To Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod BodyBreak means being active, eating well and feeling good about yourself.
The two Canadian icons say the goal for BodyBreak remains the same as it was back in the late eighties – “to encourage Canadians to live healthy, active lifestyles.”
BodyBreak first aired on CBC television in 1989, which was designed to promote fitness to Canadians.
Johnson says oftentimes people think about their health in January, after overindulging over the holidays.
“They don’t think about it as much in December, but it’s still vitally as important in that time frame. If you could call it a New Year resolution, eliminate as much sugar in your diet as possible. It’ll have so many beneficial effects.”
“Every time you take in sugar, look at what you’re taking in. Look at how much sugar you’re taking in. You should be taking in as little as you can because sugar does so many harmful things to your body,” he explains.
The amount of sugar you put in your tea of coffee matters, but so does the sugar in soup, salad dressings and all those other things.
“Just look on the labels and see how much sugar is in those products,” he adds.
For almost 40 years, another thing BodyBreak always noted is to just move.
“It really is that simple. You’ve got to get up and continually move your body. Get up and move as much and as often as you can,” he continues.
Motivation is very personal, Johnson notes. “What motivates one person, whether it be having an Apple Watch on telling you how many steps you’ve gone or how much you’ve trained or worked out. That can motivate somebody. Another person, it won’t motivate.”
“Motivation is individual. Whatever gets you moving. If you’re doing it with someone, that certainly helps a great deal. Whether you’re joining a club or your partner and you get out and hike or cycle or do something together, that’s certainly motivation.”
Johnson says if you want motivation to move, go to a hospital or ward where there’s a lot of seniors. “People would give anything to get up and move and so many people take it for granted.”
Johnson notes he used to visit his father in the hospital for almost a year. “My dad was 93.”
“I think that often motivated me, seeing all these people just struggling to get their body moving. And yet, maybe 10 or 20 years ago, they would have been able to do it. But oftentimes, if you don’t do it, it’s perpetual,” he explains. “You can see a lot of those people that couldn’t move were probably not moving very much when they were younger either. Think about your future self, how that future you will take physical activity, and it will be beneficial for everyone.”
Canadians are getting out and getting active, but not nearly as much as they should, Johnson notes. “We’re still not as active as we should be. We have to make it a priority. If you don’t make your health your priority, no one else will.”
Johnson says he will be turning 70 years old this year. “On my 70th birthday in June, Joanne and I are looking to cycle from Strasbourg, France to Vienna, Austria. It’s about 1,000 kilometres. That’s how we have fun and keep active.”
“Until next time, keep fit and have fun,” he adds.
For more tips visit online at bodybreak.com.
