Exercise and sleep
Managing mental health and fatigue
When trying to establish the cause of an individual’s fatigue, it is easy to get caught up in the end point, or symptoms, of fatigue. However, start digging a little deeper and you may be able to identify the factors causing fatigue. Once we determine the underlying causes of fatigue, we are better able to……
Should burning fat kilojoules be my goal?
NO – burning energy whatever its source should be the major goal of exercise when trying to lose body fat. The reason is that 37,000 kilojoules of energy equals one kilogram of fat. So if we eat an extra 37,000 kilojoules in a week we would gain a kilogram and if we eat 37,000 fewer……
Food quality and quantity
The quality and quantity of food you choose can make a huge difference to body weight. The difference between the two diets on the right is 5700kJ. Someone that eats 5700kJ more than another person will weigh 56 kilograms heavier or would have to walk 5 hours each day to burn this amount of energy……
How does alcohol affect sleep
Alcohol is a depressant that slows the nervous system down. It impacts on the quality of the naturally occurring sleep cycles, and can increase sleep disturbance. Some people will say, “alcohol helps them sleep.” This is true to a point! But it is also counter-productive. The figure below illustrates how alcohol affects sleep (red line).……
10 exercise tips to help beat fatigue
Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all exercise adds upEase into it! If you’ve been sedentary for a long time, are overweight, have a high risk of heart disease or some other chronic health problem, see your doctor for a medical evaluation before beginning a physical activity……
Exercise and physical activity. How to finding the balance
Active living is a way of life in which physical activity and exercise are valued and integrated into daily life in a fun and enjoyable way. In other words, seeing physical activity as an opportunity not a chore. Remember being busy does not necessarily mean that you are active! Physical activity is any body movement……
Is it possible to have too much sleep each night?
It is still largely unknown how many exact hours of sleep per day are needed in adults, according to their age, their environmental and socio-cultural characteristics. It is generally cited that 7-8 hours of sleep is sufficient for adults and there is ongoing research to identify what is the optimal sleep need. However, there is……
Hydration
Your body needs adequate fluid and electrolytes in order to have any chance of feeling energised. If these needs are not met, then physical and mental fatigue will increase, as will the potential for incidents, accidents and health problems. Hot weather, particularly when or working or being physically active, in the heat puts greater demands……
Optimising sleep for night shift
In a 2018 article in the British Medical Journal (BMJ 2018;360:j5637 doi: 10.1136/bmj.j5637 [Published 1 March 2018]) the topic of optimsing sleep for night shift was covered with the aim to provide sleep management skills for the individual. The article presents the best evidence from trials, guidance material and expert opinion, but outlines the limited……
Food quality & fatigue
You are what you repeatedly eat! The food that you eat provides the fuel for your body to do everything it needs to do, every second, of every single day. Your daily energy levels, therefore, are only going to be as good as the fuel you put in your body; your food. For example, a……