The Wharf - April 2010
Dealing with Blackberry thumb
Suffering from a serious case of Blackberry thumb or niggling pains from Nintendinitis? Health and fitness expert Laura Williams, who lives on the Isle of Dogs is here to help us avid gadget lovers and gaming geeks.
Laura has teamed up with video game publisher Capcom to create a gamer's guide to staying healthy, in the form of a well-being White Paper. Her report ties in with the release of Super Street Fighter IV at the end of the month.
Many of us spend long periods sitting at computers, updating our Facebook status 500 times a day on our BlackBerrys and often indulge in a virtual reality of gaming to escape the stresses of the day job.
Our thumbs are left throbbing after tapping in the equivalent War And Peace on our handhelds and video gamers suffer sore spots after hours of digit abuse.
Laura, who writes a weekly column for The Wharf, said: "As a personal trainer around the Canary Wharf area, I'm used to working with clients who are often stuck in front of a monitor all day and then go home and sit in front of a games console for a lot of the evening. "They are always after ways of doing it differently without having their fun spoilt."
The aim of the well-being White Paper is to provide advice on everything from injury prevention and gaming safety to offering gamers recipes for the perfect gaming meal.
Laura, pictured below, added: "I knew there was a need for guidance around types of repetitive stress injury as far as gaming went, but it was working with the guys on Super Street Fighter IV that I realised there was a big need for other advice and tips on healthy and responsible gaming that incorporated factors such as diet, better ways to position yourself for gaming and stretches to do mid-game.
"A lot of people assume that gaming means getting fat and suffering with aches and pains but it's all about balance. I suggest to my clients they cap the number of hours they spend on their consoles in their freetime and even award themselves 'reward points' for exercise that can be redeemed against couch potato time.
"But it's not about enduring a miserable existence; you can cut down without feeling the pinch and still make a dent in your waistline."
A full copy of the White Paper will be available from April 29 at laurawilliamsonline.co.uk
THE GAMING MENU
The best gaming diet is one which keeps you mentally alert and satisfies any snacking urges without causing you to gain any weight. Try these easy-to-cook, easy-to-eat menus to keep you on fighting form.
Breakfast: Crunchy cereal containing some seeds and/or nuts
Lunch: Roast beef sandwich on rye bread with horseradish
Dinner: Moroccan chicken cous cous:
Cut skinless chicken breasts into strips and fry with an onion and some garlic using just a drizzle of olive oil. Add sliced courgettes, tomatoes, cumin and coriander. Cook for 10 minutes before adding chickpeas and sugar snap peas. Serve on a bed of cous cous.
Snack: Chocolate bar that contains fruit and/or nuts
What eating this will do for your game:
Seeds or nuts in your cereal means you're getting your daily quota of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), which help with many things - brain function being the most relevant.
Roast beef is a great protein source as well as containing good amounts of minerals such as iron and zinc which are essential for keeping you energised. Rye bread is a good source of fibre, so its glycemic response is less than normal bread meaning you're less likely to suffer from a post-lunch slump.
Chocolate contains small amounts of caffeine so this should be enough to perk you up. Including fibre and protein in the form of nuts will slow down the sugar spike you'll get from the chocolate. A 40g bar is plenty.
Cous cous is a slow release carbohydrate, so if you're after a filling, healthy carb that will keep you awake for an after-dinner game, cous cous is it.
To book a session or to find out how Laura can help you get into shape, email her at laura@laurawilliamsonline.co.uk
Or call her on 07712 001525.