88���ֳ�

Like any other supplier I'm gearing up for what traditionally is called the silly season. Yes, it's that time of the year when we get all jolly and cheerful.

Out come the Christmas boxes from marketing or the promotions department. Calendars, desk pads, pens, not to mention nibblies and the odd bottle of plonk. And then there are the parties, the lunches, the catch-ups, all accompanied by lots of wonderful food and more of that free-flowing plonk. All in all it's a merry good time of the year. And why not?

But still, this is the time of the year, readers, where we need to get ourselves into a little bit of shape prior to those rounds of parties, Christmas cheer and all those good things like turkey and prawns and pudding and nice cold beer.

Now I am no health fanatic. But I have been a very solid supporter of restaurants, cafes, bars and so on around the country for more years than I care to remember, especially during the silly season, and one needs to really put in the hard yards via walking, jogging, or working out to whatever level you feel comfortable, to sustain that sort of lifestyle.

But just do it, in the words of a certain shoe company.

You will be in far better condition come the New Year when it's back to the grindstone, and you'll appreciate being able to eat over-stuffed turkey without turning into one.

And let's not forget that part of the supply side industry that provides healthcare to the mining industry.

There are numerous companies that go out and work with the miners to develop special programs to help the work and site behaviour patterns of employees.

Huge applause and accolades is due for all those companies in this day and age that have really taken on the task of making workplaces better through fitness programs. All tailor-made to suit the minesites, the age groups and to a degree, the location and culture of mining communities.

Companies that employ someone to get the workers up and doing something with their day-to-day activities are really reaping the rewards and seeing the results.

And let's face it, while there is still some manual labour on mines sites there is a profound emphasis on less manual tasking these days, so even those hard-working miners are sitting around more and not moving as much.

There is another very important factor in all this and that is insurance and workers' compensation. I know many companies are, these days, putting the cost savings made in these areas back into further health and wellness programs rather than the bottom line. What a champion idea.

But at the end of the day it comes back to the end-user wanting to help themselves. No matter what fancy gym equipment is put in place, what swimming pools, saunas and spas are laid on, it comes back to the desire of the person. And that person is you.

Let's take a good look at the supplier rep's day in the mining industry.

Usually it is far from eight hours and more often than not starts very early. There's never enough time for a proper breakfast but possibly a bacon and egg roll and a coffee can be squeezed in somewhere. Lunch can be either a sandwich on the run or worse some hot fatty takeaway that smells out the company car. Hot chips did I hear you say?

Come evening and it's probably a beer or three with a customer and later on a big meal over a wine or four. Business is business and so it goes.

What has happened here folks? It's not so much the diet but rather the fact that not one minute of exercise has occurred unless it was in and out of the car, taxi or plane.

So what are you going to do about it?

Get out of bed three quarters of an hour earlier and commit to an early brisk walk, run or jog, I say.

Or if that isn't suitable then prior to that big dinner with your customer, tell them you will meet thirty minutes later than normal and take that walk prior to dinner, have a quick shower and I tell you something for nothing: you will feel better and last a whole lot longer through the night.

So be happy and healthy and, in the end, do it for yourself.