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New report: Our biggest body hang ups

Written by Fiona September 19 2014

When it comes to our bodies, both men and women have their hang ups. For men, it’s usually their stomachs and “moobs” that they moan about, while for women it’s bums, tums, thighs and bingo wings.

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But it seems that there are also body hand up differences between the north and south of Britain.

A body image survey by British Military Fitness, the UK’s leader in outdoor fitness sessions, found some interesting – and occasionally bizarre – results.

Body hand up differences:

Females in the north of Britain would most like to improve their tummies (87%).

Whereas, in the south, it’s bingo wings that are the bigger issue for women (71%).

Southern ladies are also more confident about their cleavage when compared to northern women, who worry about the size of their busts (as well as their stomachs and thighs).

The main body image concerns for men in the south are their chests and backs, while in the north it’s the arms, legs and bums.

Some 56% of men in the north are not very keen on their lanky legs.

In the south, a third of men (33%) are most concerned about their bums.

Strangely, another statistic reveals that men in southern Britain are twice as keen to “beef up their backs” than those in the north. Who knew that backs could be such a big concern?!

Of course, BMF want to tell more people that their sessions, which take place in parks up and down Britain, can help participants to get in shape and target all those body areas that men and women worry about.

I’ve tried BMF and it is a tough but rewarding workout. Check out the BMF website for examples of the exercises that are offered in outdoor classes and the body areas they focus on.

As an overview, BMF classes offer:

More calories burn: The varied terrain of a park encourages your body to challenge itself to move in varied, more complex ways, which helps to boost calorie burn.

All over fitness: BMF helps you become strong, toned and healthy, rather than just thinner.

Happy times: All types of exercise can help the body’s release of feel-good endorphins, but exercising outdoors has been shown to further boost mental well-being.

Exercising outside creates greater feelings of revitalization, energy and positive thinking when compared to indoors, according to a report published in Environmental Science and Technology.

Sunshine pill: Vitamin D is one of the most important vitamins for overall health. We get most of our vitamin D from sunlight on our skin. So being outdoors, even in the winter months, can help with Vit D levels.

See the website to find out more about BMF and where classes take place.

Written by Fiona September 19 2014 Please support this website Buy me a glass of wine

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