Walking is ideal exercise in winter and it can help lift your mood. Joining a walking group is also great way to make new friends. Swindon Health Walks are free, weekly groups, which are guided by trained volunteers. They walk for about 45 minutes (2 – 3 miles) at a fairly brisk pace (not power walking), then socialise with tea and coffee afterwards. Call 01793 465413 for more information, or find one to suit you:
2. If you haven’t done any exercise for a while a little bit every day is the winning way. If you do too much too quickly you will invariably hurt yourself and put yourself off exercise for another few years. Little and often! 3. Stick with it. Whether you are starting a diet or exercise regime keep with it for at least three weeks. Most people give up in this period when it starts to get hard, but by week four you will start to notice a difference – enough to keep you going a bit longer and longer and Monday longer. Write a list of your reasons Tuesday for starting and reread it when you feel like giving up. Wednesday Biography: Thursday Anne Elliott is an expert in exercise and fitness for middle age/older people and groups who don’t Friday traditionally exercise. She’s passionate about getting people fit and can talk from personal experience after dropping from a size 26 down to a size 12 and maintaining this size for more than 10 years.
2.00pm
Lower Shaw Farm
10.00am 10.00am
Toothill Community Centre Broadgreen Community Centre
10.00am
Walcot Dome Community Centre
10.00am 10.00am 3.45pm
Haydon Wick Community Centre Ellendune Centre, Wroughton St. John’s Church, Parks
10.00am 10.30am
Pinetrees Community Centre, Pinehurst Derryck Evans House, Liden
Exercising in a gym can also be a sensible part of your regular routine. Many local councils run sessions in gyms so go on your local authority website to see about available sessions, and about free swimming sessions in your local pool.
She is also a qualified boxing referee and Olympic standard weightlifting instructor. Anne has written a diet and exercise book called ‘It’s not Rocket Science’ which focused on getting the general public fitter and has been endorsed by the Minister of State for Health and numerous health professionals.
Private gyms often have advantageous rates for people attending at off-peak times, and they usually run special sessions, too, often with the emphasis on overall health. The Village Hotel at Shaw Ridge Leisure Park offer an
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Top Tips: • Walk briskly, but not so that you’re breathless (you should still be able to hold a conversation)
Pinehurst Health Walk
• Walk regularly – it’s better to walk for 30 mins a day than for 2 1⁄2 hours at the weekend • Count your steps with a pedometer to help motivate you
Starts Friday 11th January 2013
Walking is Ideal Exercise and can:
Free and every Friday at 10.00am from Pinetrees Community Centre
• Help you manage your weight – walking at least one mile (1.6km) can burn around 100 calories (420kj) • Help reduce your risk of developing serious conditions, like heart disease, strokes and Type 2 diabetes • Lift your mood, reduce anxiety and help you sleep • Improve your flexibility and the strength of your joints, muscles and bones, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis for women • Save you money on fuel – you should be able to walk a mile in 20 minutes at ‘an unhurried pace’
Guided by a trained Volunteer Walk Leader Walk for 40 - 45 minutes (2 – 3 miles) at your own pace, followed by socialising and refreshments
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For more information phone (01793) 465413 or email: arothwell@swindon.gov.uk
Swindon
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Where shall I Walk? Visit www.getwalking.org/swindon to find an easy walking route near you See www.swindontravelchoices.org.uk Visit www.walkit.com/swindon Go to www.walk4life/info to find or add your own walking route
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Open to all ages and abilities
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