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There is nothing like
a good Christmas break to round off the year. But after the hectic
last minute shopping and indulgent Christmas dinner, it's all too
common to make New Year's resolutions to get into shape and save
money. This year, why not make this a resolution you can really
stick to: make 2005 the year when you walk to school.
Think about it - if
you walk to school regularly:
- You don't have to
go to the gym to keep fit...
- ...and you can save
yourself the embarrassment of wearing tight-fitting lycra
- You can save money
on petrol
- You can beat the traffic
as you don't have to rely on the car
- Best of all, you
and all your family can enjoy the benefits
SIX REASONS TO STICK
WITH THIS ONE RESOLUTION IN 2005
- BURN CALORIES: A
brisk one-mile walk to school and back burns around 150 calories.
- . GET A HEALTHY HEART:
Walking to school boosts the metabolism, burns fat and helps cut
the risk of heart disease by up to fifty per cent.
- MEET NEW PEOPLE:
Nearly nine out of ten parents who walk their children to school
see it as a better way of meeting new people than going to pubs,
clubs or supermarkets.
- DO THE MARATHON...23
TIMES! Daunting? It shouldn't be - the average parent and child
cover the same distance each year on the school run. So become
a marathon walker with just a few minutes' walking each day.
- GIVE YOUR CHILDREN
WHAT THEY WANT: Research shows that nearly half (48%) of children
would like to walk or ride their bikes to school even more if
they could.
- SAVE MONEY: The school
run doesn't come cheap. It costs families on average over £300
a year in petrol and wear and tear to their car. Think what else
you might be doing with that money.
Professor Stuart Biddle,
Professor of Exercise & Sport Psychology, Loughborough University
said:
"It can be difficult
to motivate yourself to stay fit but by building exercise into your
everyday routine, for example by walking to school, you'll have
a greater chance of succeeding. You're also more likely to stick
to walking if others do it with you, so try getting other family
members involved. Walking to school can be done at almost any age
and it's an excellent way to help the whole family stay healthy."
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