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Connect & Grow Magazine: Edition 12 August - September 2024
After a pretty cold winter in Melbourne, Australia, we have finally moved into Spring, and with it comes the promise of more sunshine and warmer weather, plus usually a bit more Joi de Vivre!
If you are anything like me, ie, spending more time inside when the weather is cold, or it’s raining or gets too dark, or, in fact, any other excuse (If I didn’t have classes and PTs to attend, I’d probably hibernate all through Winter!) So it is time to go outside in that beautiful fresh air, and shed the layers (both the outside and the inside ones - if you get my drift;-))
As a personal trainer, I’m always excited about this time of year because it is a natural
motivator to help us all become a little more active again, but....if the thought of hitting the gym after months of inactivity is too daunting. Don’t worry. I have a cunning plan to get you motivated again, to help ease you gradually back into exercise, and to make this spring your season of the best fitness you’ve ever had!
Here are my top 7 Healthy tips:
1. Start small but dream big; now is not the time to start with high-impact, gruelling
sessions, you want to begin the journey back into sustainable fitness by gradually
increasing the intensity and duration of your exercise regime as you feel more
comfortable, in other words, ease yourself into it, look at circuits, yoga, pilates, or just
walks along the beach, park, streets!
2. Now this is a biggie, Find Your Joy; The key to sustainable fitness is finding activities you genuinely enjoy. If F45 is your idea of someone poking your eyes with a red hot
poker, why would you do it? Same with any other class or activity you care to name.
You want to find something that honestly gives you the motivation to keep going, that
makes you smile when you think of doing that activity. (And yes, it still counts as
exercise boogying around the dance floor!)
3. Make is Social; Exercise doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit. Why not do it with a
friend, or join in on an exercise class with people of similar sex and age? There is
one class I teach at where they are all female, aged over 65, and have a cuppa and a
biscuit afterwards; what could be nicer? If you’ve got someone you ‘gel’ with, it can
motivate you to keep up with the exercise because you don’t want to disappoint them,
and vice versa.
4. Embrace the outdoors occasionally; Now the weather is warming up, why not train outside? You’ve got a plethora of activities to choose from, including boot camp,
hiking, cycling, walking, running, rock climbing, water skiing....you get the picture!
The fresh air and sunshine can do wonders for your sense of wellbeing, making all
exercise is much more pleasurable with all those endorphins flooding our body 🙂!
5. Fuel your body; Super important. Whatever sort of exercise you are planning on
embarking needs the right sort of fuel to not only give you energy but help with
muscle soreness, recovery afterwards, and of course, creating more muscle to get
you through your next exercise adventure. Speak to someone with knowledge of this
perhaps check out Kathy Ashton’s (clinical nutritionist) article in this magazine!
6. Listen to your body; pushing ourselves (believe me I know) too hard and too soon
can lead to injury, and then it’s all about the long road left to recovery. Pay attention
to what your body is telling you after or during exercise, and rest if it’s needed. Ask
your trainer for advice in this area. If you experience any pain or discomfort whilst
exercising, get help and advice from a professional, and most importantly, do not
‘push’ through!
7. Embrace the change; Spring is, after all, the time for renewal; the air seems fresher
somehow, we can see all the buds on the trees, the flowers blooming, and somehow
, the colour of everything in Spring is brighter. Use this time to break free from
unhealthy habits that haven’t served you and embrace a healthier lifestyle for
good. Set achievable goals for yourself and reward yourself (such as going to the
movies, going somewhere special on holiday, or buying that piece of clothing you’ve
always wanted) so you can celebrate your progress along the way
Remember, our road to fitness is a journey, not a destination. There will of course be
fantastically good days, but also times when it all seems too hard and we want to throw in the towel. If we stay consistent and find joy in the process, then one step on the ladder of health leads to another one, and before you know it, you’re the best you’ve been for years!
So....step out into that glorious sunshine, breathe in the fresh air and let Spring be the
catalyst for a healthier, more vibrant you, I’ll be cheering your progress along with you!
Written by
Vivienne Derwent
B. HSC, ANTA
Founder
Personal Trainer & Clinical Nutritionist
Email: viv@vnutri.com.au
(C) Break Free Consultancy 2024
Disclaimer: All information is accurate at the time of publication and subject to change