PERSONAL trainer Renae Sweeney has pulled on the boxing gloves and come out swinging against Tamworth's shocking obesity rates.
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Live Life Get Active Tamworth is a free boot camp that aims to kick the city's position among the fattest in Australia in the guts.
"There's a real stigma with fitness for people starting to exercise who think they can't do it and don't want to be behind everyone else," Ms Sweeney said.
"Wherever you are is where you have to start, you just have to start because every day is a step in the right direction."
The program is funded by the Primary Health Network and Tamworth Regional Council donated the space at Viaduct Park.
Members can book in to as many free sessions as they like, with boxing on Tuesday and Thursday and crossfit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
Almost 80 per cent of adults in West Tamworth are overweight, Australian Health Policy Collaboration figures show.
It also has the second-highest smoking rates in the state and the third-highest number of premature deaths from cancers, heart and lung disease.
The boot camp caters for all ability levels and Ms Sweeney encourages participants to go at their own pace.
"It's not about pushing people but getting them to move, be active and do something they might not normally participate in," she said.
"I think we all know exercise is a preventative, especially with so many implications for different kinds of illnesses, ranging from our physical wellbeing to our mental wellbeing."
The classes run at 9:30am each day in Viaduct Park, and the group is a mix of young mothers, retirees and shift-workers.
All the equipment is provided and all participants need to bring is a bottle of water and a positive attitude.
The crossfit days are run like interval training, so exercisers will spend 40 seconds at each station and however many activities they do there is up to them.
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Ms Sweeney hopes the class will change attitudes in families and lead to a generation of healthier kids.
"We're finding the impacts of it now with a less and less active generation as we go on," she said.
"The attitude has to change."
To join the free bootcamp, visit Live Life Get Active Tamworth on Facebook or at livelifegetactive.com.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
