Why you should get your game face on this summer…
- Whatever your level, running around the court will get your whole body moving, burning calories and toning up - and get your heart pumping! Constantly moving your feet means you’ll build lower body strength, while the racket action will work your top half.
- A 10st person playing tennis for an hour can earn you around 6 FitPoints® – equal to the same amount of time surfing or playing squash.
- According to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, playing tennis regularly can improve bone density and help ward off osteoporosis.
- Studies suggest that regular moderate exercise, such as tennis, can help treat depression and improve mental wellbeing.
- It helps to improve hand-eye coordination. And it’s a good laugh!
I did it! ‘Tennis is fun and brilliant exercise’
Helen lives in Surrey with her husband and two children aged four and 11 months.
‘When I gave up smoking, the weight piled on, but it wasn’t until I couldn’t fit into a size 20 that I decided to join WW. I reached my goal weight in October and almost immediately afterwards got pregnant with my son. During the pregnancy, I put on 4st and so, six weeks after he was born, I was back at my WW Workshop. I felt despondent when the weight didn’t come off quickly. I kept persevering, though, and started exercising more, and I’m so pleased to have just reached my goal weight.
My weight loss really started when I focused on exercising. I walk my daughter to school each day and use the treadmill at the gym three times a week. This year, I’m hoping to do the Race for Life, a 5km run that raises money for Cancer Research. At the moment, I can do 3km in 45 minutes, alternating between walking and running.
I had tennis lessons as a child but the last time I played, I was about seven. I tried it recently and didn’t know what to expect, but it was great fun. I didn’t think I’d be any good, but I enjoyed myself and hit more of the balls back than I thought I would. Tennis is brilliant exercise, so I’m determined to encourage my daughter to get into the sport now that I’ve had a go.’