Healthy B.P.M.

I interviewed Bradley Simpson, an expert on nutrition and fitness to find out more about how we can stay more fit. He gave me a lot of insight into the whole diet and exercise dilemma.Check out Bradley’s blog on Nutrition and Exercise for some great pointers.

1.Tell me a bit about yourself.

I grew up in New Zealand doing every sport under the sun and eating what Mum put on the table. I went to university and did nutrition as part of PE degree - I soon realized how
important it is to eat well and how badly I was actually eating. I also began working at a gym and writing out programs; that way I began to understand some of the nutritional obstacles people have. I started a Nutrition degree and thoroughly enjoyed it.

2.Can anyone become fit? What do you recommend for a person who is obese and also what is your suggestion for someone with a low BMI?

Anyone? It is a relative term.

The key is making lifestyle changes - making good choices means creating new habits.

Start an exercise program. A simple idea here:

• Mon - ATB
• Tue - rest
• Wed - ATB
• Thu - rest
• Fri - ATB
• Sat - rest
• Sun - rest

ATB means ‘around the block’ - meaning a very short walk.

Simplicity is the key when starting out in exercise. The best program in the world will not get results if the person does not or cannot do it. If you are starting out from nothing then give this program a go yourself. If you do it successfully, then consider walking around the block twice on Friday the week after.

Also stop eating foods you know are bad for you.

If low BMI: Focus on eating with the family, consuming at least 3 meals a day.

3.What foods do you think are essential for good health?

Basic generic recommendations: fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish, cereals, dairy. You must enjoy the foods you are going to eat otherwise you will not keep it up in the long term.

4.Some simple ways to lose weight.

To lose weight in the short term Atkins is a good option.

To lose fat in the long term change your lifestyle choices and take small steps slowly.

The fact is you should not think of food as either ‘good’ of ‘bad’. You should think of food as somewhere on a continuum with bad on the left and good on the right.

Bad ——————-OK——————–Good

However, this is still a very crude model to use as a basis for choosing what food to eat. This is because the nutritional needs of different people, and importantly at different times, differs greatly.

I don’t think you should deprive yourself of a food you absolutely love, just make sure your goals are matched by what is going in your mouth.

More tomorrow…..