Activity of the Week: Surfing

Surfing is a massively popular sport and the perfect way to make the best of those stormy Irish summers. Our dodgy weather means that surfers come from all over the world to ride the big Atlantic waves on the West coast. Surfing is a great workout for a toned body as well as incredible fun. It fills you with energy and excitement and it's easy to try out. There are surf schools all over the country but some of the best spots are Lahinch and Bundoran. Lessons are inexpensive but invaluable as this can be quite a dangerous sport if you don't know what you are doing. Why not gather a few mates for a weekend on the waves? You might not be quite up to the Beach Boys standard but you'll feel it!

GIY: Grow It Yourself

On the 3rd Sunday of every month the staff of Airfield House in Dundrum welcome you to their garden allotment for GIY workshops. Learn to Grow It Yourself with free seeds, cuttings and advice. Gardening is a great way to get out in the fresh air and growing your own vegetables or fruits is both healthy and fun. At Fitfone we know that getting fit is all about lifestyle changes like these as well as exercising. For more information on this event and others at Airfield House visit www.airfield.ie

Watch What You Eat

When you're trying to be healthy you ditch the sugary and salty snacks for better options. Beware of what you swap them for! "Low Fat" foods are often full of hidden chemicals and additives and may not be as low in fat as you think. For example: "Less than 5% Fat normally means that the product is more than 4% Fat. Stop and think about this!

Balanced meals with a little extra exercise will stop you from feeling deprived of your favourite foods and keep you on track. Be mindful of portion sizes too. Eating more will not help you lose weight; even if the foods you are eating are healthier.

Tour de France

The race begins on July 3rd in Rotterdam and the finish line will be in Paris on July 25th. That's a collossal 22 days  of intense cycling competition with only 2 rest days. This is the 97th Tour De France. There will be 20 stages covering 3,600 kilometres. But of the 21 teams there can only be one winner.

Anyone for Tennis?

It's that time of year again. Strawberries in the fridge and Cliff Richard on high alert because Wimbledon is back. Just a few days into the tournament we have already seen some phenomenal tennis played and as the battle for mens and womens singles honour heats up the best is yet to come. An hour of playing singles tennis will burn between 450 and 750 calories depending on the intensity you give it. It's also great, competitive fun and a really cheap activity that you can play at home, in the park or at your gym if it's properly equipped. Just grab a racquet and warm up a little before you take your first shots to help prevent injury. We recommend shoulder and back stretches as well as a general 5 minute warm up to wake up your body and help avoid injuring yourself.

Activity of the Week: City Cycling

Since 2009 Dublin City Council has been providing bikes for hire to members of the public. The scheme has so far been a huge success. To take part in the scheme you simply purchase a hire card for a small fee at one of the bike stations using your credit card. Your first 1/2 hour of any hire is free with a 50 cent charge for the next hour. When you get to your destination you return the bike to a local station and your hire ends. This is a great alternative way of seeing the city and getting exercise at the same time. Of course you can also indulge in city cycling while on holiday in cities including Paris, Vienna and Amsterdam. For more information see http://www.dublinbikes.ie/ 

Galway Womens Mini-Marathon

Taking place on June 27th the Galways Womens Mini Marathon will raise money for the Simon Community; feeding the city's homeless. To enter visit www.womensminimarathongalway.ie. Your €25 entry fee will go to the Simon Community and any proceeds you raise to the charity of your choice. www.womensminimarathongalway.ie