TAKING an exercise class at Evesham Leisure Centre involves more than keeping you physically fit, it is a complete lifestyle change aimed at bringing greater all-round efficiency and producing a mind and body improvement.

The movement in 'fitness as a way of life' is growing every year, with more and more people realising that in-activity is a health risk.

Evesham Leisure Centre Head Fitness Instructor, Nigel Grundy says that in recent years, lifestyles have become too sedentary and people are now really feeling the effects.

At Evesham Leisure Centre there are a variety of courses designed to exactly suit the personality and age group of each client, said Nigel.

"We run a weight management course - W8 - and this involves talking to people about their diet, organising 'weigh ins' and giving them healthier eating options," he said.

W8 runs on a Tuesday morning and Thursday night and is like aerobics, with a high intensity workout for fat burning.

"This has been a very popular class," said Nigel. "It focuses on nutrition and weight loss and it's what people need because they've become far too accustomed to buying pre-packed meals that are not balanced foods."

Today's lifestyle means that most people have little time or inclination for exercise. Cars are used for the shortest of journeys and transport is readily available.

"Not so many years ago, pre-packed food wasn't so available so people cooked their foods from basic ingredients and it ensured there was better balance in the diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables," Nigel added.

Transportation has changed, too. Years ago, people would walk or use a bike to get around which would have been a really good form of exercise, said Nigel, adding: "To really feel the benefits of exercise, people should be working out at least half an hour a day three or four times a week," he said.

Nigel is particularly worried about the lack of exercise children are getting.

"We introduced a junior circuit training club," he said. "It had an incredible response, with up to 20 in one class."

Figures show that 11-16 year olds in the UK eat on average 133 pre-packaged ready meals and takeaways a year (nearly three every week). The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling for a limit on the consumption of saturated fats, sugar and salt, especially in snacks, processed foods and drinks.

Clinicians, added Nigel, have also referred to rising obesity levels among young people as a "ticking time-bomb" and recent BBC research reveals that the average young person in Britain spends less time physically active in a day than a pensioner.

Nigel Grundy's Nutrition Facts

Your body needs essential trace elements and to keep it healthy and needs those nutrients in the right quantity and unique balance. Today's diet is too high in fat, sugar and sodium and too low in other nutrients and this affects the whole workings of the body, right down to cellular level.

Pre-packed foods are high in fat, sugar and sodium which impacts on our health.

The RDA for sodium (salt) is 2300 - an example of how much is in popular foods per 100g is as follows: Instant potato 1282; Fish fingers 886; Bacon 2734; Instant gravy11331; Sweet pickle 4136; Packet soup 6429; Baking power 12593.

High salt intake causes heart problems but is also responsible for inflammatory conditions, sinus and chest problems, aching muscles and more.

Fat and sugar are also responsible for ailments as well as fat gain and are often counted as empty calories as there is very little nutritional value in fat and no nutritional value in sugar.

Evesham Leisure Centre's exercise class timetable

- call for booking information on 01386 444212.

MONDAY:

9.30am: 50+ Work-out

10.30am: Bums, Tums & Thighs

11.30am: Bums, Tums & Thighs

4.30pm: Junior Circuits for 11-15s

5.30pm: On The Ball

18:30: Pathway To Yoga

7pm: Boxit

8pm: Boxit

TUESDAY:

9am: W8

10am: Body Blitz

6pm: Kool Moves

7pm: Kool Moves

7pm: Walkaweigh

WEDNESDAY:

10.30am: Body Blitz

11.30am: On The Ball

1pm-2.30pm: Yoga

4.30pm: Five-A-Side for 7-11s

6pm: Yoga

6pm: Circuit Training

7pm: Boxercise

7.30pm: H20 Work-out

8.15-9pm: H20 Work-out

THURSDAY

10pm: 50+ Work-out

11pm: Bums, Tums & Thighs

6pm: On The Ball

7pm: On The Ball

7pm: Circuit Training

7pm: W8

8pm: Body Blitz

FRIDAY

9.15am: Pilates - Beginners

9.30am: Circuit Training

10.30am: Pilates Intermediate 11.45am: Pilates Beginners

6pm: Circuit Training

7.30pm: H20 Workout

SATURDAY

3pm: Street Dance for 6-10s

4pm: Street Dance - 11+

SUNDAY

10am: Circuit Training