The dark, cold nights during the winter are never conducive to getting out of the house and into the gym but, while warm summer days and evenings might seem like the perfect time to get active, we must always be aware that exercising in the heat has to be approached with caution.
The pressure of not enough hours in the day is something that we all feel from time to time. Whether it is work, family or study commitments, finding the time to exercise can sometimes be tricky.
One solution is to break your exercise into smaller chunks, which can be slotted into your day but which add up to the same amount of exercise. This is a novel way to find time to exercise, but it can act as a way of varying your routine and, as a result, can be very effective.
The benefits of spinning are there for all to see: low impact on the joints, high cardio rate – spinners work at 75-96% of their maximum heart rate, great music to take your mind off the pain and no slippery roads or irate car drivers to negotiate on your bike.
Our latest article focuses on the exercise that is the simplest and, to my mind, the most effective way of keeping fit and healthy – running.
Whatever your level at the moment, running is an activity which always offers room for personal improvement as well as new challenges.
The common belief is that eating breakfast will give your metabolism a boost and that not eating will mean that it slows dramatically. Certainly the calories you eat will affect your metabolism (and your energy), but it’s the composition of the calorie; whether it’s protein, carbohydrate or fat, that really impacts your metabolism. Eating the wrong food can be just as harmful as not eating at all.
Most people who work with a personal trainer report working harder, getting much better results, and understanding their health and fitness requirements to a far greater extent. Money well spent, surely?
Rowing is under-rated as a source of cardio vascular exercise. The rowing machine is the only cv machine that truly works your upper body muscles and, when you are rowing, it really is all or nothing. Rowing fitness is a great way to all-round high levels of fitness.
These exercises are all designed to tone, rather than increase muscle size, hence the higher number of reps.
All you need for these exercises are a mat, a pair of dumbbells – weighted so that you can perform the exercise but by the time you get towards the end of a set, you are feeling the pain.
The woods, country paths and parks all make a fabulous gym. Forest trails are great for running and off-road cycling – when you are running off-road, your joints and bones make a softer impact on the ground, while something other than a perfectly flat, smooth surface will help you work your core a little harder.
Boxercise is just one of the many classes we run at Kelsey Kerridge. For those who are new to the idea, boxercise is effectively, boxing without the pain of being punched.
It is based on the training concepts used by boxers to keep fit – and let’s face it, the toned abs, wiry torso and rock hard biceps are the envy of any fitness fanatic – and can be used by anyone of any fitness level.
