Spring Training
Well, what can I say … it’s been too wet and the dampness is really not helpful when trying to transform into beach body beauties! Our metabolism should have moved up a gear but the weather has made it difficult – though not impossible – to get outside, so life has felt a bit stunted!
Also, following our relatively warm winter, this drop in heat has also left many of us struggling to move to a lighter diet, with the urge to keep warm and create heat still present. Hence, exercise programming has been somewhat complex and increasingly reliant on a set of ever-changing variables – here are a couple of more general tips. I say it every time, and will repeat again: these suggestions will vary according to your specific body, environment, stress levels etc …
- If you’ve been working out for the past 6 months or so, training should start to slow down in preparation for the summer break. Start to lower the distance you run, but keep up the intensity. Many running sports like football, rugby and long distance runners are at the end of the season or peaking for a grand finale at the Olympic games. Although you can achieve season best times, there is an increased risk of injury, joint inflammation problems and muscular imbalance problems.
- Those who have been training steadily should be seeking to add more variety to their workouts – like exercising outside, trying a few classes such as circuits, TRX training or even stretching more.
- If you are a spring starter you can still make great gains, despite this cool weather, as long as you don’t try to do too much too quickly. Medium intensity workouts is the way forward with a view that if by some miracle we get a bit of heat, you can slow down (and try not exercise in excessive heat).
- Mornings are still the best time to exercise – believe it or not; from as early as 6am, when the sun rises, your body can start moving around at this time of year without harm to its immune system.
- Food-wise – if it is cold and damp, seasonal spring vegetables with protein or autumn fare is heavy enough; don’t go back to heavy winter-type meals, especially things like eating puddings for comfort. You’ll only regret it when the weather changes – hot temperatures can return overnight, so be ready to switch to salads, fruit and lighter breakfasts.
Lovely to be back on-line again – see you next month!