A8

By Lise Elsliger

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In the winter it's easy to use the cold as an excuse not to go outside and exercise. Although it's possible to get your exercise inside (by say walking inside the mall instead of along the Petitcodiac River) there's still nothing like a breath of fresh air to get your system going. Whether it's cross-country skiing, skating, hiking or sliding with the kids, Metro Moncton has some great spots to enjoy. You can even make it a family event.

Gene Gaudet holds a PhD in human movement from Boston University. As a former U de M professor, he stresses the importance of fitness in a society where more and more people are suffering from obesity. He says fitness is actually part of a wellness plan that regroups not only physical fitness, but also other elements such as nutrition or the reduction of stress caused by psychological factors.

Determining the road to follow as far as your fitness goes depends on the level physical activity you'll be involved in.

"There exists three types of physical activities," Gaudet explains. "There's physical activity for leisure; you go skiing for an afternoon just for the pleasure and don't push yourself too much. Then there's a level where you're doing it more than a few times a week because you'd like to get in shape. In the third level you want to be competitive." Although leisure activity is good, you shouldn't expect the same results as higher-end exercise. Gaudet explains that you have to work at increasing your performance based on your heart rate. To burn fat as a source of energy it will depend on your capacity to do so. It's different for everyone.

"Getting in shape is a long-term goal and isn't something you can do overnight." He insists on the need to see a professional trainer if you're involved in more than leisure activity.

"This person can determine your overall fitness and depending on the type of activity you wish to embark into this person will tell you what you should do. It's a long term goal. It's not something you can do overnight." He admits people often have troubles keeping up with their fitness levels during the holidays. But he has some tips.

"Everyone has a problem with physical activity during the holidays because we're going to all sorts of family gatherings. I recommend you engage in physical activity the day after the day you've over-eaten. This is so you continue your training program so as to not just stop altogether."

Here are some interesting facts:

* Participaction.com says: "research shows that "among children and adolescents age two to 17, 26 per cent are overweight and another 8 per cent are obese."

* The New England Journal of Medicine reported that "our children's lifespan could be 2-5 years less than our own."

* People who are overweight or obese face a higher risk of developing a number of specific health diseases and problems, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. (Participaction.com)

* More than half of Canadians are considered inactive. (Source: Physical Activity Monitor. Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute. 2004)