Men's Health Week In MK

Is your man as active as he should be? Possibly not - because NHS Milton Keynes say only 40 percent of blokes are hittin the government's exercise target.

The aim of Men’s Health Week is to get men and boys of all ages more active ahead of the World Cup and London Olympics. The aim is to get a large proportion of men in this age group meeting the physical activity target by the London Olympics, in 2012.

 NHS Milton Keynes’ public health team will be going out to the public during Men’s Health Week to offer health MOTs, including blood pressure and Body Mass Index (BMI) checks, as well as advice on living a healthier lifestyle and getting more active. See them at:

 Milton Keynes Council’s Civic Offices on Monday 14 June between 10am and 2.30pm

• Milton Keynes Hospital on Tuesday 15^th June between 9am and 2pm.
• Stadium:MK on Friday 18^th June between 9am and 2pm

 Jennifer Howells, Physical Activity Coordinator at NHS Milton Keynes said: “I look forward to meeting local people and giving them health advice during the week.

 “Doing more physical activity offers many benefits to your health: not only will it help keep any extra pounds away from your waistline, but meeting the recommended target can help reduce your risk of conditions such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes and cancer.”

 Being physically active for 30 minutes, five times a week, doesn’t have to mean forking out for an expensive gym membership or any special equipment. The best way of being more active is to incorporate activity into your daily routine – such as walking when you’d usually drive, or taking the stairs rather than the lift. This way, you’re more likely to maintain your activity too.

 Housework, gardening, mowing the lawn and washing your car by hand all count towards the physical activity target so you can get fit while you do your chores!

 If your man's feeling more adventurous and has been inspired by the World Cup, a kick about in the park is a fun way of getting your heart pumping. Or getting on a bike and exploring the Redways and open spaces Milton Keynes has to offer.

 And if you're still stuck for ideas of how to get your man out of the house and on the move, here's some more ideas:

Reactivate offers a variety of Back to Sport courses in activities such as golf, tennis, football and badminton for those who fancy trying something new, or would like to ease themselves back into sport. Visit www.reactivatebucks.org/miltonkeynes for more information.

Football Replay. This is an over 35's football programme starting on 13th June and is all about having fun! It offers football in the same place at the same time every week. For more information and to find your local venue please go to www.footballreplay.net

Reactivate MK. This is a local physical activity project which aims to get people of all ages and abilities involved with sports. A list of all opportunities available can be found at www.reactivatebucks.org/miltonkeynes

Cycle-MK Challenge. For those who want to get more involved in cycling! This is a free work place based challenge running for 3 weeks during National Bike Week, starting on 21st June- the day after Men's Health Week finishes. All you need to do is cycle for at least 10 minutes and you will have the chance to win prizes! For more information and to register for the challenge go to www.cyclemkchallenge.org