Winter Fitness with Greg Whyte
Monday 17 January 2011
Winter is always the season in which we pile on the pounds, cold weather makes us less likely to run around the gym in shorts and more likely to hide away in doors with large portions of stodgy food. But, do not fear, Professor Greg Whyte, celebrity personal trainer and former Olympic Pentathlete gives us his tips on how to stay active through the cold months.
Firstly: Just get on with it!
Greg says: "Anything is better than nothing! Don't think you have to run a marathon in your first exercise session, you can achieve a huge amount in five minutes. Once you get started you can increase how often, how hard and for how long you exercise when you're ready!"
Secondly: keep hydrated!
“Maintaining hydration at all times of the day is important. When i trained Eddie Izzard to run 43 marathons in 51 days, one of the toughest problems we faced was hydration. Eddie needed to drink a lot to combat the amount lost through exercise. It is however also important to remember that keeping hydrated everyday is essential for maintaining good health, so don’t just think about it when exercising - apply staying hydrated to all you do. If engaging in a lighter workout or simply keen to keep yourself from feeling thirsty, whilst on the go - glaceau vitaminwater® is a great tasting option and convenient way of keeping you hydrated, whilst getting some of the added benefits of essential vitamins and minerals. There are eight great-tasting flavours within the range, all with a specific function of added nutrients to help you get through your day If participating in something rigorous & intensive such as a marathon. It is advisable to seek professional advice.
Thirdly: Reward yourself!
“Having a goal to aim for is an important part of any exercise programme. If you have a major goal i.e. Running a marathon, it is often best to have smaller goals along the way to keep you motivated. When i trained David Walliams to swim thee English channel i set him a number of smaller intermediate goals during his preparation including swimming to the isle of Wight. These smaller goals where crucial in his successful, record breaking, swim. Set goals, no matter how small. Reward yourself when you reach your goal (short-term and long-term). Make sure the reward is something that you really want and do not let yourself have the reward if you have not reached your goal. Remember, avoid rewarding yourself with naughty treats - try teats like; an extra hour in bed, or an extra hour in bed, or a trip to the shops.”
With these tips in mind, we should all be able to maintiain a healthy exercise programme all year around!