News

Half of people in Wales do no exercise

Published

9 years ago

May 19, 2016

BRITAIN is a nation of couch potatoes with almost half of us failing to undertake any cardio exercise whatsoever, according to new research which adds that 51% of us living in Wales also don’t participate in any.

The study also revealed that people in Northern Ireland were the biggest couch potatoes in the whole of the UK with a massive 58% admitting to no cardio exercise whatsoever. This compared with 47%, in England, 51%, in Wales and 53% in Scotland.

The study, undertaken by YouGov on behalf of leading sports nutrition company Predator Nutrition, looked at the lifestyle habits of more than 2,000 men and women from across the UK.

Almost half, 48%, said they did no cardio exercise at all with a further 25% saying they did one hour a week or less.

That means only around one quarter of the population are exercising for more than an hour each week.

Women were more likely to be couch potatoes than men with 50% of all women saying they did no cardio compared with 45% of men.

More than two thirds of Britons don’t bother to train with weights with only 31% of those questioned ever bothering to pick up a dumbbell.

Almost three quarters of women, 73%, don’t do any strength training at all compared with almost two thirds, 64%, of UK men. Almost one in five of us, 19%, said climbing an average flight of stairs would leave us out of breath, with 3% saying they would be gasping for air by the top.

Worryingly it seems more and more of us are choosing to spend our free time sitting around on our backsides with 8% admitting to sitting down for 11 hours or more every day. While more than a third, 34%, said they sat down for at least seven hours every day.

The study also revealed that a massive 16% of UK adults admitted to eating sugary and processed food every day while almost two thirds of us, 65%, said they ate them at least once each week.

Only a tiny minority, 6%, claimed to eat their recommended five portions of fruit and veg each week with 2% saying they ate no fruit and veg whatsoever and more than a fifth, 22%, saying they ate less than seven portions a week.

A spokesman for Predator Nutrition said: “With obesity on the rise in the UK it is disappointing to discover that so many of us are still not finding the time to exercise.

“We were shocked to discover that only about half of Britons bother to get any form of cardio exercise at all.

“Working out with weights can have a massive impact on our fitness levels and our weight – yet less than a third of adults train their muscles.

“Only a quarter of women and a third of men bother to work out with weights despite this being a highly efficient way to exercise.

“It seems many people are still intimidated by weight training yet combined with cardio exercise there are proven health benefits.

“We hope our study will highlight that more needs to be done to encourage people to quit their bad habits and adopt a healthier lifestyle.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

2 days ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.