Top 3 Fitness Tips for You !

I don’t know about you, but to me there is something about summer that just screams “spontaneity”. I guess you could mostly relate this to the nice weather and exciting city events on the weekends. Don’t get me wrong, I do love that about the summer but sometimes this freedom in routine can steer us in the wrong direction and cause us to put our goals on the back burner. If you are ready to get back on track as the fall season is approaching, then continue reading below for my Top 3 Fitness Tips for You. It is my hope that these tips help you take charge of your routine again and assist you developing healthy habits that last !

1. Time management

There is the saying “you can’t have your cake and eat it too”, well if you’re looking to save time yet still meet your exercise goals than Urban Poling may just be the perfect modality of exercise for you. By just adding poles you can maximize your everyday steps by burning an additional 20-46% more calories and use nearly 90% of your bodies muscles compared to traditional walking. To add, 1km with proper technique is equivalent to 1000 abdominal contractions.

2. Form Good Habits

You wouldn’t start a road trip on an empty tank of gas would you? So why do the same when it comes to reaching your fitness goals. Be sure to always start each day on a full tank. This includes an energy packed breakfast alongside a protein dense lunch and dinner to get you through the day. The key to a successful behavioural change is repetition and routine. Get in the habit of packing healthy meals daily or even preparing your meals for the whole week. Secondly, be sure to schedule in time for exercise. Research shows that we are 42% more likely to do something when we write it down¹. So sharpen those pencils, open up those daily planners and walk your way to better health.

3. Find a buddy

In most cases in life, there is strength in numbers. The same applies to your exercise adherence. A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness conducted a 12-month exercise trial measuring exercise adherence. It was concluded that those who had an exercise companion (in this case their spouse) had significantly higher rates of attendance and a reduced dropout rate than those who exercised alone². So what are you waiting for! Go find a buddy, find a date and time you are both free and start exercising together! Perhaps Urban Poling could be a great opportunity for you and your buddy to try.

By: Gabriella De Nino

References:

1. http://www.dominican.edu/dominicannews/study-highlights-strategies-for-achieving-goals
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8775648