Wednesday's Workout!

Interval Training

This week's Wednesday workout is Interval Training on the treadmill (for beginners!)

Interval training is a great way to build your fitness, incorporating short bursts of high energy activity with longer periods of recovery.


This 30 minute interval training routine targets aerobic (targeting fitness) and anaerobic (targeting weight loss) cardiovascular activity.
The anaerobic activity uses energy stored in your muscles for the high intensity bursts whilst the longer periods of rest concentrate on building fitness.

Interval training burns more calories than your average workout.

I discovered this training schedule on pinterest a few months ago and have been incorporating it into my work out ever since.

This work out was brilliant to start out with. I wasn't pushing my self too much  but I felt well exercised afterwards and ready to tackle the rest of my work out and over the month or so I have been doing this regularly it has gotten a lot easier for me to complete.

If you find this work out to easy for you, or as it gets easier, then increase the incline you are running at.

So instead of running flat you are increasing the resistance and working harder, therefore burning more calories.

If you get bored on the treadmill easily then interval training is perfect for you! The constant switch up of pace means that you're either concentrating on your short burst of energy or recovering from it.

Even if you don't have access to a treadmill you can do interval training any where and with anything.

Here are some examples:

• Running out side: Start with a brisk walk for a few minutes, increase to a jog for 90 seconds then sprint for 30 seconds. Continue Sprinting and jogging for 20 minutes then finish with a walk.
• Skipping: Skip at a casual pace for 1 minute then increase the pace to twice as fast for 3 seconds. Continue for 15 minutes.
• Swimming: Swim 2 laps at a casual pace and one as fast as possible. Continue for 2 minutes without stopping.
• Cycling: Take a casual pace for 5 minutes to start with. Cycle as fast as possible for 1 minute then cycle slower for 2 minutes to bring your heart rate down. Continue for as long as your ride lasts.

Let me know how you get on with your Wednesday workout!

Fall 7 times, get up 8.

Motivation.

Today's topic of conversation is motivation!

What is it that motivates you to get out of bed in the morning and start your day of healthy living.

How many times have you decided to 'diet' or start a regular work out routine and it hasn't worked out?

I tell ya, you aren't alone there!

I couldn't tell you how many times my diet was starting tomorrow or I put my gym shoes on only to take them off again 10 minutes later.

So what's my motivation this time?

         Research!


I can't begin to tell you just how much research I've done recently on the benefits of fitness and a healthy lifestyle.

But just knowing what I'm doing to my body every time I drink a fizzy drink or plop an extra dollop of full fat mayonnaise on my plate has given me all the motivation I need to start eating well.

Junk Food

What we would class as junk food - burgers, chips, sweets, biscuits and so much more, are full of saturated fats.

In a nut shell eating a lot of Saturated Fats increases the cholesterol in your blood.
Raised levels of cholesterol can increase your chance of various health issues such as a stroke and a heart attack. However if you aren't blessed with a metabolism as fast as Usain Bolt and gain weight easily then not only do they cause problems to your vital organs but they can give your joints a hard time.
Carrying extra weight means your body has to work extra hard leading to problems such as arthritis and osteoporosis.


And that's just the tip of the ice berg! So next time you find yourself at McDonald's drive through bear this in mind and maybe you'll order a salad instead of that quarter pounder?


Do not give up, the beginning is always the hardest!

Let's get started!

Hi I'm Hannah and welcome to Slim Gym 101!

I'll take this opportunity to tell you a bit about myself and my newest blog!

I'm a 21 year old student just starting out in my fitness journey.
I am overweight, but I wouldn't consider myself obese.
I've never really had body issues and that isn't the motivation for my new goals.

I want to get fit!
and I'm going to share my journey with you!

Slim Gym 101 will consist of personal updates, tips and tricks I discover and lots of motivation!
I've really been enjoying researching the importance of fitness and different ways to be healthy and I hope that maybe one person finds it helpful!

Please feel free to share any tips you have for working out, dieting and generally living a healthy lifestyle.

If you're new to fitness (like me), a seasoned pro or eating a Big Mac thinking 'The diet starts tomorrow' then I hope you find some of what I have to say helpful!

Thanks for reading!

No matter how slow you're going, you're still lapping everyone of the couch!