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How to enjoy summer and keep your fitness routine on track – according to personal trainers

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How to enjoy summer and keep your fitness routine on track – according to personal trainers

SO you are in groove along with your exercises. However now summer time’s arrived – and beer gardens, barbecues and seaside jaunts are filling up your diary.

Fearful it’ll derail every little thing? Worry not: you actually do not have to decide on between having fun with summer time and staying dedicated to your health targets.

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IT’S OK TO RELAX A LITTLE

If health is the way you maintain your psychological and bodily well being, it is comprehensible to wish to preserve a routine. However easing up a bit so you’ll be able to benefit from the climate and socialising is completely allowed.

“It’s a must to reside your life,” agrees Tunde, a private coach (t9fitness). “So long as you keep constant, you will be good.”

Take into consideration summer time when it comes to “sustaining no matter aim you are seeking to obtain”, he suggests, reasonably than considering you should all the time be seeing progress. “And ignore the scales,” he provides. “Give attention to what you might be doing as a substitute.”

PLAN AHEAD

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With a little bit of prep, you will not want to fret when a colleague suggests after-work drinks or pals organise all-day picnics.

“Spend 10 minutes on Sunday night planning your exercises into your diary,” suggests George Goldsmith-Cottrell, a private coach and on-line health coach (GGc-PT.com).

“Consider carefully and realistically about the place you may must schedule relaxation. Are you going to stand up to do a 6am spin class the morning after your finest good friend’s birthday barbecue?

“Research counsel you usually tend to obtain your targets by writing them down. So, make weekly exercise scheduling a aim. This will provide you with a pleasant dopamine hit once you’ve accomplished your exercise and you’ll tick it off your to-do listing.”

Tunde says morning exercises are guess – that method you will be beating the warmth and releasing up evenings.

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TRAIN SMARTER

The actually excellent news? Doing fewer exercises – and coaching for shorter bursts – does not imply you are falling quick.

“You don’t have to be within the gymnasium for an hour each night time to get an efficient exercise: half-hour and even 15 continues to be loads of time to launch some feel-good hormones, break a sweat and get these muscle tissue engaged,” says Goldsmith-Cottrell.

“A straightforward method to do that is to take your current workouts and condense them right into a circuit format. Carry out all of the workouts back-to-back and relaxation on the finish.”

Tunde agrees it is about coaching sensible. “If somebody’s reducing down to 2 occasions every week – which is totally tremendous, individuals should not really feel unhealthy about that – take into consideration sticking to compound workouts,” he suggests.

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“These are workouts that require multiple or two muscle teams to work on the identical time. So stuff like squats with the bar or dumbbells, deadlifts.”

That is about squeezing extra out of your time and means you may get extra of a full-body exercise from every session. And from a PT’s perspective, Tunde says it makes extra sense to consider energy coaching “reasonably than jogging for hours. Lots of people have a tendency to begin jogging for hours to take care of over summer time”.

TRY SOME SPRINT SESSIONS

Tunde’s high tip for cardio and getting that pulse fee up? Dash intervals – an excellent high-intensity choice that’ll enhance your stamina and metabolic fee (plus you will really feel fairly superior after). “So, 20 minutes of weights and compound workouts incorporating the entire physique, after which about quarter-hour of sprints, that shall be greater than tremendous over summer time,” says Tunde.

You are able to do these on the treadmill or outside in an area park. How far you run and the velocity will rely in your particular person health, however Tunde suggests aiming to dash for about 15-20 seconds with a 45-second relaxation between intervals.

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STAY HYDRATED

It is really easy to get dehydrated over summer time. As Goldsmith-Cottrell factors out, this will zap our power for exercises.

“Say you went for drinks after work. You get up the following day not feeling too hungover [and] plan to hit the gymnasium that night. Come noon, you realise you have not drunk water. You’ve gotten a glass or two to make up for it, [but] come 3pm, you’re feeling worse for put on. Final night time’s drinks and at this time’s lack of hydration’s catching up with you,” they are saying – explaining how dehydration can have knock-on results. “It will get to 5pm and also you skip the gymnasium since you’re too exhausted.”

Though skipping exercises is okay, Goldsmith-Cottrell provides, it is about being conscious of the function hydration can play: “Had you consumed a wholesome dose of H2O and supplied your physique with the power to do its fundamental capabilities, the end result for the day might have been very completely different.”

EXERCISE WITH OTHER PEOPLE

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“Make train a sociable occasion,” suggests Goldsmith-Cottrell. “Strive one thing new and enjoyable with your mates. It might be aerial yoga, climbing, dancing or karate. You by no means know, you may uncover a secret hidden expertise and discover one thing you wish to proceed for all times.”

Have a look at native lessons and PT classes too – there may even be summer time offers. Tunde says understanding with like-minded individuals could be a actual enhance, and if you’re uncertain the right way to construct a exercise routine, just a few classes with a PT might work wonders.

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Fitness

HIIT the Clouds Away: Penni Jones on Her Journey with Fitness and Mental Health – The Sun Times News

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HIIT the Clouds Away: Penni Jones on Her Journey with Fitness and Mental Health – The Sun Times News

Discover how Penni Jones overcame personal challenges and built a thriving fitness community through HIIT training.

Photo: Penni Jones, owner of HIIT Happy. Courtesy of Penni Jones.

Penni Jones, owner of HIIT Happy in Dexter, has an inspiring story that motivates her clients to prioritize their health—both physical and mental. Her journey into fitness didn’t begin with dreams of six-pack abs or competitive weightlifting. Instead, it grew from a deeply personal struggle with depression and a need to reclaim her mental well-being.

From Struggles to Strength

“I went to the gym occasionally, took long walks, practiced yoga,” says Jones. “But forming a routine felt impossible. “

During her childhood, fitness for Penni Jones was focused on weight loss, shaped by societal pressures linking appearance to self-worth. Over time, her aspirations evolved from emulating Kate Moss’s slender frame to admiring the strength of The Terminator’s Sarah Connor.

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Despite sporadic gym visits and yoga sessions, she struggled to maintain a routine while balancing college, jobs, and relationships. After having two children, she reached a breaking point, confronting a persistent cloud of depression that deeply impacted her life.

“By 35, I had been on and off antidepressants for 16 years,” Jones recalls. “Depression was not a constant companion, just an annoying ex that would not completely go away. Pills were not strong enough ammo in my battle with post-partum. My body did not feel like my own and neither did my brain. I felt like I was walking underwater.”

How HIIT Became a Lifeline

“I hit the gym, and I hit it hard,” Jones shared, reflecting on her turning point. “As I built my routine, I felt the clouds in my brain dissipate. And if I skipped more than a few days, those clouds would try to creep back in.”

Her fitness routine became a lifeline, helping her establish a sense of control and clarity. Now, as the owner of HIIT Happy, she’s on a mission to share that empowerment with others. Jones emphasizes the importance of making fitness non-negotiable, even when life feels overwhelming.

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Why HIIT Training Works for Busy Lives

“I know it’s not easy to stay on track,” she said. “There are a million things begging for attention at all times, and it feels like fitness can wait. But it can’t. For fitness to truly work, it has to be non-negotiable.”

At HIIT Happy, the focus is on high-intensity interval training (HIIT), a workout style Jones describes as both efficient and enjoyable. “I fell in love with HIIT because it is never boring and does not take as much time as traditional workouts,” she said. “Sweat it out for 30 minutes a day, feel awesome, get stronger? Yes, please.”

Mental Health Benefits of Fitness: Penni’s Perspective

HIIT involves alternating between quick bursts of intense exercise and short recovery periods, blending cardio and weight training to maximize results in less time. Jones believes this method isn’t just about physical gains but also about mental clarity and resilience.

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“Losing weight and building muscle had never been enough,” she explained. “But shifting my focus to my mental health kept me going back.”

Building a Community Through Fitness

The gym itself is a welcoming space for people of all fitness levels, with classes designed to be engaging and effective. Jones hopes to inspire others to embrace fitness as a vital part of their lives—not just to look better, but to feel better.

“It’s easy to prioritize because it’s short and fun,” she said. “HIIT is a training protocol that involves cardio and weight-training exercises performed in repeated quick bursts with periods of rest between bouts.”

Jones’ journey serves as a reminder that fitness is about more than aesthetics. It’s about finding strength—both inside and out—to face life’s challenges. At HIIT Happy, that philosophy fuels every session, ensuring clients leave not just stronger but also mentally rejuvenated.

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HIIT Happy is located at 7043 Dexter Ann Arbor Rd in Dexter. Visit https://www.hiithappydexter.com/ for more information.

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Starting strong in 2025: How to build a fitness routine that will last – WHYY

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Starting strong in 2025: How to build a fitness routine that will last – WHYY

Ready to make this year your healthiest yet? Many of us start the new year with fitness goals. We’ll explore the physical and mental benefits of exercise, whether it’s weightlifting, cycling, jogging, or simply adding more movement to your day. We’ve also gathered advice from our listeners in the Greater Delaware Valley on staying motivated, breaking through workout ruts, and the life-changing impact of exercise.

Guests:

Ben Kenyon, veteran NBA performance coach. 

Gretchen Reynolds, writer of the “Your Move” column for The Washington Post.

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Can Exercise Ease Knee Pain? Here's What the Research Shows

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By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Jan. 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Movement is medicine, or so they tell people with knee osteoarthritis — but are they right? A recent evidence review calls into question just how helpful exercise can be for easing the pain of knee arthritis. “Exercise …

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