HEALTH AND FITNESS

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Taking care of your health and well being makes you feel good about yourself in many ways

We are living in a fantastic place to keep ourselves healthy in body and mind with all sorts of resources available locally -many of them free.

Youth and community centres are great local resources for all sorts of activities that can keep you physically and mentally active and healthy


In today’s current economic climate, people are quickly realizing that they have to be part of the solution, to take action, and gain more control of their lives. Keeping healthy in body, mind and spirit is a personal decision and can be less work than you think. Here are some top tips.

· Feel good about your decisions. Bin the guilt.

· Choose exercises you will enjoy and start off in small steps. If you are sociable, try a dance class, if you are spiritual what about yoga and tai chi. If you like a bit of peace and quiet try running (you only have to go around the block at a very slow jog the first day).

· Remember when you felt when you were at you fittest. Get out a photo from that time and pin it up. It will help you keep your goal in mind.


· Get active. Put dance music on when doing housework, play football with the kids. Get the bikes out again for the spring.

Diet

“You are what you eat”

Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruit and veg and less fatty and junk food will increase your energy levels and your immune system. Make small changes such as cutting out snacking on biscuits and have some raw carrots instead. Cut down on tea and coffee and try herbal tea or even hot water.

If you have the occasional treat or binge, don’t feel bad, enjoy it and start again the next day.

Inishowen
We are living in a fantastic place to keep ourselves healthy in body and mind with all sorts of resources available locally -many of them free. Our landscape and natural environment is a real asset to our local community. There are fantastic walks, beaches and hills that tourists from all over the world pay a fortune to come over and enjoy. Spending time outside, walking, cycling, gardening is such a great way to keep healthy, physically and mentally. Get wrapped up and get out there. You will get fitter and feel better.

Golf
Golf is a great way to keep fit and healthy on so many levels. Meeting up with others to play, network and have a bit of craic gets you out of the house for a wee break (that’s bound to be good for you). It can help with mental performance as when you are playing well and are in ‘the zone’ your mind is perfectly quiet and of course you are moving your body walking and taking your shot.

(Don’t forget your warming up exercises if you haven’t played for a while).

North West Golf Club Suspends Entry Fee
North West Golf Club has suspended their First Time Members’ Levy for a limited time so first time members just pay the annual subscription for the season. They have also held their green fees at last season’s prices so if you are playing Monday to Friday it is €30 (or €20 if you are playing with a member) and €35 on Saturday and Sunday (€25 if playing with a member).

They also have special Green Fee rates for players who prefer their golf in the late afternoon. These ‘Twilight’ Green fees will begin in June and cost €15 after 7pm (Mondays to Fridays), €18 after 6pm at the weekend).

Crazy Fit Massage
This power vibration machine is hitting Inishowen by storm. You can hire a machine to use in the comfort of your own home for only €25 per month. It is a great machine for toning and losing weight without having to put any effort in yourself. You simply plug it in, stand on the plate, switch it on and away you go. A ten-minute workout is the same as an hour in the gym. Contact John McLaughlin on 087 2074527

Youth and Community Centres
Youth and community centres are great local resources for all sorts of activities that can keep you physically and mentally active and healthy.

Clonmany Youth and Community Centre
In Clonmany they have a special offer for March with gym membership only €250. There are all sorts of activities on for children and young people (from under 9’s to under 18’s) including indoor football, badminton, uni-hoc, martial arts, disco dancing and boxing. Linda Brady teaches gymnastics on Wednesdays.

Volunteer
Helping out in your local community is also a great way of keeping your body and mind active especially if you have more time on your hands then you are used to. Clonmany Youth and Community Centre are always looking for volunteers for basketball, art, drama, indoor athletics, table tennis or for their games room. If you have an hour or two to spare during the week, or are interested in any of the classes and offers, please contact the centre on 074 9376772

Buncrana Youth Club
Buncrana Youth Club also has great activities on that can help you get fit for summer. Kathy’s Irish dancing for adults is a fun and popular way to get fit and have a bit of craic. Classes are held on Mondays and Thursdays at 8pm.

If you prefer your dancing less traditional the check out the dimensions dance club on Saturday at 6.30pm All ages are welcome and the qualified dance instructors are Linda Brady and Danielle Duddy. Boxing is always popular locally for men and women. Training is on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays between 6.30 and 8pm.

5 MINUTES WITH - BRIAN TIMMINS

Brian Timmins is celebrating. His company. Inishowen Garden Equipment in Shandrum has been in business for five years supplying garden machinery and decking. Brian is usually about to give advice on the best products and materials to suit individual customers. He is passionate about good quality machinery and he likes to be hands on with servicing and repairs. He lives with his wife Mary and their four children.

What music do you like?

I tend to go for rock music. I particularly like AC-DC, the Bon Scott era from the 1970's and 80's is my favourite.

What would you never throw away?

The photographs of my family. They are a snapshot into our lives and would be really missedWhat book are you reading?My brother gave me my latest book, which I am really enjoying. It's a book by Mel Flanagan, the Irish golfer called Golf Mysteries: the Secret of Good Golf......... Mel writes well and gets straight to the point.

What was your favourite childhood game?

Football, I used to play at school and in the Boys Brigade in Ballykelly.Have you been to the cinema recently and what did you see?I took my eldest daughter to see Ratatouille. We both really enjoyed it.

What section of the newspaper do you turn to first?

I always read papers (and magazines), from back to front. I am not sure why as I don't really go for the sports pages, it's just a habit.

What is your idea of a good night out?

Good company. It's important to make sure you get home in one piece too, so arranging how you will get home before you go out is important. Many a night has been ruined waiting for a taxi.

Most embarrassing moment of your life?

I call this the wig story. I was playing bowls one day and got talking to a friendly woman. After a while I noticed a man sporting a very ill fitting wig that was jet black and clashed with his own white hair that was sticking out of the sides. I pointed this out to the woman and came out with some choice comments like "look at the shape of that man", and had a good laugh. The woman turned to me and told me it was her husband. It's times like these you wish the ground would open up.

Have you a favourite TV programme?

Anything political. I try to watch Hearts and Minds and This Week with Andrew Neill.

How do you relax?

Being out working in the garden is very relaxing. I enjoy it when the children are out there too.What job did you want to do when you were a child?I remember vividly, I wanted to drive a combine harvester. We used to sit with the driver and watch the barley going into the back of the machine.

Where would you like to go on holiday?

Anywhere at all.What famous people would you invite around for dinner and why?John Hume. He is an interesting man who worked for the people.

Favourite animal?

Cats. We have one ourselves called Boo. She is white and ghostly looking. The world’s most useful invention?Light bulbs.

Biggest fear?

I don't like heights. I watched the film Vertical Limits once and realised it's one thing going up and going down can be even more dangerous.

Biggest thrill?

My children being born.

Worlds most irritating invention?

The half crank engine. You sometimes find these in some hedge cutters and strimmers. I don't sell them and try not to work on them either, they are noisy, smoky and unreliable.

What makes a good night in?

A bottle of beer and a boxing match on the telly.

Biggest disappointment?

The loss of my grandparents a few years ago. They were very influential.

Which period in history would you like to have lived through?

The Victorian era, the industrial age. The world changed with the invention of the steam engine. It has influenced our lives ever since.

Personal philosophy?

Be patient. It will come to you.