Sport and Lifestyle

Healthy lifestyles

Regular physical activity is essential for good health, but most of us don't do enough of it. Experts recommend at least half an hour of moderate exercise five days a week, yet only 20% of people in the UK get enough exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle and satisfactory fitness level (NHS Direct). 

Here's some stats to help you get started:

• Routine and regular moderate activity may actually be more beneficial than short bursts of intense activity (Westerterp 2001).
• A brisk one-mile walk in 20 minutes burns around 100 calories, which is equivalent to swimming for 10 minutes, playing football for 12 minutes or doing aerobics for 16 minutes.
• Most people find regular, moderate exercise is easier to build into a busy lifestyle in a sustainable way, requiring much less motivation and commitment than more demanding activities
• Exercising for ten minutes three times a day is as beneficial as exercising for 30 minutes once a day (Murphy and Hardman 1998).
• Exercise doesn't need to be the gym, we have over 50 sports clubs, exercise classes and nu2sport - perfect for beginners!

Walking

Walking is one of the best choices for regular, healthy exercise and has many benefits as opposed to other forms of exercise. This is because it:

• is free, safe and low-impact, with a low risk of injuries and accidents
• can be easily integrated into your life with walks to school, on errands and with your dog, if you have one
• can improve your mental health and quality of life if you walk sociably or in a group.

In conjunction with Run in England, we have devised three route maps for Clifton Campus. Please feel free to download them:

• Clifton - One km route
• Clifton - Two km route
• Clifton - Three km route .

Walks and maps

A number of self-led walks across Nottingham City have been developed by Nottingham City Council:

• Arboretum trail
• Walks in Broxtowe
• A 100 km walk around the borough of Rushcliffe
• Details of walks you can follow across the country.

Healthy eating

The Food and Eat well websites provide tips on making healthier choices when food shopping, keeping food safe, food labels, healthy diet and healthy issues. There are also calories counters for you to use too.

NTU Sport is also trialing new 'healthy eating workshops' which will aim to teach students how to cook cheap, healthy meals - that provide all the nutritional benefits before BUCS matches and training sessions. If these are successful we will be opening these up to all NTU Sport and Fitness members! 

Shape Up Notts!

Shape Up Notts! is a campaign to get Nottinghamshire people fit, active, doing more sport and leading healthier lives. Use the Shape Up Notts! website to log your physical activity points and enter into a league table if you're competitively minded!