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Healthy habits and fitness tips for families, with Zack George
Primary Times speaks to fitness champion and real-life Gladiator, Zack George, to find out more about his fun fitness ideas and his inspiring children’s health initiative, Zactiv
Having won the title of the UK's fittest man in 2020, CrossFit athlete Zack George (otherwise known as STEEL from BBC’s Gladiators!) is on a mission to improve health and wellbeing in UK schools. Following his own impressive transformation, Zack has launched a series of workshops aimed at ages 3-16 that focus on boosting children’s self-confidence, as well as their knowledge on all things healthy eating, exercise and nutrition. We caught up with Zack to find out more and to get his thoughts on staying active as a family...
1) Can you tell us about your personal fitness journey?
When I was a kid, I was very overweight and I had a bad relationship with food and exercise. I was really self-conscious and had low self-esteem. One day, my dad said that if we could clean up my eating and cut down on junk food, we’d get a PlayStation 2! That was the catalyst. As time went on, I wanted to get in shape for myself and didn’t need an external reward. I went from being the kid who always had a Fanta in hand to always having water. Because I know what this feels like, I want to help others.
2) Are children more aware of health, nutrition and exercise nowadays and how important is this as they grow up?
Definitely, I think we’re all more aware in general. Exercise and healthy eating can benefit you in so many ways beyond just how you look. It can affect attention span in the classroom and how you perform in all different areas of life. It’s important to instil this in kids. Balance is key too, and enjoying treats sometimes.
3) Are schoolchildren enjoying the Zactiv workshops and what are your hopes for the initiative?
They really enjoy it! It’s as if they’re meeting a superhero! I started Zactiv partly because of my own story but also because I know the impact that you can have as a Gladiator, and I want to use that for good. With mental health being such an important topic, the workshops are also about how diet and exercise can affect how we feel. It’s great to see that the kids really listen and I love answering their questions. If they take something away from the workshop, it’s worth it.
4) Do you have any advice for parents looking to create a healthier lifestyle or any tips for staying active as a family?
Go for family walks and play in the garden together. Try 10-minutes of daily movement - things like star jumps or running on the spot. When you go to the supermarket, try and park further away and enjoy the walk to the shops. People sometimes underestimate the power of walking. Little changes all add up and can make a huge difference to your overall activity levels. Get involved and encourage each other.
5) Are you working on any new projects that families can look out for?
I love doing the workshops and we’re also currently building a website for families to access at home with free advice, healthy recipes and exercise tips and videos too! We’ve also teamed up with MuscleFood who will be offering a discounted family hamper. My aim is just to get everyone feeling good, feeling more confident, and to help people enjoy a better quality of life!
To find out more, please contact Zack@zactiv.co.uk
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