Do you need a good reason to keep your appointment at the gym? Could you use a little motivational pick-me-up? Then look no further than your local sports store.

There really is nothing like new exercise kit to boost you when your motivation is flagging. Fresh new trainers, bright new tops and leggings that have yet to lose their colour and elasticity after multiple trips around the washing machine. A comfy new sports bra that makes you feel like you could jump over buildings without moving an inch!

Buying new kit is not only a great motivation for personal fitness, it can also help you refine the type of exerciser you now are.

If you started out in generic leggings, shorts or tracksuit bottoms, a plain T-shirt and supermarket trainers, buying branded kit from a specialist sports retailer who can advise you on the wide range of trainers depending on your favourite type of exercise or help you choose the perfect all-weather running outfit will make you feel like you’ve graduated!

If you bought great kit first time around, but now need to drop down a size or replace those trainers that have seen far too many muddy miles already, buying new kit will help you realise just how much you have achieved.

Continue reading →

Do you start everyday with good intentions to fit in a work out? Or maybe you go to bed vowing that you’ll do it tomorrow, even though you failed miserably today (and yesterday…)?

Do you wish there was just a few more hours in the day that you could set aside for exercise, giving you the chance to get super fit and feel better about your health and your body?

The bad news is those elusive extra hours are unlikely to materialize. The good news: you can still sneak exercise into your day without feeling like you have to take another priority off your list.

Here are five fitness tips for everyday life:

1) Wear a sports bra and trainers all day: that way, you can do a few burpees or jog on the spot for 10 minutes, whenever that 10 minutes should become available.

Continue reading →

Supermarket Tesco has launched a ‘get fit’ campaign in an effort help in an effort to get people healthier.

The idea behind the “Walk This Way” initiative is to walk 10, 000 steps per day; the number of steps researchers believe is linked to good health. It probably sounds like a lot but making choices like walking instead of bussing, getting up on your lunch break rather than sitting at your desk and choosing steps over an escalator or lift will go a long way to helping you reach your 10, 000.

To give you an idea of how much walking you need to do; a ten minute walk is equal to around 1,000 steps.

If you’d like to make it a family affair, the NHS says that children between the ages of five and 18 should be walking around 12, 000 steps per day.

And if you’re a parent to a small child, you’ll know that ‘running’ a more accurate way of describing how your wee ones get around.

Continue reading →

Will you be making a New-Year’s resolution to shape up this year? If you haven’t exercised before, or for some time, you might feel like you are taking on more than you can handle, but don’t panic! Getting into the habit of taking regular exercise is easier than you might think, with a huge range of activities to choose from, depending on your budget, fitness goals and personality.

I have put exercise classes and DVDs together because to me, a DVD is just a class that you can do at home, the main differences being that you can choose when the class starts and you only have to pay once! Of course, if a regular obligation to turn up and pay is the motivation you need to keep going, then a real class is a better option for you.

Classes also offer a social element, which is a big motivator for some, while the security of exercising in the privacy of their own home is preferable for others. Essentially, however, the physical activity is the same.

Exercise classes/DVDs can range from a gentle yoga session to military-style body pump, with elements of boxing or body-combat thrown in for good measure, so it’s a good idea to check out what is available at your local leisure centre and try a few out to see what you enjoy the most.

For example, I always thought I would enjoy the serenity of a slow-moving yoga class, but in fact, I found the stillness to be bordering on torturous!

Instead, I’m now hooked on high-intensity circuit training, which mixes strength training and cardio into a packed 45 minutes of non-stop sweating, making me feel like my time has been well spent!

Continue reading →

Will you be making a New-Year’s resolution to shape up this year? If you haven’t exercised before, or for some time, you might feel like you are taking on more than you can handle, but don’t panic! Getting into the habit of taking regular exercise is easier than you might think, with a huge range of activities to choose from, depending on your budget, fitness goals and personality.

If you haven’t visited a gym lately, you could be forgiven for thinking they are full of muscle men and Jane Fonda types – but you would be wrong. Most leisure centres have well-equipped gyms that are regularly used by people of all ages and abilities and from all walks of life.

And your local gym is a great place to kick off your new fitness plan, because the staff can show you how to safely use the equipment as well as offering tailor-made programmes that are specifically designed to help you achieve your goals.

So cast off those inhibitions and give it a go. If you’re still not sure, here are some great gym tips to help you on your way:

• First, go to your local leisure centre, buy a cup of coffee, and just observe the people coming and going to the gym. You will see plenty of people who look just like you!

  

• Then, if you decide to give it a go, book yourself in for an induction – this is where the gym staff will usually assess your starting fitness level, show you how to use the equipment, and discuss your goals.
• Continue reading →