| Mr. Carlos Albury, Personal Training Manger of Bally | | | | little" or "too late". Our clients at Bally range in age |
| Fitness in Sandyport, is a man with a plan. His plan is | | | | from 15 to 65 plus. People must also understand that |
| to educate - or rather re-educate - the Bahamian | | | | there is no such thing as a "quick fix" when it comes |
| mentality ar-ound the concept of fitness. He | | | | to achieving optimal fitness. It's a gradual process. |
| explained that being obese or grossly overweight is a | | | | It is also an incremental process, which means that |
| disease, the origins of which may be found in our | | | | you set small, realistic goals and, little by little, |
| family history and also the ways in which we have | | | | increase the challenges. |
| traditionally regarded and consumed food. | | | | Q. One does not have to be a rocket scientist to |
| Mr. Albury also mentioned that in the Bahamian | | | | understand that obesity is a serious health problem. |
| context perhaps the biggest problem is not actually | | | | To overcome the problem and keep one's weight |
| losing the weight or getting in shape but rather | | | | within normal boundaries requires a concerted effort |
| changing or re-educating the mindset of the Bahamian | | | | that includes not only token exercise, but |
| people. We are a nation of people who prefer to "go | | | | re-education about food and food choices and so |
| along with the program" or status quo rather than | | | | forth? Am I right? Are most of your Bahamian clients |
| undergo the more difficult challenge of change - and | | | | aware that it will take more than a slow walk around |
| sticking with this, come what may. | | | | the block, for example, to combat their problem? |
| Below are only some of the many excellent guidelines | | | | A. Absolutely. As a nation, we have changed in the |
| around walking as a fitness exercise. | | | | past 50 or 60 years. In times past, parents had to |
| Q. I must tell you, Mr. Albury, that I decided to phone | | | | fight to bring their children inside after dark. Why? |
| Bally first and foremost because I understand it is | | | | They were outside running around, burning up calories |
| one of the nation's premier fitness centers. Judging | | | | and staying fit and healthy. Fifty years ago we ate |
| from your positive response to my request, you | | | | simple nourishing foods that we prepared and |
| must work for a fantastic organization. Am I correct? | | | | cooked. Packaged foods with preservatives, lots of |
| A. Bally has just celebrated its 3rd anniversary. You | | | | sugar, salt and trans fats were non-existent. Today |
| probably know that we are a US franchise and that | | | | we have become a nation of couch potatoes and |
| we also insist upon very high standards. Above all we | | | | our children are now video game junkies. Parents and |
| wish to impress upon the public the idea that fitness | | | | schools have difficulty getting them to go outside in |
| is not something you take up for a while and stop | | | | the fresh air to take exercise these days. |
| should boredom set in. Rather, fitness is a lifestyle | | | | Q. Speaking of walking, suppose an individual would |
| change. As a teaching facility, Bally stresses fitness as | | | | like to address his or her weight problem by walking, |
| a positive healthy lifestyle. | | | | what kind of walking regime would you recommend |
| Q. Looking around us on the streets of New | | | | they undertake perhaps before they even sign up |
| Providence, one cannot help but notice the high | | | | for professional help at a gym? |
| numbers of individuals clearly impacted by obesity. | | | | A. I think that our Bahamian people need to |
| Would you agree? | | | | understand the importance of undergoing a proper |
| A. Absolutely. And clearly obesity does not | | | | medical assessment by a doctor or a licensed physical |
| discriminate by age or gender. Sadly there are as | | | | trainer before commencing any type of physical |
| many obese children and adolescents as there are | | | | fitness training. Only after such an assessment can |
| adults, both male and female. | | | | the client be sure that he or she is in fact able to |
| Q. At the same time, one also notices that there has | | | | withstand the stresses of such a training program. It |
| been an influx of persons walking for exercise in | | | | is also a good idea to be clear as to what your goals |
| parks and on beaches and signing up at local gyms. | | | | are: Are you training for a marathon? Do you wish to |
| By the time, however, that such persons decide to | | | | lose weight and keep it off? Do you wish to |
| do something positive about their condition, they are | | | | promote that overall feeling of well-being? |
| already grossly overweight. In your opinion, is this | | | | Q. What kind of clothing or gear would you |
| another example of "too little, too late"? | | | | recommend? |
| A. As far as fitness is concerned, it is never "too | | | | |