Trends in Physical Activity and Obesity in the UK (1980 to 2024)

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Obesity Active Travel

They say your job shapes you. This couldn’t be truer when it comes to the increase in obesity across the UK. As a family, we are huge advocates of active travel, and we practice what we preach. For work, school, and leisure, we cycle or walk as much as possible. But what’s the trend around the UK? I wanted to explore this.

As an 80’s child, I wanted to explore the data and see how things have shifted in the past 39 years of my life. They say people look back to their childhood with rose-tinted glasses. In some ways that’s true but did people really walk or cycle more in the past? The data suggests they did and the impact of going against this has supersized our population.

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Thornes Park, Wakefield Review For Families

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Thornes Park, Wakefield

Families who love a varied family day out should definitely visit Thornes Park, Wakefield. It offers a wonderful opportunity to have fun, relax, and spend quality time together. 

The park provides a variety of activities and spaces suitable for adventurers of all ages, making it an ideal picnic spot. It has athletic tracks, an indoor leisure centre, bike-friendly paths, a duck pond, a miniature railway, bowling greens, and a skate park etc.

Having visited the park multiple times as Wakefield residents, we can confidently say that it offers a great range of activities. Our kids, Barney and Matilda, always find something they love to do on weekends. 

What’s even better is that all these amenities are available free of charge.

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The benefits of Resistance Training & Trail Cycling

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Resistance Training & Cycling

For anyone who enjoys staying active and maintaining a strong, balanced fitness routine, combining resistance training and trail cycling can be an ideal approach to achieving peak performance. As a dad, fitness enthusiast, and lover of the great outdoors, I’ve come to appreciate the unique benefits of this combination—improving strength and endurance and promoting mental well-being.

From my perspective, longevity is the key to all fitness: finding a sustainable, enjoyable way to stay healthy while setting a great example for your children. A combination of resistance training and trail cycling is the key to this.

This article explores why I believe integrating resistance training with trail cycling can elevate your fitness routine to the next level while also bringing enjoyment and calm to your life. Combined with outdoor family adventures, I am confident you will feel and look much better, and this will be channelled to your children.

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Is it ok to ride a cheap, second hand bike?

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Second Hand Bike

Cycling, as a physical activity, is known to have profoundly positive effects on mental health, and it’s especially important when considering the mental health crisis in the UK, particularly among men. Suicide rates in the UK show that men are three times more likely than women to take their own lives, and engaging in regular physical activities like cycling can help mitigate stress, anxiety, and depression.

But how do we get the everyday individual started when they feel financially squeezed after years of inflationary pressures?

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Fountains Abbey National Trust Review

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Are you looking for an exciting, family-friendly destination to explore? Fountains Abbey National Trust is the perfect spot! With a range of activities for families to enjoy, Fountains Abbey offers a unique combination of history, natural beauty, and outdoor adventures.

Fountains Abbey is a National Trust property located in North Yorkshire, England. The National Trust manages this historic site and features a Cistercian abbey, a water garden, and a deer park, all set within beautiful countryside.

This article will review Fountains Abbey National Trust for families, including the abbey’s history, things to do, family activities, facilities, and additional tips and recommendations.

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Brodsworth Hall English Heritage Review For Families

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Brodsworth Hall English Heritage Gardens

Located close to Doncaster, Brodsworth Hall is a fantastic place to visit as a family if you are in West/South Yorkshire.

Managed by English Heritage, this Victorian country house is surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens, making it a wonderful spot for a family adventure. With its expansive grounds, play park, picnic spots, and café, Brodsworth Hall offers something for visitors of all ages. 

If you’re like us, you’re always on the lookout for family-friendly destinations where your kids can burn off energy in a safe and positive environment then Brodsworth is a good addition to your weekend fun. It’s become one of our favourite places as it just feels so safe and easy to let your kids roam and have fun.

We’ve written a little more below about the history of Brodsworth Hall, what there is to do and some pros and cons (there aren’t many cons that’s for sure).

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Betty Eastwood BMX Track Review

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Betty Eastwood BMX Track

As a family, we have become quite obsessed with BMX/Pump tracks. We feel they are a brilliant, safe way to get children into Cycling. Fortunately, we have one approximately 10 minutes from our doorstep. It’s a small one, but perfect for the kids to enjoy and pick up some key skills. This is Betty Eastwood BMX Track in Crigglestone, Wakefield.

The track has become a staple in our weekly routine. I tend to pick Barney up from Nursery, drive the short distance to Crigglestone and give him a short boost in improving his biking skills. As a parent, it’s just about giving your children that little boost of outside time and we’ve found on an evening this is a perfect spot.

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Why School Drop-offs by Bike Are a Great Way to Start Your Day

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As parents, we all know the morning routine can be a rush—a whirlwind of getting the kids ready, making sure lunches are packed, and trying to beat the clock. 

There is however one part of our morning routine we have stuck to for the 5 years our daughter has been going to school. That is cycling the ‘school run’. 

I believe that in the vast majority of cases for those who live within a short distance of a local school, it’s the perfect way to start the day. Fresh air, movement and quality time together. I often see children driven to school with air pods lodged in their ears and mobile phones occupying their time. This feels like a sad way to start the day for both parent and child. 

Here’s why cycling to school is more than just a practical choice for us—it’s become one of the highlights of our day.

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Off-road cycling and mental health

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Off Road Cycling

I’m no professional cyclist and neither am I a doctor. I do however know a thing or two about health and happiness. I think the two are very much interlinked. 

My workouts tend to be 7 out of 10. I train to stay lean both in body and mind. My consistency tends to be 9 out of 10 though. I very rarely miss a day I don’t do ‘something’. There are several reasons why I do. All are important. Perhaps the most important is for my mind. Without it life is like climbing Mount Ventoux on one of my mountain bikes. It can be done but it’s going to be a bit of a challenge.

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Cycling Indoors vs Outdoors: A Balanced Perspective

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As a dad who loves spending time outdoors with my family, the decision to invest in an indoor spin bike was a shift in mindset. Being out in the fresh air, exploring parks, National Trust sites and local Yorkshire gems with my kids has always been a huge part of our weekends. But there’s also much to be said for indoor cycling, especially when life gets busy, the weather isn’t cooperating or a combination of both means you can’t reach your fitness goals.

At heart, I’ll always be a trail cyclist. There’s nothing that compares to cycling outdoors on traffic-free trails, the varying terrain, switching off your mind, and the feeling of time standing still. 

In January 2024 I bought a spin bike. I know what you are thinking. It’s another one of those January purchases gathering dust! That couldn’t be further from the truth!

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