Training for your Health and Fitness

Before taking on any project or journey in life it can be very helpful to know the 5 W’s and 1 H (why, what, where, when, who and how).

Why Should I Do It?

You may want to look so muscular that people would cross the road to avoid being knocked over by your boulder shoulders! It could be that you just want a better quality of life; walk upstairs without getting out of breath, pick up your grandkids without putting your back out, pain free knees/ hips, prevent or improve you chances of recovery from disease or injury; or maybe just to feel fitter and stronger.

What Do I Need To Do?

Now I am going to sound like a broken record and for good reason. Ideally you will try and meet the recommended Government guidelines on Physical Activity which is also on the NHS website; 2 days per week of lifting weights and body weight training and 150 mins per week of moderate cardio. Even by doing half of this amount will still see strength and endurance gains albeit at a slower rate. Anything is better than nothing (and no that does not include lifting pints at your local 😅) so by just moving more you will be off to a great start!

Where Do I Go?

You can build your guns of steel at any gym/fitness studio or even at home if you get enough ammunition! 💪 The greater the variety of equipment, the better as its way more fun and exciting using a mixture of machines, cables and free weights! You may prefer the more social environment of fitness classes and meeting new people with similar goals!

When Do I Start?

“Well it’s Thursday so I’ll start fresh next week on Monday.” “Ah Mondays no good, I have this thing”….”No, well erm I’m really into this Netflix series so I just don’t have time right now”. “My headphones need charging so maybe tomorrow”; “if only there were 25hrs in a day right”; “if I don’t start then I can’t fail”.

There is no better time than the present, even if it means that you just turn up to the gym or go out for a walk it’s a fantastic start!

Who Can Help Me?

A personal trainer can show you how to get the most out of the gym and give you some insight into exercise and good technique. Similarly a class fitness instructor can help motivate you and get you out of your comfort zone because unless you are a freak who loves the sensation of flesh burning under your skin as you chase the pump, you’ll hate physical exertion like the rest of us; and that’s perfectly normal, but an instructor can help guide you to progressively load at an appropriate pace for yourself.

How Do I Keep Moving When The Going Gets Tough?

Life is tough and sometimes seems to come crashing down on you like a ton of barbed wired bricks singing the crazy frog tune… a ring ding ding ba ba ba! 🤯 and the only thing that will get you off that sofa is a rendition of Nelly the Elephant with chest compressions! It’s how you respond to the tough times that matters; you can lay down, run away or you could stand up for yourself and fight for your time, energy, resources.

Even 10 mins a day is enough to make a difference to your mood, health and fitness; it is hard and it will take time but it is well worth it. You could feel noticeably much happier, healthier and stronger in as little as 4-8 weeks.

Now that you know the why, what, where, when, who and how’s, now is the time to get back into the swing of things or maybe you are doing great and all you need to do is to keep going. You can always boost your motivation by trying a new class or by going back to the gym or just start moving more which is also the aim of Mental Health awareness week in May this year.