CHAMBER NEWS


Businesses get involved with the conversation


Mr Cowcher.


‘Organised


Over 60 people attended an early morning breakfast event at Ashfords in Exeter - to hear from a group of top business chiefs about county events, business agendas, and local issues affecting local companies. The County Conversations meeting was organised by the Devon and Exeter Chambers of Commerce, and was the first in a series of events bringing together members from both Chambers, said the chief executive of Devon Chamber, George Cowcher. Key speakers included host chairman Andrew Perkins of Ashfords, David Hynd, Heart of South


West Growth Hub, Charles Hackett, Mayflower 400, Donna Kehoe, Bank of England, Phil Norrey, Devon County Council, George Cowcher, Devon Chamber, and Graham Austin, Exeter Chamber. The event was well attended and Chamber member Ashfords were a fantastic host, added


by the Devon and Exeter Chambers of Commerce, and the first in a series’


The key to understanding weight loss and fitness


Simon Francis (pictured), Wellbeing Lead at Nuffield Health asks: Fat or fit? Fat and fit?


I don’t want to bore you with the same old threats that come with being overweight. No doubt you have heard them all before and they do indeed, bore you. How about this – I work with many people


who are indeed overweight or even morbidly obese (that’s the last time we will say that word). Yet, many of them are very fit. I believe at some point everyone evaluates


their physique, health, fitness, mobility and weight, and may decide that they are not quite happy with themselves physically. However, acting upon this self-evaluation can be really daunting and often requires complete lifestyle changes. With the stresses of work and family life


leaving us pressured and already fully committed each day, making these full lifestyle changes is not always welcome and can therefore mean we carry on as normal. But, do you really need to make an immediate change to everything that is wrong with your lifestyle? No. There is no doubt that as we mature, our risks


to conditions such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, arthritis and mobility issues will naturally increase. This is normal, but how much


12 Chamber Profile November/December 2017


has enabled me to see what progression can be made in a relatively short period of time. The improvements to the previously mentioned conditions have been staggering with many of our gym members who I work with and this should serve to give you the confidence that you can do it too. Start exercising. Do this and nothing else and


you too will see the benefits in your energy levels and quality of life. Why not start by walking to see a colleague


influence can you have on if or when these conditions will affect your body? The answer is a lot.


Firstly, we have to have an understanding that


there is a need for some change and it doesn’t have to be drastic. Exercising has such a massive impact on our internal functions. Reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, improving cardiovascular output and insulin sensitivity are some of the important improvements that you can make within a few weeks. Measuring an individual’s statistics pre exercise participation and revisiting them with regular reassessments


rather than email? Use the stairs instead of the lift? Stairs are one of the most functional movements that we can do daily. Challenging yourself to walk these everyday can make a real difference to your fitness and mobility, helping to also improve knee and hip strength. Never judge a book by its cover. Just because someone is overweight, this doesn’t mean that they aren’t fit. The personal trainers I work with have clients that indeed fit into this bracket, and for fitness, could knock spots off the big lean lads pressing weights in front of the mirrors.


To talk to Simon, or to book a free mini health MOT, ring 01752 265 355


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