Fitness

Try this 30-day bodyweight challenge for November!

We all need to keep our core strong, as it sounds – it’s the core of our body, like a trunk for a tree, and if it becomes weak it causes all sort of problems with our posture and ability to carry out everyday tasks.

Here’s a great addition to your workout to keep the core strong. As with any exercise, start at your own level and progress – so you might not achieve all of it first time round but after a few times you can add in more.

No equipment – just you – and 30 minutes! Try this out for the next week.

Squats are a girls best friend! Not only will they get you that toned bum, they can help you lose weight (because as you probably know strength training boosts your fat burning potential) and did you know they can help you run faster, and generally help in everyday life.

One size does not fit all – take a look at the best option for you! 

Here’s a workout that can take only 18 minutes, try to fit it in 3 times in a week. That’s less than an hour of work!

Four weeks of Tabata training….. If you like your workouts short, but aren’t sure how to change it or progress it, then this 30 day challenge is for you! Enjoy!

Just remember to pace yourself if you haven’t trained like this before.

Try this out to get the bum you want…. Just remember to work to your level!

Here’s a great circuit for anyone, it’s based on the idea of getting hiking ready….for those who are only used to gym or flat terrain. Why not give it a try, just to vary your own workout – or set yourself a goal to train towards a real hike.

Here’s a taster of something from my 12-week programme, why not try it this week as part of your usual routine and if you’d like to see more. you can sign up here.

Upper body:

Beginner: 8-12 repetition. Intermediate: 12-16 reps. Advanced: 16-20 reps. Rest 30-45 secs and repeat another once or twice.

Make sure you choose a weight you can complete the repetitions with using good form – but that are hard enough for your last two repetitions to feel tough!

Bicep curls

Tricep dips

Shoulder press

Side raises

Push up (can be done on knees)

Bent over row or single arm row

This circuit can be done anywhere because you don’t need to anything except yourself and some motivation! Try it out this week.

Spinning classes scare a lot of people – everyone else seems to know what they are doing, or do they? If you can’t face attending one, try this out in the gym (or on a real bike in the park). 

Quick workouts work for me – why not try this all over 15 minute blast. Keeping it short means you are more likely to fit it in! No excuses….

How about a 7-day strength training plan…here it is!

Who doesn’t have 5 minutes? Watch this workout video and see if you can fit it in whenever you have 5 minutes! An ad break is 3 minutes so you could get it done in two breaks! That’s got to be better than just sitting watching ads…..

How about using your holiday for a chance to try out a new workout? Here’s a swimming session to keep you fit! 

I love working with resistance bands, a simple bit of kit that enables a great workout, wherever you have a little bit of space (and time). Try the one…..

When you are away with work or on holiday it can be hard to keep up with your fitness routine. Here’s a workout that can be done in your hotel room before you hit the bar….

How about paper plates as a work out tool. Try this workout – all you need are some paper plates, a suitable floor to glide and the ability/patience to master the exercises without falling over! Enjoy

Tabata workouts are quick, simple but very effective. Here’s a few ideas that may surprise you! The bike, treadmill or swimming can work if you are at the gym, but so can high knees, mountain climbers or box jumping (or step) and they can be done at home. Mix it up to keep it fresh. All you need is 20 seconds of hard work followed by 10 seconds of rest – repeat 14-20 times and you’ll have completed a touch workout in 10 minutes  Who doesn’t have 10 minutes?

How about taking your abs to the next level.?  We all get stuck in a rut – repeating the exercises we  know, but you need to change it up if you want to see results. Easier said than done – well here’s a helping hand – some truly tough abdominal exercises to keep your ab workout fresh for a while.

Some of these may be too extreme for right now, but take a look and build up to them.

Bust out of your bad day or mood by working hard! This circuit will get you moving, the blood flowing and your bad day a thing of the past. Give it a go.

If you have little time, then Tabata will work for you – this workout is only 20 mins and requires only you and your willingness to work hard. Short and sweet!

As a trainer I have been asked to lift bums (not literally), but if you don’t have a trainer, why not try this workout instead…. Enjoy!

Try this 30-day challenge, adding in some weights (and cans from the cupboard will do) can make even a short workout valuable. Give it a try. Remember to work at your pace and progress as you feel ready, don’t over do it!

Enjoy!

How about hitting the gym for a quick weight session, it could help you lose fat and gain strength, that means lean muscle – which looks good on the outside and means you carry less fat on the inside.

Start off slowly and build up as your strength increases. Take a look and add this into your weekly visits (try twice a week), 

Try out this for a lower body workout Don’t forget to work to your own limits and increase intensity as you feel able. It should be tough but not leave you in agony…. Technique is key so watch first. Enjoy!

If you don’t feel like you’re achieving those fitness goals, it could be that something away from the gym that is hurting your progress.

If you are following your plan, your form is good, and you are mixing it up enough to keep your body guessing, then maybe you need to check your eating, sleeping and stress levels. Anyone of these could be sabotaging your goals.

Have a look at this article to help you avoid common pitfalls. 

If you’re planning a spring/summer break soon – try this video for some inspiration. 

As with all workouts, warm up and cool down, and only work at your own level – change exercises if the ones suggested are too hard you right now, or hurt you. Feeling sore the day after is one thing, feeling pain is not ok!

Working out can be hard – even for the most committed! There will always be a day when you want to skip the gym – sometimes that’s not such a bad thing, rest and recovering is important, but so is staying on track with your goals.

To keep motivated you could try these tips, simple but effective. 

If you don’t have weights, grab some cans from the cupboard or bottles of water, other than that you need a mat and that’s it. Have a go at this 3 times a week….

Counting calories was always seen as the key for managing a healthy balanced diet, but like all health and fitness news, something else always comes along to change our thinking. Portion control now being used as the way to keep your meals and snacks under control.

Ultimately it’s what works for you – counting calories or managing portion sizes. But are your portions right? This article is a simple guide.

If you want to look into further help with portions the British Heart Foundation guides are interesting.

No equipment or gym membership needed. Why not get outside in the sunshine (take water), maybe get some friends along, set a stopwatch and off you go! Less than 30 minutes and you’ll have done your cardio for the day. Repeat 3 times this week (more if you can).

Adapt a lower level of intensity if you are just starting out, work for 1 minute and rest for 1 minute.

Enjoy!

Just 20 minutes is all you need for this workout. If you can’t complete all these exercises change them to something similar – just keep moving in the work period and rest when you’ve completed them. Try to complete it 2-3 times this week.

Enjoy!

If you’re feeling inspired by the marathon runners but aren’t planning on signing up – why not revamp your own treadmill session – here are a few options to try out this week!

If you fancy setting your self a challenge for summer –try this six-pack workout. Enjoy!

If you’re unsure of what counts as circuits and intervals or you’ve never heard about pyramid training methods, this simple guide can help you create your own short exercise routine – which can be done anywhere.

If you’re stuck for exercise ideas – try theses:

Cardio:

skipping (with or without a rope)

high knees

jumping jacks/star jumps

running on the spot (or between to points)

Strength:

Squats (add a jump to make it cardio too)

lunges

press ups

tricep dips (off a sofa/bench or on the floor)

Core:

bicycle

leg raises

curl up

plank (if you do only one core exercise do this one!)

Why not find a workout buddy and try this workout.  At the very least you can have a laugh.

There are times when a work out should be put off or a different work out tried instead of the usual hard session. If you’re unwell, exhausted from lack of sleep or injured, then you need to take some time out – working your body hard in any of these circumstances could do more harm them good, rest and recovery are important.

If you’re trying to cram in too much, have a light head cold or can’t get to the gym then you need to either take an active recovery day (cycle or walk) or maybe fit in a quick high intensity workout like this one. 

Read more on when and why you need to take time out here.

This won’t be for everyone, but if you have ropes of some description (or your gym does) then why not try these two workouts – some of it doesn’t include rope work.

If you’ve been near a gym, you will have heard about progression, if you had a programme written for you or have had personal training you’ll also have heard about progressive overload.  Terms which could seem terrifying if you think that means you’re suddenly going to be lifting seriously heavy weights….but have a read of this article, I think it explains the idea of progression well and how to do it. 

The weight you lift/squat/press is irrelevant – the idea is the same however much you can do, this will lead to results. Sometimes understanding the principal makes more sense and can help you get a better work out. If nothing else, it will explain why gym instructors leave notes reminding you to increase weights/reps/sets!

Most of us know we need to work our abs or more precisely our core. Abdominal muscles aren’t just to make us look great, they are part of our core – which as it sounds – is the core of our body, think about a tree – the trunk has to be strong to keep it upright whatever the weather and to support the branches. Well your core is doing the same job, so while it’s great to keep working those abs – you also need to make sure you are strong in the back too. Here are a few simple back exercises which can be done anywhere and easily form part of your exercise routine. And if you’re short of time – plank! It works the full core and can be done on your knees until your strong enough to so the full version. Ask an instructor or watch this to help you perfect the pose. 

I love a circuit session, a quick blast that won’t take long (especially when you’re really busy) but can still be effective – and better still – done anywhere. That’s what this Women’s Health version does. Enjoy!

Or maybe you have been injured, unwell or just overtrained and needed some rest. Recovery is key to build and repair muscles and to ensure you are ready for the next hard work out

If you’re just recovering from a hard work out – you can keep active even on rest days, if you’ve been unwell or injured then ease yourself back in slowly and follow these tips for recovery.  Foam rollers are a painful investment – but worth it! And don’t forget the protein!

You might not get much time during the holiday season to get to the gym (or it might be closed), so here are a few interval options – won’t take you long, but will get you working hard (and help burn off the Easter excess).

Happy Easter

We are constantly being told in our day-to-day lives to work efficiently, at home and at work the need to achieve more in less time can be stressful – but sometimes means we are more efficient. Take that into your fitness routine and use these tips to help you be more effective and work hard to achieve results.

Ladies, still scared weight training will make you bulky? Weights won’t do that, but if you’re still not convinced, this article might help you see the benefit of strength training using your own body weight – includes a routine for you to try out. Give it a go. Creating a lean healthy body doesn’t have to include hours at the gym on machines or using weights if that’s not your thing.

Here’s something to challenge you for this week. !0 exercises – 1 minute each, with minimal rest. If you can’t do these (because you haven’t got free weights), adapt it to suit you – just remember to work the full body – legs, back, chest, arms, abs. Pick two exercises for each and you’ll be covered!

Give it a go!

If you’re just starting out, have been away for a while or maybe just moved – going to a new gym can be intimidating. Or maybe, you just hate the idea of them! But you don’t need to worry – most people are too busy focusing on themselves to notice what you’re doing, but the thought is often worse than the reality. Here are some tips that could help you. 

And if they don’t convince you –  you can still do a work out at home.

Think 15 minutes isn’t enough time so there’s no point working out? Give this a try…..you might change your mind AND you might find you can fit it in a few times this week…..

If you’re spending hours on end in the gym or pounding the pavement, yet you still don’t seem to have reached your goal, maybe you’re making some of these mistakes.

1. Not fuelling up – getting up and out there is a great way to start the day and to make sure you get your exercise in, but, if you aren’t fuelled up for a long run or hardcore gym class or session, then your body is using up protein stores to keep you going. That means it’s using the energy needed to create lean muscle. Either do a light cardio session if you can’t face eating early or have a least a banana or granola bar (carb based snack) before you head out so your body can use it’s preferred fuel (Carbs) which will help you work out better.
2. Keeping it fun and varied – hating what you do at the gym isn’t going to keep you motivated. Try out classes, get a programme written specifically for you and tell the trainer what you don’t like so they can find an alternative. Keep your body guessing with regular changes to your workout.
3. Pay attention to what you’re doing – why turn up to the gym and sit on a bike for an hour reading. You won’t be paying attention to your technique, let alone if you’re actually working hard enough. Yes an hour of light cycling is better than sitting in the pub reading with a drink, but if you are focused on what you’re doing you could do it in less time.  A 20 minute more intense workout would boost your heart rate, burn fat and still allow you time to sit and read AFTER you’ve been to the gym (it’s your recovery – just don”t undo your hard work). You’re also less likely to fall off the treadmill……yes it does happen!
4. Changes – to see changes you have to make changes. Mix up your routine, from your walks or runs outside, to the weekly classes and gym sessions – it all keeps your body guessing and therefore working harder, which is what will give you results.

If you want to get a good workout but don’t belong to a gym (or don’t like it). Why not get outside and enjoy the benefits of working in the fresh air by trying out these suggestions.

If you aren’t a fan of free weights, but don’t know how to make your workout a little bit harder, try this workout.

This set of exercises will help you progress from simple bodyweight programmes, we all need to change our usual routine to see results, doing the same thing each week will mean the body doesn’t have to work as hard. Give it a bit of nudge this week!

Feeling like the gym is a step too far after a busy half term. Try a HIT workout – one for every day! You won’t need to leave the house to get a good sweat on.

Fancy trying out another week of workouts? Why not try this full body workout, one for each day, 15 minutes maximum and can be done at home. Enjoy.

As you know, goal setting is seen as an important part of reaching your desired outcome. But what happens when they don’t seem to work? There are various reasons – some may not be in your control, a crisis at work or home means the routine goes awry or an illness or injury means you have to stop. These can be demotivating, but what about the goals that you set for yourself which aren’t achievable but are desirable.

Working with a trainer can help you set SMART goals, breaking them down into manageable and realistic goals for you. But sometimes, the end result isn’t enough (ever sabotage yourself while on a diet?). So a starting point of “I want to lose weight and get toned” (which is probably the most common goal for a woman), but is that a real goal? It’s the reason you came to the gym, it’s the ideal outcome for you, but in terms of having a goal, it doesn’t create a reason to put the work in.

How you get there would be a better focus of your time. To lose weight and get toned – you need to add in weight training – learning new moves, technique and building a stronger (leaner) body will keep you working hard as you see the changes and therefore more likely to keep going.. A positive goal – I want to get stronger, lift more weight do more repetitions/sets, will see you losing that body fat while getting stronger and leaner. So whatever your initial reason for walking into a gym, find the reason to keep going, enjoy it and you’ll soon see results.

There are hundreds/thousands of ‘fit tips’ from the advice your mate gives you to social media, some better than others… These 10 tips are what I think works… Simple straightforward advice so worth reading it, but the short points are:

1. Effective workouts – make a focussed plan
2. Be consistent – keep aiming for your goal, slow progress is better than none.
3. Train with a mate
4. Set realistic goals
5. Work with your body clock – if you’re a morning person then train first thing
6. Fit exercise into your lifestyle – be realistic. Can’t make the gym – do a version at home
7. Be inspired – by an instructor, by reading an article, someone you know.
8. Patience – results take time – that’s why consistency is key
9. Get professional help – sometimes a trainer can help you make the changes you don’t seem to be able to .
10. Workout happy – find the class or style of training that you enjoy – you’re more likely to stick to it.

Who wouldn’t want tones legs and bum – it’s the most frequent request from clients. Well here’s a little treat. A week of workouts you can do at home, one for each day. Take a look over the weekend and get started on Monday! 

Most regular gym goers will have been injured at some point, either by overtraining and straining a muscle or accidents in the gym with equipment or other users, most of the time they are minor incidents and after a bit of rest a full recovery is made. But you can avoid many injuries by following a few simple rules.

1. If you’re lifting heavy weights, take a friend (spotter), who can help you if they get too much. And while you’re resting you can spot them.
2. Pay attention – if’ you start watching a programme while running on a treadmill you could easily end up clipping your foot and losing balance. While it might amuse others to see you fly off, it will hurt and you could do yourself some serious harm.
3. Plan your work out area and if you can, keep away from other users – they will be focused on their own session and could easily drop weights or trip over you.
4. Put away your weights – if everyone did this then no one could trip over them. Be sure they are secure before you walk away – putting a ball back on a rack is fine, but if it isn’t in place it could bounce off and hit an unsuspecting person.
5. If in doubt – ask – don’t try an exercise you’re not sure about, poor form could cause injury and at best would be ineffective and a waste of time. A gym instructor can show you how to do it (or another appropriate option).
6. And of course, warm up, cool down and stretch!

Most of us want a flat stomach because it looks nice and makes us feel good. But a strong core supports the entire body and makes an active healthy lifestyle easier. Why? Because your core – is that – the core of your body and that is more important the how it looks. You can have a strong core without showing off six-packs abs.

Strong abdominals help support your back and your posture. Pilates is great for building strength in the deep abdominals. If you can’t get to a class here are some suggestions that can be done at home or in a few minutes at the end of gym session.

And if you are looking for the six-pack, it’s more than crunches, there has to be little fat around your stomach, which means a strict diet, focused on getting the best balance of macronutrients a lot of work in the gym and willpower!

Stretching is an important part of any work out, attending regular yoga or Pilates classes is a great addition to any fitness routine – whatever your goal. But the stretches you do pre and post workout are also key to looking after your body.

Trends change, years ago ballistic stretching was advised (bouncing movement), any trainer would now tell you that’s not good for you! There will always be debate but one thing remains true – stretching is good.

Pre-workout, use dynamic stretches – walking, rolling shoulders, swinging arms and legs and increasing the range of motion, it will warm you up without pulling or overstretching cold muscles. If you are heading off for a run, standing still while stretching out doesn’t make sense – walking while moving arms, then going into a jog, is a logical progression.

Don’t skip the post workout stretch. Once you’ve cooled down (decrease your intensity slowly, let your heart rate slow down), hold each static stretch for 15-30 seconds – remember to work through the whole body and it should help reduce DOMS.

Feeling a bit bored with your workout? Or feeling like it’s not working quite as well as it did? What about changing the intensity and how you plan? Simple changes like music (create a new soundtrack) or planning a workout in a different order could be all it takes.

What about hitting free weights instead of the usual machines?  It changes your posture and makes you work more muscles! Try different training systems (superset instead of the basic – eg. reps of biceps and triceps back-to-back rather than one then the other), or adapt the weight/rep range, maybe add in explosive movements such jump squats/lunges, create your own circuit (or attend a class). Working at a higher intensity for shorter periods of time can be much more effective – for cardio or weight training.

Depending on your experience, there are many more options, concentrate on what you’re working on, squeeze the muscle and hold it before you release it, do giant sets, train to failure (so you can’t lift one more time), reduce your rest time between sets/intervals and if you’re still stuck – get some advice from a trainer.

Make your workout different each time and you’ll not only see results, but you’ll also enjoy it.

When you start out on any fitness plan it’s hard to keep motivated, especially if you are new to it. These tips should help you keep on track.

1. Booking in your sessions – and sticking to them! It can take a while to make your 3/4/5 weekly trips to the gym a habit, but if you plan them in (write them in a diary, on a wall chart, set an alert on your phone), it becomes easier to prepare and plan the time for them. As with your healthy eating habits, you need to make time for the habit to stick and don’t expect to be 100% perfect.
2. Be flexible – no not physically (although that’s also a good idea), with your training plan. Some days you may not be able to complete a session or perform as well as you hoped. Tiredness, stress, working hours or not eating well enough could affect a session. Or you have a family celebration, a friend needs a night out or your partner planned a surprise.  It’s just one session, it’s not going to derail the plan – unless you let it!
3. Work hard but never over work. It’s great you have got into the habit of working out regularly, but overtraining can lead to injury, fatigue and could put you off your plan for good. Balance, as with everything in life is key. Take rest days seriously, your muscles need time to recover properly.
4. Drink up! Sports drinks are not needed unless you are competing in a marathon (even then it’s better to make up your own – orange juice and water can do the trick), you need water to help the body function effectively. Water is a simple option for hydration, mix it up with herbal teas, avoid fizzy drinks and caffeine (the odd cup of tea or coffee is fine). Don’t overdo it, you need to keep hydrated, and the best way to tell is by your urine. 
5. Share your enthusiasm. A workout buddy can help the motivation, just try to ensure they are of a similar fitness level, if one of you can beat the other one at everything – that’s not motivational at all. Or you could end up injured. Remember not to assume knowledge if you’re the one leading the session – leave that to the professional trainers.

When time is tight, fitting in exercise seems like a push too far. But, 20 minutes can be enough – if you do it right, whatever your fitness level.  Try these suggestions for a quick workout.

For the non gym-goer – walk for 10 minutes at a consistent pace (to the shops, in the park or up and down your street), then turn back and try to get back home quicker. If you know how far you walked you can try to go further at a higher speed each time.

In the gym, decide on your plan, then just focus on that – high intensity is key to make sure you get the heart rate up – try a circuit of 10 of each (or as many as you can do in 20 secs) of star jumps, burpees, jump lunges/squats, push ups, Rest for 1-2mins and repeat as may times as you can in the 15-20 mins. All you need is your own body. You can also mix it up with speed bursts on treadmills or bikes or cross-trainers. Keep a steady pace and then add in bursts of inclines or speed to get the heart pumping. Or if you need to fit in a weights session, just work one area each time also known as split routines.

Swimmers can do a similar thing – go for as many lengths as you can in 20 minures and try to beat it each time.

The options are endless and can make all the difference. Time to hit the gym!

Whatever your starting point, your new to the gym or redefining goals, here are a few tips aimed to help you get the best out of your workout.  They may seem simple, but could make the all the difference.

1. Goal setting – new or revised. If you don’t know what you want to achieve then how can you achieve it? Break it down into smaller goals, visualise it, do whatever helps you to fix it in your head.
2. Nutrition – make a food diary, whatever your aim, nutrition is key, you need to eat the right foods to nourish  your body. If you are aiming to lose weight it will also help you see patterns and where you may have extra calories.
3. Rest – the body needs time to recover, don”t skip rest days otherwise you could end up injured or overtraining. 
4. When you are in the gym make it count – try intervals or higher intensity. If you struggle with motivation then join a class. And don’t forget to change it up, doing the same old thing – change makes your body work harder.
5. Focus, think about the muscles you are working, the goal you have set and don’t forget to enjoy it! You won’t stick with it if you don’t enjoy it.

New Year Resolutions come in all forms, perhaps instead of just saying – I want to get fitter – why not try something more specific, like weight training, and no it’s not just for men – why not try these tips to get you on your way.

They might not all seem logical to you, but a few pointers to get you started (or ask the instructor in the gym) could open up a whole new experience for you.  Or try out this four week plan from Shape Magazine.

Taking on a Personal Trainer is an investment, without some proper research it could be an expensive mistake.

They don’t have to just look the part, more importantly, you need to feel some sort of connection – do they put you at ease? Will they help you achieve your goals?

If you’re looking for a new trainer – check our REPs website (registered exercise professionals), for a qualified trainer near you. Before you commit to spending the money, make sure they can back up any claims and that you feel they can deliver for you, If you’re not sure what to ask – here are a few suggestions.

What certificates/qualifications? This will show their commitment to continued development and experience. What motivated them to be a Personal Trainer – hopefully the answer will inspire confidence that they have passion for what they do. What experience/results do they have in helping clients achieve specific goals? Can they put you in touch with previous clients? Or at least have some testimonials for you to read. And also quite key – what training style do they have – will it suit you? If you hate the idea of being shouted at or you prefer that – then you need to work with a trainer that can deliver that.

It can be expensive, but getting the right trainer for you can help you achieve goals quicker, help you learn techniques that you can use on your own and support you if things go awry (which can happen). A good personal trainer is a support to help you achieve your goals with advice and, encouragement.

Two different types of weight training, but which is best? In an ideal session plan, you would have both, the compound as the base with isolation exercises included for more specific training.

Compound uses more than one major muscle group at a time – so anything that includes pulling, pushing movements. Deadlifts, for example, use more than just one major muscle.  A compound exercise is great for building strength and progressing by adding more weight, but technique is key otherwise you could injure yourself, or overtraining may be an issue because you are working so many parts of the body. Another good point, is they save time because you’re training more muscle groups together.

Isolation, is, as it suggests, uses one major muscle group at a time, such as curling, raising or extending, think bicep curl.  Isolation exercises can help develop a particular muscle, but less weight is likely to be used and progress could be slower. It compliments the compound exercises because it allows more specific training in muscles which may not have been used in the compound exercises.

It’s great to workout regularly, and if you’re training 5/6 days a week, then you need to make sure you plan in some time for the muscles to recover – which is often why split routines are helpful, because it allows your muscles 24-48 hours to recover.

There are other things you need to do too, remember to replace fluids, if you’ve done a heavy session you will have sweat a lot, and you need to replace that fluid. Checking your urine can help you figure out if you’re dehydrated (if the headache doesn’t), stretch the muscles you worked,  eat properly, ideally within an hour of your session, include protein and and carbs (poached egg on wholegrain toast(, if nothing else try a snack (chocolate milk is good on the go).

Rest! Sometimes active recovery – light exercise such as swimming can help aching muscles or DOMS, but sometimes, you just need to stop. Relax, maybe have a sports massage (painful but worth it) or just do nothing – for a few days or longer. It’s good to have a proper break – it allows your body to fully recover, avoid overtraining and means you can come back stronger, and without injury.

For some weights are a way of life and cardio is less of a focus for others it’s the other way around. We need both, male or female. A good training plan will incorporate both. Weights can be part of a cardio routine but for beginners it’s better to split the two – this allows focus on technique and therefore less chance of injury. Many women are unsure of weights, but in combination with cardio they offer a complete and balanced training session, your cardio will improve fitness, heart health and will help weight loss, weights will improve posture, bone density, build muscle (not so much for women). A couple of each sessions a week can offer health and physical benefits.

It’s the season to be jolly, but not if you are keen gym goer, all the extra socialising (and with that eating/drinking etc) can play havoc with the usual routine and for some, that can mean falling off the fitness train and struggling to get back on it.

So plan ahead, if you can’t commit to your usual sessions, try shorter, harder ones, train SMART each time. Arrange to meet friends at the gym, before for coffee (as long as you can encourage eachother to make it to the gym), or after for a drink. Also remember to enjoy the party season – use Christmas to have your rest week, if it’s planned, it’s less irritating when you can’t get into the gym. Suggest meeting for walks so you can get some light exercise in while socialising. And don’t over indulge too much! Christmas is one day (cheat day).

This has to be the most frustrating part of any fitness plan. Hitting a wall or plateau.  You are doing all your planned sessions, but are you eating well, sleeping enough and pushing yourself harder? Pushing too hard can be as bad as not pushing hard enough. Think about changing your plan.

Try a new class, do your usual gym session in a different order, be honest about how hard you are working. Do you lose interest after 30 minutes? Fine, then just plan to work hard for 30 minutes and then leave. Look at how frequently you train, what you’re doing and what you’re really doing! Then devise a new plan to include your diet – what you eat is key to your success. Are you treating yourself on the way home from the gym because you stayed for the full hour, even though it wasn’t that great?

Talk to a Personal Trainer if you need help. It could be well worth the investment to see the results.

There are many parts of the body to work out, if you’re weight training, splitting what bits you work means you can do shorter and more intense workouts, a simple split would be lower one day and upper the next, rest and then repeat, but you can split into smaller body groups over more days. It depends on the time you have – better all in one go (then do a full body session), or 20 minutes a day (focus on one part each day). The other benefit to split training is DOMS – if one part is sore and needs rest, you can work another part.

Just remember to put in some rest days – overtraining could set you back.

If you’ve been training hard for any length of time, you would expect to have seen progress, which is motivating and encourages you to keep going.

The problems can start when you no longer see the results you expect, even after increasing the reps/volume. This could be one of the signs of reaching a plateau, but it could be you’re overtraining. Are you getting injured? Picking up every bug? Feeling irritated, de-motivated? These could all be signs you need a break.

Having a rest week won’t scupper your long term results any more than it will take away from all the hard work you put in to get to this point. Enjoy the break and use it to plan a comeback that won’t cause you to overtrain.

Seek professional advice if you’re unsure what to do, someone else looking at your training  plan might help you make changes that will see you get better results.

There are many protein bars, shakes, snacks geared towards gym goers, suggesting they hold the necessary nutrients for pre or post workout refuelling. For the most part, they contain lots of sugar, are expensive and for most of the population are not required.

Yes, if you are an athlete, you may need some extra supplements or protein and bars can help, but if you are just going to the gym for a workout, no more than an hour, and probably not that intensive, you don’t need any of that.

If you have had a healthy meal or a decent snack (think protein & carbs) an hour before you work out – then you’re fine, no extra needed. Post work out, ensure you have a meal or snack within an hour – protein is important because it will repair muscles worked. An ideal post workout snack (and easily portable) is chocolate milk – it has all the macros and if you’re one of those people who doesn’t feel like eating after the gym, it’s a good option. Just don’t go crazy with your serving size otherwise you’re hard work in the gym is undone in minutes.

You’ve probably heard sayings like – any workout is better than no workout, or, no workout is a bad workout. Not strictly true. Yes, in theory working out is better for you than not, even if that session has to be cut short – hours of endless weights/cardio isn’t necessary, you can do a quick blast – as long as you work at a harder intensity – then it’s worth it – even if it’s only 20 minutes.

But, sometimes no workout is better, if you are going to the gym or to a class, having not eaten or slept well, then you could do yourself harm. Sometimes you do need to listen to your body and rest up. If you are so tired or have so little energy, then how will you ensure correct posture and technique? These can cause injury – and that means a lot more time out of the gym. Train smart.

If you’re new to the gym all the equipment looks scary, not helped when you assume everyone else in the gym knows what they are doing – or so it seems.

Machines look confusing, but once you’ve mastered what bits move, and you can get into the right position, they can help you start off a routine. Ask a gym instructor to show you – they want to help – otherwise they are just wandering around the gym with little to do!

Free weights, look a lot less scary – you just pick a weight that suits you and lift it. Well not quite – you should still be shown how to use them, it’s too easy to injure yourself. Learn both, then decide which works best for you. Free weights do offer versatility that machines can’t – so mix it up a bit.

Ever had a day after the gym when you can barely move part or all of your body without groaning? Yep that is DOMs. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and it means your body worked hard. That’s good, but it also means you need to rest the sore part – easier if you are split routine training – and eat plenty of protein (repairs muscles). DOMS can appear the next day or a couple of days later.

Look out for mistaking DOMS for an actual injury – if it hurts so much you need pain killers and can’t put weight on that part you may have injured yourself. Sore muscles can be really painful, but usually ease quickly and (although tough) you can use the aching part normally.