skin. Hannah Maryse Robinson writes
A Summer Selection Of Goods And Goodies
Lazy Vegan frozen Chunky Pulled Peaz is a gluten-free, plant-based protein source suitable for vegans and — with a substantial texture — flexitarians.
Do Something Different
As many of us are concerned about keeping our brains active, Ellie Smith investigates whether trying something completely new could boost both our brain health and mental wellbeing
Lifting Weights, Lifting Confidence
When Bianca Mills was bullied at school she could not have dreamt that she would be able to speak in front of a group of women, let alone coach them in lifting free weights. She told Louise Wates why she believes buddying-up is just as important as physical strength for fostering confidence
Teaching Children How To Forage
Catherine Morgan finds out how foraging can teach children (and adults) about more than nature’s store cupboard, and can foster an understanding of and respect for the environment.
Keep Calm And Curry On
In August, India celebrates the anniversary of Indian Independence, yet the Anglo-Indian community, a legacy of the British Raj with its roots in European and Indian ancestry, still treads the cultural line between both communities. Jenny Mallin, author of A Grandmother’s Legacy, tells us about the fusion food in her family and recipes passed down through the generations
