insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 23 - January 2017 | Page 66

HEALTH+WELLNESS

KICKSTART YOUR EXERCISE REGIME
As hard as it seems to comprehend now – off the back of a good two weeks spent eating,
drinking, generally being merry, and probably not worrying about whether you’ve hit your 10,000
steps daily – when exercise becomes a habit, it really does become an automatic part of your
lifestyle. Habits are as easy to form as they are to break, however, so don’t be disheartened if
you’re lacking in the fitness department; the new year is as good a time as any to kickstart your
exercise regime and here’s some simple steps to help you do it. BY POLLY HUMPHRIS

Set goals

Plan for you

Banish excuses

What is it that you want to achieve in terms
of fitness this year? Would you like to shift
a few pounds? Gain muscle? Look lean
and feel strong? Or work on your distance
running? Make a list of your goals; it’ll help
you visualise what you want and find the
best type of training to achieve them.

When it comes to working out everyone
is different – some prefer the bustle of the
gym, some the comradery of group classes,
and others, the solitude and time efficiency
of working out at home. Decide who you
are before you start exploring your options
– perhaps you’d benefit from a few personal
training sessions to get you started, or a
trial membership at a gym to try out some
bootcamp, CrossFit, or spin classes. Many
people opt for a combination of all of the
above to keep things fresh – trial and error
works well here.

If you have a niggling injury, or overwork
a particular part of your body resulting in
soreness, just work out another area and
rest the sore spot. If busy executives and
single parents with two jobs can find time
to work out, remember so can you, and, if
you’re facing a particularly hectic day, even
15 minutes of exercise at home is better than
no exercise at all. The key is to stick to the
plan resolutely.

Be realistic
Realistic is the key word here. Realistically, if
your goal is to lose weight, you’re not going
to lose a stone in a week. Realistically, if
you want to get stronger, you’re not going
to lift your own bodyweight during your
first weights session. Don’t make your goals
impossible. Instead, start small and build on
your progress, otherwise you run the risk of
getting discouraged and throwing the towel
in altogether.

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Lean on a friend
Committing to a fitness plan with
someone makes it a lot easier. Your goals
can be completely different, but working
out together will give you both an extra
motivational push, which is also where
group fitness can be helpful. If you do
end up going it alone, keep a diary of your
progress and share it with the world – that
way you’re far more likely to stick at it.

Clean up your diet
The way you eat accounts for about 80
per cent of how your physique looks. But,
Rome wasn’t built in a day (and neither were
Jennifer Aniston’s abs), so don’t try and give
up all of your vices immediately. Start by
cutting down foods that aren’t good for you
with a view to eliminating them completely
six days out of seven, then throw in a
‘whatever you really want’ cheat meal over
the weekend.