All Exercise Counts

Word on the street is Australia is the fattest nation in the world. Apparently even we're even bigger than Americans!

Everywhere you turn you hear the words 'obesity epidemic' and everywhere you look you see muffin tops spilling out over jeans so I was pretty surprised to read that one of Australia's leading fitness experts thinks that outdoor fitness groups are "embarrassing".

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Gary Egger, the guy who wrote Australia's fitness guidelines, believes that these 'bootcamp' type outdoor group exercise classes are a "middle class indulgence" that the participants use as "a form of exhibitionism". He also describes personal training as "an elitist approach to fitness".  Dr Egger's comments show he believes that they are an inferior form of exercise.

Call me crazy, but I thought that people exercising in any way could only be a good thing. What difference does it make if a person is in the gym, out in the park with a group, jogging through the streets on their own or in their lounge room with a pilates DVD? So what if they need someone there to motivate and help them?

My love affair with working out actually came from an outdoor fitness group. I'd decided to get fit, saw these guys in the park and joined them. I had a hatred of exercise that went back to my early teens. I never thought I would learn to love it, but the group environment was exactly what I needed. The group provided support, encouragement and was alot of fun.  I also learnt correct techniques and new workout ideas. That's something you don't get in a gym. Besides, working out in the fresh air is great when you're stuck in a stuffy office all day like me.

Having fitness professionals go on record and criticise any form of exercise is a bad thing. There shouldn't be one way of working out that is superior to another. All exercise counts. The point is that people are moving, getting their heart rate up and working up a bit of a sweat. If they've found something that works for them, just be happy they're doing it.

Source:

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/exercise-guru-labels-outdoor-fitness-groups-embarrassing-20130312-2fyg7.html

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/diet-and-fitness/redesign-sydneys-public-areas-to-cater-for-exercise-fitness-industry-urges-20130313-2fzpm.html