Now that the school holidays have drawn to a close, it’s time to start thinking about getting back into that fitness routine that may have lapsed a little bit in the last six weeks, what with holidays and the pressures of entertaining the kids getting in the way. Personal Trainer and former Apprentice contestant, Katie Bulmer-Cooke gives you tips on how to get back into the swing of things after a long lay off.
So many of the parents and grandparents I’ve chatted with over the last week have either been saying how much they are loving the holidays, but they’ve spent a small fortune so far and their fitness routine may have gone out of the window. This is largely because childcare becomes more of an issue for many and – especially given the glorious weather we enjoyed over the summer – treats such as ice creams and meals out become more prevalent, while all the extravagances that come with going away for a summer holiday, whether that’s at home or abroad, need to be taken into consideration too.
As a result, many people struggle to get back into the swing of exercising and eating well once the holidays come to an end and the kids go back to school. So how do you get back on the wagon?
First up, make a plan now and don’t wait to get those wheels in motion. Take a look through your local Everyone Active centre’s Group Fitness class timetable and pop some classes in your diary, so that you’ve made a solid commitment. Then as soon as you can, get booked in to seal the deal.
Speaking of Group Fitness classes, they are a fantastic way to get motivated. You have an instructor there to encourage and support you, plus the inspiring atmosphere created with music and being part of a group. September is always a good time to start a clean slate too, and try something new. If there is a new type of class that you’ve never tried before, give it a go and mix things up a little.
You can shake up your gym routine too by booking in with a Fitness Motivator or Personal Trainer to spruce up your regular exercise choices. It’s amazing what having a fresh challenge and new things to try can do for your motivation, even if it just means using new pieces of equipment.
Finally, you’ve got to have a reason to get back in the fitness game, which means you’re going to need to set a new goal to keep you focused. Always choose something that is really important to you. As a personal trainer, I wish I had a pound for every time I heard someone say they want to ‘lose weight and tone up.’ Whatever your goal, you need to ask yourself why you want to achieve it and then you need to be able to track or measure it, for example weight, inches, distance, speed.
Doing these three things will help turn the post-summer slump into a month of motivation, and Everyone Active has so many great opportunities to increase your activity levels, there really is no excuse.
