Welcome back to Kevin’s fitness tips and welcome to the (nearly) New Year.
I hope you are all enjoying the festive break and trying to control the indulgences and temptations just a little bit! To celebrate entering the new decade, I thought we could try something with a difference to get you back into your fitness routine or to start you off on a new one.
Regular Exercise
It’s easy to find time for a short work-out each day. Just 25 – 30 minutes can make a huge difference in your fitness levels in only a few weeks. And you’ll notice the change in your own motivation and general well-being. Exercise creates a positive mental state and helps you feel better able to cope with life’s daily challenges. It takes just 21 days to create a habit, so why not work towards creating a healthy lifestyle?
Here are 3 things that can get you started and help create a regular exercise routine for you:
- Walking – go for a walk! (Yes I know the photo is taken in the Summer, but Winter is wonderful for walking too). 25 or 30 minutes is sufficient time to get your heartbeat raised and help tone the muscles. It’s also a great way to get back a bit of ‘me time’ each day. Take a few minutes to warm up to your normal walking pace and when you’re ready you can ‘up’ the tempo. Make sure you take long, steady strides and keep a fast pace going throughout. Remember to do a few stretches when you are done to keep your muscles healthy and strong.
Toning – it’s easy to focus on the cardio workouts and forget about toning but it’s just as important and will help you lose any unwanted pounds. The more lean tissue we have (e.g. toned muscle) the better fat-burners we become. Finding 20 minutes a few times a week to do a few squats, lunges, tricep dips and sit-ups (or The Plank!) will ensure you feel better and improve your fitness levels. You may even find you sleep better.
Eating – yes it’s important to eat. Skipping meals is a false economy and whilst it’s tempting (particularly with the post-festive season panic) you’re simply depriving your body of the nutrients it needs to be healthy and give you energy. Spend a bit of extra time planning your meals and making sure you get your 5-a-day. You never know, it may become a long-term habit!
If you can manage to do 2 or 3 walks each week and 2 or 3 sessions of toning you’ll have a fitter body and healthier mental outlook.
Good luck with getting yourself back into the swing of things!
Kevin
Push Studios, East Dulwich
Kevin writes regularly for Dulwich OnView and features fairly regularly in other articles too. Search DOV to find out more about Kevin.
