Georgina Shares her 5 Best Fitness Tips
Georgina is one of ShyAktive’s co-founders and a high level triathlete. In this blog she shares with us her 5 best fitness tips.
I have spent my whole life playing sports and doing exercise. Through this experience, I have learnt that balance, consistency and everyday movement are key to better health and fitness. In this article, I break down the 5 parts of an exercise routine I feel are the most important. Aim to establish a regular routine and pair these tips with a healthy and nutritious diet.
1. Make Cardio a Staple
Cardio exercise (also called aerobic exercise) is my go-to due to the ease of doing it, the endorphins it gives you and the fact that getting your heart pumping is just so damn good for you… Cardio exercise has many health benefits, from improving heart health and lung function, aiding in weight management, enhancing brain health and regulating blood sugar. Cardio will also increase your overall energy levels and reduce fatigue. I’d recommend finding an activity you like doing that raises your heart rate. Your target heart rate should be around 50-70% of your max heart rate. The benefits for the body and mind are incredible.
2. Don’t Neglect Strength Training
Strength training, also known as resistance or weight training, is important for overall health and wellbeing. The benefits include building muscle, strengthening bones, boosting metabolism, and improving joint function and stability. Strength training is associated with longevity of life, so don’t neglect this one! My best advice here is if you don’t know how to do strength training, learn from someone who does. I believe in keeping it simple. A series of a few basic exercises that target the main muscle groups twice a week is enough to reap the benefits.
3. The Importance of HIIT
If you are wanting to improve your fitness level, then you will need to incorporate some HIIT training into your routine. ‘High Intensity Interval Training’ is a form of exercise that alternates shorter bursts of intense activity with brief periods of rest or lower intensity movement, repeated in intervals. You will gain the same benefits of cardio exercise with the addition of burning fat more efficiently and building strength and muscle. It is best to have a solid foundation of cardio fitness and be feeling at least 80% well before taking on HIIT. As you get stronger, you can increase the number and length of the intervals. Have fun with this one, the variations in sessions are endless!
4. Slow Down, Stretch and Meditate
Yoga, stretching and meditation may seem gentle compared to cardio and strength training, but they offer deep, essential benefits for your body and mind. This type of exercise enhances flexibility and function, aids rest and recovery, calms the nervous system and clears the mind. We all need to find some time to pause and connect with our inner selves. Slow movement is just as important as fast movement.
5. A Little is Better Than None
Another good takeaway from my experience is that even if you don’t feel like exercising, just try and do a little bit…You could say to yourself you’ll just go for 10mins or do 10 push ups. Once you start (starting is the hardest part), you’ll be surprised how much easier it will be to keep going. You might even end up feeling ok and completing the full walk, run or workout. And even if you do just 10minutes, that’s better than nothing right? You’ll never feel worse for getting up of the couch and doing something.