Fight Fit

By Steven Swanson

Fit for summer

During the next four weeks I am going to talk about the wonderful subject of holidays and how to get in shape for them.

The post-Christmas rush to get fit is now well and truly over, with most of us having long(forgotten our New Year’s resolution to get fit.

These things take time, however, so if you want to get fit for summer, now is the time to start.

If you want to get fit, the best thing is to do it with a friend or relative.

You can keep each other company and offer moral support when one of you feels like giving up, which WILL happen!

If you exercise together, however, don’t follow the same fitness programme.

If you really don’t want to be apart for an hour you can work out next to each other or alternate on the same machines, but make sure that the programme you are using is the one that suits you.

It should include how often you train, how hard, and how long, and it should be changed every four to six weeks.

If you don’t change things you will hit a plateau, resulting in very little change for all the hard work you put in.

This applies to weights, cardiovascular and outdoor exercise.

If you’re looking to tone up in time for holiday, try to exercise at least three times per week with a full body workout.

If you are in the gym for a few hours a day, you are definitely overdoing it!

Similarly, if you are exercising each day, change your exercises.

You should not exercise the same muscle groups more than every two days.

If you are not a member of a gym, take a brisk walk to the paper shop to buy the Chronicle.

By the time you get back home you will be warmed up and ready for some simple, yet effective exercises in the privacy of your own house.

So you have a week from now to blow your fit balls up. If you don’t have one, you can pick them up from most big supermarkets or any sports shop.

The sizes are different so make sure you get the correct one for your height.

I will be back next week with some specific exercises that will help you to get into shape for the spring and summer sun!

NYou can contact Steven and his colleagues at Greens Health & Fitness on (0191) 213 00710 or visit www.greenshealth.com

(c) 2007 Evening Chronicle – Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.