Optimum Fitness

An important key to being in shape is to set goals and keep a positive mindset.

Warm up and cool down for five to 10 minutes.

Up The Intensity If You’re Short On Time
Official NHS guidelines still promote the 150 minutes of moderate activity a week minimum, but now offer an alternative option of 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week.

Mix Up Your Exercise
Variety is – cliché alert! – the spice of life, and many sports and activities support each other in ways you won’t realise until you try it.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
Gyms can be full of egos, and you should strive to distance yourself from that. There’s so much to learn about the body and working out that no one could possibly know everything.

Beware of fitness fads
Don’t try fads and gimmicks. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Losing weight takes time and hard work, but you can do it.

Use races as motivation
Commit to a 5k to motivate you to train. Plus, you just may find out that the energy of the supportive crowds really motivates you to keep jogging—long after the race.

Plan ahead
Use Sundays as prep days to eat healthy all week. Get enough produce and staples needed for the week.

How Long Should My Workouts Be?
The answer depends entirely on how hard you’re willing to work. According to a recent study, 20 minutes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) — which alternates short bursts of intense effort with periods of low-intensity rest — produced a similar reduction in body fat as 40 minutes of continuous, moderate to vigorous exercise.

Pay attention to your thoughts
Thoughts are powerful; bring awareness to yours. Do you encourage yourself with body positivity or hold yourself back with negativity? A change in mindset could be all it takes to get your health on track.