From TVNZ, a great story about a guy who lost 60kg over 12 months through exercise and modifying his nutritional choices.

I'm a little disturbed that Bevan Winter's weight loss was classed in the article as "more traditional" compared with gastric bypass surgery and wholeheartedly agree with nutritionist Lea Stenning's call for a new approach to weight loss for morbidly obese people, focusing on diet, fitness and well-being.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/new-appetite-old-fashioned-weight-loss-3639656/video

I've just returned from a few days in Waiouru that opened my eyes to bursting to what cold actually is.

Waking to a light dusting of snow outside on the first day set the scene and even though our remaining stay was 'warmer' with snow-like looking frosts I was glad to get home last night to be able to not have to turn a heater on to be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt around the house.

So from now on when I cringe about the prospect of working out when it's 'chilly' I will thank my lucky stars I'm not in Waioru, put my workout gear on, and 'just do it!'

I could'nt conceive completing one stage, half a stage even, of an ironman let alone doing a race as a double amputee - amazing!

http://ironman.com/profiles/vote-for-rudy-garcia-tolson-ironmans-first-double-amputee-finisher-before-july-10

From Voxy
"Work will start this summer on eight new cycle trails which will cover 1700km when they are completed, the Ministry of Tourism announced today.

Programme manager John Dunne said the Government had allocated $18.85 million for the eight new trails which would bring "huge benefits" for the communities involved."

I'm all behind the NZ cycle trail project but what irks me is the lack of safe dedicated cycle lanes in my own town/neighbourhood!

http://www.voxy.co.nz/lifestyle/work-start-eight-new-cycle-trails/5/54166

From TVNZ
"The number of New Zealanders suffering from glaucoma - a preventable yet irreversible loss of vision - is increasing and could exceed 76,000 by 2031, Glaucoma New Zealand (GNZ) says.

About 68,000 New Zealanders aged over 40 already have glaucoma and the number is likely to increase as the population ages and people live longer, GNZ chairwoman Helen Danesh-Meyer said today.

"Fifty percent of people with glaucoma in this country don't know they have it as it slowly steals their vision," she said.

"Most people experience no symptoms until it is too late to repair the damage that has been progressively getting worse over a long period of time."

From the age of 45, people should have an eye exam every five years, then every three years from the age of 60, she said."

Frightening statistics for a condition that can be prevented, like most things these days, with early detection.

http://tvnz.co.nz/health-news/increasing-number-kiwis-going-blind-3617868?ref=rss

NZ, ranked 9th in the world, beat China, with a world ranking of 3, to claim third place in the Rabo Trophy in the Netherlands.

The BlackSticks success bodes well for the Champions Trophy tournament where they will again face China along with the top two world ranked sides the Netherlands (1), Argentina (2), and England (7).
 
Go Kiwis!

http://www.hockeynz.co.nz/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=Middle/focusModuleID=10420/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl