Fitness

More than 100 Dunedin children skipped school yesterday.

MacTodd solicitor Tanya Surrey has taken on the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival 12 Week Challenge and in our first of weekly updates she explains how she went from Friday night drinks to the gym ... and hopes to end up with a figure similar to Catherine Zeta Jones.

The paradoxically great news about The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout is that while it makes an alarmingly unfavourable first impression by botching the easy part, it redeems itself 10 times over by getting the hard part right - and, in doing so, demonstrating how viable Kinect is as an fitness tool.

A health and fitness programme, specifically targeting those in the community who needed to lose weight for their health and wellbeing, is being launched by Lakes Leisure - and the organisers are calling for applications for two more residents to take part in the free eight-week programme.

Some have completed Wanaka Challenge, or conquered the Lake Hayes Women's Triathlon, some have quit their jobs and travelled overseas.

More than 1000 women are expected at Millbrook later this month to take part in the Sparc REAL Women's Duathlon Series, a non-competitive event designed to encourage all women to experience the benefits of "REAL" - regular exercise, active lives.

More is better when it comes to alleviating lower back pain - more exercise, that is.

The following programme combines flexibility and strengthening exercises to help prevent or alleviate lower back pain. You should consult an osteopath before starting this programme if you already have acute or chronic lower back pain.

Nordic walking, a fitness walking technique using specially designed poles, is becoming popular.

Spring is here, and that's the signal for us to have a look at our health and fitness habits.