Balanced diet and exercise plan the route to fitness

These days fitness is popular with everyone from teens, to our parents, and even their parents. We are all becoming fitness fanatics.

Fitness is not that important to me, but I do enjoy the odd game of hockey, tennis or football. I find it easy to get involved in these activities, but find exercise on its own harder to get into.

Yet more and more people are trying to live up to the stereotype of athletes like Sonny Bill Williams.

That fit, masculine image is, I believe, fuelling today's interest in exercise.

But trying to match up to the stereotype isn't always healthy, especially for teenagers, who work out endlessly. The hard intensity-training can damage muscle tissue, resulting in torn or weak muscles.

Older people obsessed with the athletic ideal will sometimes turn to steroids, which can ruin a person's life, or at least cause them serious harm.

Another way of getting fit is through activities like zumba, or with devices like the Ab Circle Pro.

Some last in the market because they are effective and not found in gyms. Others succeed through celebrity endorsement.

Others die out because they are not effective or they are expensive and can be used at the local gym more cheaply.

Many people don't fall for such things and just make a schedule of running, walking and other exercise.

What does it take to become a top sports star?

Well, it's not just intense training or eating next to nothing.

It's all about a well balanced diet - so not going to McDonald's or KFC, but eating a good serving of fruit and veggies.

And to go with that you should have a well-balanced exercise regime - but only to the extent that's right for you, and that won't hurt you in the long run.

Brandon Schwass, Year 10, Hastings Boys High School