I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that it is a bit of a struggle to stay fit and healthy in Canada.

Back in South Africa, the warm weather encourages outdoor physical activity and portion sizes are much smaller.

Cacooning is very tempting when it is chilly outside and every thing is super sized here. Researchers have noted that immigrants arrive healthier than Canadians but soon start to face similar health challenges as they adopt the Canadian lifestyle of fast food, donuts, and sugary coffee.

So I'm interested to know what South African immigrants have done to keep healthy after arriving in Canada?

I have joined a gym so that I can exercise in smog, humidity, and snow. I go to spinning classes to add some variety to my routine. I have also had to really discipline myself when it comes to eating. So I try to cook most of our meals and make healthier choices when eating out.

Yeah, I found it really difficult to keep fit, and I actually put on about 20 lbs after arriving in Canada. I am now working to get it off, and the extra since we lived in the USA. I have only myself to blame for the weight gain.

I have joined the local community centre, where they have a gym, and swimming pool. I try and go on the treadmill 3-4 times a week, and do weights 2-3 times a week. I also try and go for walks with the dog a few times a week, or on a hiking trail on weekends (even in the rainy season). I swim when I can. When we lived in Calgary, most of my workouts consisted of indoor aerobics, and treadmill. I have, so far, lost around 20 lbs, so am quite happy with my progress. I am also studying to be a fitness trainer, more for my own benefit, but it would be a cool career I think. I am keen to take a sport, and am thinking of doing Karate. I did take Tai-Chi classes on and off over the last couple of years, and it really helps with stress - brought my blood pressure down, and lowered my pulse rate (something I can do at home). I want to cycle as well, since there are some really awesome trails around Nanaimo.

Of course, the portion sizes are a huge problem, and I do try and have salads when we eat out, or just an appetizer with a side of salad or veggies. However, I am not always successful in resisting temptation. Some restaurants (like Montana's) allows adults to order from the kid's menu, and I do that sometimes, especially when I'm in the mood for ribs. One thing I miss from SA, is the range of fruit and vegetables, and the taste. It's somewhat bland here (unless locally grown), but I do force myself to eat at least one piece of fruit a day, and salad and veggies with every dinner.

Well, that's muh story in a nutshell! I sure have learned a lot with the fitness training courses, and have another year to go before finishing. Then we see where it takes me.

I have joined the local YMCA and swim 3 times a week. I did the same in SA but only in summer training for the Midmar mile. Here it is all year round to try and keep fit. Also hike as much as we can in spring, summer and fall.

I maintain a fairly steady regimen of weightlifting combined with some running and cycling. During the summer months I do a lot more running and tend to lose quite a bit of weight. As soon as winter hits again I do less running but more in the weight room so my weight picks up again.

I suspect that for a lot of people though that gym is not the problem so much as the lure of all that grease and junk food that is so readily available around here.

Curves is a wonderful, low-impact and easy workout. But for working up a really good sweat without even realising it, nothing beats ice skating!

Charlene

Charlene what is curves?

Now Wesley, this is where the real discrimination is. Curves is a fitness company that caters for females only.

Cathy K.

My problem with health and fitness in SA is due to 2 things:
a) Work. Unlike sales, marketing and management drones engineers sit on their backsides 10 - 14 hours a day staring at a computer.
Unless you go to a gym, there is NO safe outdoors place to go and do your stuff. Its not safe to cycle, you cannot go run on the school's grounds because it is locked, etc, etc.

No I hear that people in Canada also work hard, has less leave and then there is the weather. Is it possible time and environment wise to be active?

Thanks for explaining that Cathy. I do believe I've seen them around here in Vancouver as well.

Alwyn it is definitely possible to be active both time and environment wise. In the winter time people engage in all kinds of ice/snow related activities such as skiiing or snowboarding which are both excellent workouts. If you're not really into those things much like myself then of course there's always the treadmill or stationary bike which can be used at the gym or at home.

My hours are very topsy turvy due to my job so I had to join a 24hr gym which leaves me with no excuse for not working out.

I have always been a gym person even when I was back in SA, the good old Health & Racquet club. When I arrived in Canada I joined the “World Health Club”, well not immediately and have been with them ever since, what I like about this club besides the gymnasium is that it has squash and tennis courts, and an outdoor pool, the pool is off limits during the winter. My schedule is normally 3-5 days a week and train for at least 2 hours a day doing Cardiovascular and Weight training, so a few Tim Horton doughnuts and coffee now and than won’t hurt . I plan on taking some of the Boot Camp classes which is like aerobics.

Do you have to travel quite far to do outdoor activities like those you mentioned?

Alwyn,

It depends where you live. I think Vancouver has very easy access to outdoor activities. You would have about an hours drive if you want to go skiing near Toronto. But I think all cities have outdoor ice skating rinks so that wouldn't be a problem at all.

I think it just depends if you like the winter sports. They are not my thing at all so I have to look for other alternatives.

But I agree with Wesley. The biggest problem staying healthy in Canada is the FOOD. Very big portions and lots of processed stuff. Nothing is as good as my dearly beloved Woolworths

Exercising is an inclusive activity in Canada. The "fifty-five and better" Canadians love walking and see no reason to stop when it snows outside. That's where the large malls come in. Most shops in the malls open at about eleven o'clock, which leave enough time for walkers who want to get in some early morning exercise. It's nice and warm (and dry!) and one can easily do a five kilometre circuit before the shoppers arrive.

And then you can undo all your efforts by having a nice cup of coffee and a cream doughnut right on the spot!

For families the various aquatic centres work very well. Nanaimo has two covered swimming pool complexes and all the pools are heated. There is something special in frolicking in (man made) waves while it's gently snowing outside.

I have little time for exercising. Running up and down the stairs at least a hundred times a day (I think ), doing all the gardening and playing with our granddaughter, keeps me pretty active. There's nothing like abba-ing a five-year old up the stairs for weightlifting. Kicking a ball on a downhill plot - and running after it down the road, keeps the blood pumping. Then there is the hundred odd stairs that one has to negotiate when you want to walk to the beach. Noetzie (in the Garden Route) is peanuts by comparison.

Cathy K.