Physical Fitness

Book excerpt: We just don’t walk enough anymore. Wheels take us everywhere we want to go, whether on a long trip or just half a mile, or even less. Yet we still want to eat plenty, often consuming far more calories than we burn in exercise. There are gyms of course, but they can be expensive, and you have to sign up often months ahead. The gym may not be nearby, so there is the time spent just getting there and back to take into consideration, as well as the extra fuel costs. But you want to be fit and know that taking regular exercise will improve your health; you haven’t time for long country walks… So how do you go about getting as fit as possible? The exercises contained in this book are your answer. They don’t require expensive equipment, just your body and enough room to stretch and turn. They were designed originally by the Royal Canadian Air Force, and are meant to ensure that even after a relatively prolonged period of inactivity you can spring quickly into action when required. They are designed for those with sedentary jobs, perhaps who are city dwellers who aren’t particularly interested in joining a sports’ club or taking part in organised sport. We all have to run for a bus from time to time, or chase a toddler heading for the gate, so we need to be fit and able. If we are older, we can end up fighting middle-aged spread, but be proactive and step in before it becomes a problem. Whatever your situation, these exercises will help to ensure you increase your levels of health and fitness. The exercises are graded, and progress from the easiest, moving on to those of average difficulty, through to some which require more effort. How quickly you progress is entirely up to you, your degree of motivation and the time you have available. Following this regime will not turn you into an Olympic athlete, but if you want to get fit, look fit and stay fit, then these exercises are for you.