Surrey Homes | SH56 | June 2019 | Kitchen & Bathroom supplement inside

Health & Wellbeing
Fitting in Fitness
In the first of a new series of columns for Surrey Homes,
personal trainer Sarah Maxwell breaks down the sometimes
daunting prospect of exercise into easily manageable
activities that can be slotted into a busy lifestyle
Spring is turning into summer.
As the days become longer and
warmer, it’s time to enjoy the
great outdoors, peel off the layers
and slip into that little summer dress.
Whilst we are slowly learning that
the images of models and celebrities
we’re fed by the media are unrealistic
(and airbrushed!) some of us might be
wanting to look a little more svelte.
If that sounds like you, then here are
my tips on getting the best results.
Exercise outdoors
The summer months are a great time
to start exercising, taking advantage
of the good weather and moving your
workouts outside. Nature and regular
exercise have a hugely beneficial
impact on our mental health. Many
people are deficient in vitamin D,
especially in our climate, and working
out in the sun helps with this and
has great therapeutic benefits.
Bring the kids
If you have children, encourage them
to join in with you. It’s also great for
them to see that exercise is an essential
part of a well-rounded lifestyle. If
Mummy is doing it and enjoying
it, then it will stick with them.
Best summer activities
Walking, hiking, cycling, swimming,
outdoor exercise classes. Working
out with friends in your garden.
Many people take on a personal
trainer and split the cost as it’s
also a lot of fun and motivating
to be with like-minded people.
Already exercising?
If you already exercise regularly,
now is a great time to shake up your
workout and try some new things.
When your workout becomes routine
and you’re no longer challenging your
muscles, you will stop making gains
and improvements. Variety is key.
Help in changing
your mindset
If you’re not a fan of exercise, then do
something you enjoy; life is too short
to dread a workout and then feel even
worse by not doing it. By thinking of
exercise as ‘me time’ and not something
that you need to do to punish yourself,
you will actually enjoy it. Take each
day at a time and use exercise as a
reward, not a punishment. Remind
yourself that every time you exercise
you are giving yourself a gift of physical
and mental health and moving one
step closer to where you want to be.
Measure your results
Put the scales away! If you’re determined
to lose a few pounds before the holidays,
change the way you measure your
results. I call weighing scales ‘the step
of shame’ as they can make or break
your day just by stepping on them.
Instead, use a measuring tape and
regularly measure your waist, your hips,
your thighs, or – even better – find a
pair of too tight trousers (or dress) and
try them on weekly to measure your
progress. It’s a much more positive way
of getting into shape, particularly as
muscle weighs more than fat, so you can
lose inches without losing pounds.
Sarah Maxwell is a multiple
award-winning Fitness and
Lifestyle coach and mum of
two who juggles a lot of balls.
Find out more about Sarah
and her work at sarahmaxwell.
com Sarah shares her Fitness
and Lifestyle tips on Instagram
@sarahmaxwelllifestyle
Sarah’s
safety tips:
Outdoor exercise
Try to exercise in the cooler
part of the day (morning or
early evening). If this isn’t
possible, find some shade.
✣
Drink sips of water every few
minutes to keep hydrated.
✣
Wear breathable clothing.
✣
Be visible to drivers if
out on the road.
Turn down your headphones
so you can hear what’s
going on around you.
✣
If you’re going out on
your own, let someone
know where you are.
✣
Vary your route and schedule.
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