Promotion

Exercise yourself into shape for the summer

publication date: May 17, 2008
|
 

Angie Dowds top ten tips for getting motivated:

  1. Set goals Challenge yourself by creating milestones, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Set a shot term goal, for example if you only run for 20 minutes once a week, bring that up to 20 minutes twice a week. Once you have achieved that goal, why not take it to the next step and go for 30 minutes three times a week. A long term goal could be to compete in a charity 10k run, look for a date and book it!
  2. Start slowly Make sure you don’t overexert yourself too quickly as you may have to abandon your fitness routine all together. Take small steps to start until you feel you can push yourself.
  3. Be flexible Don’t be too hard on yourself, if you are feeling like you don’t want to do any exercise one day, take a couple of days rest and then get back into it. You should enjoy fitness and not treat it as a chore!
  4. Think variety If you have a mundane exercise routine, spice it up by taking a studio class or try some new equipment. At Fitness First there are personal trainers and fitness staff on hand to help you to use new equipment and ensure you are doing the activity that gets you the results you are looking for.
  5. Have fun Enjoy yourself! If you are having a bad week, invite a friend to be your gym buddy. You can challenge each other and motivate each other to carry on.  A problem shared is a problem solved! Try a class where you will find like-minded people.
  6. Consider your "mood" If you are having a particularly bad day at work, you may find it helps to put your headphones on and run for 30 minutes to help de-stress. Or if you are in a light and energetic mood, try a studio class. Body combat or a dance class are a great way to have fun.
  7. Make exercise part of your daily routine Try and be more active in your lifestyle. Take the stairs instead of the lift, walk instead of driving, get off at a bus stop a few stops before your destination.
  8. Track your progress Make sure you are aware of your progress. Always have a goal in mind and know why you wanted to get into fitness and exercise. Fitness First offers a 16 point BUPA Health Check with takes measurements of physiological and physical signs and monitors them over time. As well as standard tests such as weight, body mass index and flexibility, the tracker also monitors stress and sleep patterns, and gives a detailed picture and measurement of your overall health and wellbeing.
  9. Put it on paper Make a note of the milestones you have accomplished. Why not keep a fitness diary and write what exercise you have done that day and for how long. This will help you see if you are getting the recommended 30 minutes five days a week.
  10. Seek support If you are unsure that you are doing an exercise correctly, speak to an expert. If you are bored of your current routine and need a new focus there are plenty of personal trainers and fitness staff at Fitness First who can help tailor a programme for you.


Fitness First is the largest privately owned health club group in the world with over 550 Fitness First clubs worldwide reaching over 1.7 million members.  In the UK alone there are 171 Fitness First clubs with over 465,000 members.

To find a club near you log on to www.fitnessfirst.co.uk - go to the international club locator page for clubs outside the UK.