The Vodafone Brisbane Lions are proud to partner with Education Queensland and 4BC Radio to promote 2008 The Year of Physical Activity.

As 47 of the most active people in the State, the entire Brisbane Lions squad is always keen to encourage fellow Queenslanders young and old to score a little more physical and mental activity in their every day to enjoy a healthier, happier and longer life.

Whether that means leaping high in the air to mark a footy (or Frisbee!), running down the far wing to grab an opponent (or your pet dog!) or even kicking a long ball to Browny in the goal square (or kicking off from the edge of a swimming pool!) – well, you get the idea…

Obviously the Brisbane Lions perform at the elite level of AFL football. So here’s a quick guide to what these professionals achieve in a standard week as full-time athletes to give you some inspiration for your own daily exercise routine:

Apart from a full professional team of match-skills coaches, strength and conditioning coaches, club doctors and physiotherapists, the Lions also have their own dietician to help them bulk up or trim down, develop greater endurance and higher energy levels, and just remain super fit for the long AFL pre-season and premiership season. This year, footy season stretches from Saturday 16 February through to Saturday 30 August… unless of course we proceed into the AFL Finals! ;-)

Our healthy eating tips include:
1. Eat a good variety of nutritious foods such as breads (particularly wholegrain), cereals, pastas, fruits, legumes (like chickpeas) and vegetables.
2. Eating breakfast every morning is extremely vital.
3. Eat low salt foods and eat only small amounts of food that contain added sugars.
4. Adult diets should be low in fat – especially saturated fat, which bodies can convert into cholesterol and cause blood cholesterol levels to rise.
5. Small amounts of polyunsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats may have some health benefits when part of a healthy diet.
6. It is important to eat foods with iron and calcium – especially women, vegetarians and athletes.

The Brisbane Lions have also launched a four year partnership with HBA Health Insurance to help deliver sporting equipment and professional AFL programs and clinics to 110 primary and secondary schools across Queensland in a strong community alliance called the HBA Schools Assist Program.

This initiative includes organising player school visits, Lions newsletter articles and school ticketing allocations to see Lions matches at the Gabba in conjunction with the insurance provider.

So we hope to see you at your local school some time soon with sporting gear, great physical activity advice and an AFL program or coaching clinic. Until then… Get stuck into 2008 The Year of Physical Activity with Education Queensland and 4BC Radio and GO LIONS!!!