I Lost 85 Pounds By Hula Hooping

Cori Magnotta, 32, was the kind of person who couldn't stick with a workout routine. But faced with stubborn extra pounds after the birth of her son, she decided it was time to make a change. She lost 85 pounds in a year doing an exercise she loved: Hula-Hooping. 

When I was 5, Hula-Hooping was my party trick. I was really good at it. As I got older, I Hula-Hooped less and less and eventually joined the real world, put the hoop aside, and forgot about it.

I'm 6 feet tall and I've always struggled with my weight. I just didn't find working out fun. I would join a gym, go once, and never go back. When I was pregnant with my son, I developed preeclampsia, or high blood pressure, and had to be on bedrest for 2 months. Being sedentary contributed to my weight gain during my pregnancy. At my heaviest, I was 265 pounds. My son was a big baby—10 pounds!—so I attribute some of that to him. But I struggled with getting the rest of it back off. I developed hypothyroidism after my pregnancy, and my metabolism had slowed, making it easier to gain weight and that much more difficult to lose it.

In October 2014, I was down to 250 pounds, and I started searching the internet for fun workouts. I came across FXP Fitness, which uses a weighted Hula-Hoop in a routine that borrows from barre, yoga, and pilates. I remembered how much I loved hooping as a kid and signed up for a class. I drove from my home in Portland, CT, to Massachusetts, the only place classes were available at the time. "Let me go see what this is all about," I remember thinking.

I immediately loved it. It's impossible to not smile while Hula-Hooping. I wore a fitness tracker and a heart rate monitor and watched my heart rate spike like I was doing a high-intensity interval training workout. I could burn as much as 800 calories in an hour, doing the class's combination of ballet movements, yoga poses, strength exercises like squats, and of course traditional waist hooping. We even hooped around our arms and our hands to give our waists a break. We used the weighted hoop to do stretches and hooped while we did dance routines like the YMCA and the Macarena.

I took the 2 lb hoop home with me to Connecticut and started hooping on my own. I started with just 10 minutes a day and built up my stamina. It was easy to stand in front of the TV and whip it around my waist, even if I had toys all over my living room floor from my son. It didn't take me long to decide I wanted to become an instructor myself. I decided I was going to push my fears aside, and I went to Boston to get certified.

Hooping helped me slowly and steadily lose weight, and in about a year, I was down 85 pounds to 165. It helped that I now have a 2-year-old I have to chase everywhere! Once you start exercising, there's a snowball effect: You have more energy to do more things. I started eating a little bit better, because I now had the energy to cook instead of going to the drive-thru. I had the energy to play with my son instead of watching him at the playground. Now, I teach hooping three times a week

I competed in pageants when I was young, and 20 years later, I gave it another shot: I was recently crowned America's Fit Mrs., and I Hula-Hooped as my talent. I was even recently featured as Trainer of the Month with FXP Hoop Fitness. If you told me 2 years ago I would now be a fitness instructor, I would have laughed at you.

The most important thing is that it's fun. Most people crack up when I tell them I'm a Hula-Hoop instructor and tell me they can't hoop. But I have yet to meet someone I can't teach to hoop! I have 21-year-olds and 65-year-olds in my class, petite people and tall people, couch potatoes and marathoners—it's for anyone and everyone.

Source:prevention.com/weight-loss/i-lost-85-pounds-by-hula-hooping

Swim Your Way to Health

Every type of exercise has its selling points. But swimming is unlike any other aerobic workout in a few important ways.

First, the fact that you’re submerged in water means your bones and muscles are somewhat unshackled from the constraints of gravity, says Hirofumi Tanaka, a professor of kinesiology and director of the Cardiovascular Aging Research Lab at the University of Texas.

This makes swimming the ideal exercise for people with osteoarthritis, for whom weight-bearing exercise can be excruciatingly painful. According to Tanaka's research of people with the condition, swimming decreases arterial stiffness, a risk factor for heart trouble. More of his research has linked swim training with lower blood pressure among people with hypertension. The coolness and buoyancy of water are also appealing to people who are overweight or obese, for whom load-bearing aerobic exercises like running may be too hot or uncomfortable, Tanaka says.

But don't be fooled; your body is working hard when you’re in the pool. Water is denser than air, so moving through H2O puts more external pressure on your limbs than out-of-water training, studies have shown. Even better, that pressure is uniformly distributed. It doesn’t collect in your knees, hips or the other places that bear most of the burden when you exercise with gravity sitting on your shoulders.

How you breathe during a swimming workout is another big differentiator, says David Tanner, a research associate at Indiana University and co-editor of an educational handbook on the science of swimming. During a run or bike ride, your breath tends to be shallow and your exhales forceful. “It’s the other way around with swimming,” says Tanner. “You breathe in quickly and deeply, and then let the air trickle out.” Because your head is under water when you swim, these breathing adjustments are vital, and they may improve the strength of your respiratory muscles, Tanner says. “This kind of breathing keeps the lung alveoli”—the millions of little balloon-like structures that inflate and deflate as your breathe—“from collapsing and sticking together."

Plus, who wouldn't want a swimmer's body? Swimming fires up more of your body’s major muscle groups than other forms of cardio exercise. “If you think about running or biking, you’re mostly using your lower body,” Tanner says. Swimming not only engages your legs, but also recruits your upper body and core—especially your lats, the muscles of your middle back, and triceps, the backs of your upper arms. “You look at pictures of swimmers, and you see how the upper body development is really tremendous," he says.

Finally, your back benefits. Working out in a horizontal pose—as opposed to the upright position your body assumes during other forms of aerobic exercise—may be an ideal way to counteract all the time you spend hunched over a desk or steering wheel. “There’s no hard impact on your back like there is with running, and instead of being bent forward like you would be on a bike, your back tends to be arched slightly in the opposite direction,” Tanner says. That may help improve your posture and prevent the back injuries and pain that stem from long stretches of sedentary time.

The exercise is also linked to many of the same life-extending, heart-saving, mood-lifting benefits associated with other forms of aerobic exercise. And it's fun, which matters. “People tend to enjoy swimming more than running or bike-riding,” Tanaka says. While about half of people who try a new exercise program give up within a few months, people who take up swimming are more likely to stick with it, he says.

If you’re sold on swimming, Tanner recommends starting slowly. “Don’t try to do too much too early, and focus on proper technique,” he says. Consider enlisting the help of an instructor if you didn’t have any formal coaching as a kid. “If you’re not used to swimming, it can be hard to relax in the water,” he says. Being nervous and tight may limit the sport’s benefits.

Start off with 30-minute sessions three times a week, and don't forget to take frequent breaks. “You want to ease into it and build up," he says, "just like a running program."

Source:time.com/4688623/swimming-pool-health-benefits/

Beauty And The Beach

With Christmas well and truly out of the way, light nights here, your thoughts may turn to getting away for a summer holiday.

If like most people you may have hibernated over the cold winter months, well it's time to dust off those trainers and start exercising and eating healthier in time for baring all (well not literally) as you jet off in search of the beach and sunshine.

Often people make the mistake of leaving things until last minute and then fret about how they will look in a bikini or mankini!!!! I exercise all year round so although my body still needs close care and attention, I feel good about myself and whether I look it or not, that makes all the difference.

If you are one of those who are already panicking about getting your beach wear out, fear not.

Starting on Monday 11th April, I will be taking you through a series of exercises and eating advice to get you on the right track to being ready for that holiday, all for FREE Monday to Friday for the next 6 weeks (or maybe longer) for ALL ages.

I love exercise and what I do so I am more than happy to share my advice with you. I understand that some people need a little bit of daily coaching and motivation to keep them on track.

Get the information delivered straight to your inbox every Mon-Fri so no waiting around. This offer is only available to subscribers.

There will be lots of eating advice, exercise tips and plans for beginners to intermediate, whatever age or shape you are.

There will be easy to follow exercise video's to watch and lots of other tips on looking and feeling great from the inside out.

Get on board and sign up using the form on right hand side of the page. As a special thank you and to get you started, I have arranged access to FOUR free reports that I know you will love.

Looking forward to helping you get started.

Your friend

Franky

Fasting Weight Loss Update

I am a little bit later with my weight progress update due to life getting in the way.

I weighed myself and was pleasantly surprised to learn I had lost 3LB. I tend not to worry too much about what I weigh and prefer to use how my clothes fit and feel as a guide. However, I was curious as to whether or not doing the over night fasting was actually making a difference.

As I have said previously I do feel less bloated during the day.

I am trying not to use this method of keeping my weight in control as an excuse to eat junk during the day. I do like to eat what I feel like but still follow the rule of everything in moderation.

Everything does become harder as you get older i.e weight loss, toning up, but keeping on top of it certainly helps me to feel better and look better. For me exercise and good eating habits are a way of life, not just something I do to get in shape for a holiday or special event.

If you have yet to get started then I can only stress that the sooner you make a change, the sooner you will see changes.

Good luck :)

Get Moving!

Winter makes us all feel like being lazy and staying indoors watching a movie. Then come spring it is a mad rush to get into shape for the holiday season.

I exercise ALL year whatever the weather. This helps to keep my body in shape and my weight steady. The longer you keep up the exercise routine, the more it becomes a daily habit.

I enjoy cycling but when the weather is cold, wet and dark I admit that jumping on my bike becomes less likely. So what do I do instead? I walk and walk and walk. If it's cold and raining, guess what? Yep I still walk (we have this amazing invention called a coat). I pull on my hat, gloves, scarf and coat and get out there. 

I vary my pace between walking at a steady rate to walking as fast as I can to the point that my legs ache. I know that this will make my heart, metabolism and muscles work at their best over a short space of time exercising (typically I walk between 20-40+ minutes at a time).

Even if you only have time for a quick 20 minute walk per day DO IT. Walk steady for a few minutes, fast for a few minutes and continue with that momentum. It will burn calories and tone your legs and butt. Use your arms to power you on, listen to music, do whatever it takes.

Sometimes I might even use the stairs in my house and walk/run up and down 10-20 times, but more often than not I will get outside.

If I am out shopping, I will park as far away from the shops as I can. I will use the stairs instead of lift or escalator. Every day has an opportunity to get moving.

Now I like to watch a bit of TV like the rest of us but even then I use this time to exercise. I use dumb bells - every other day - to tone my upper body mainly. Using weights and getting toned muscles will help your body burn fat quicker. It also protects against Osteoporosis as you age. 

I hope I have got my point across that exercise doesn't need to be an expensive trip to the gym, 4 hours of intense exercise or an excuse for not doing something.

Get in to a regular habit of doing something on a regular basis. You will have more energy, feel healthier, fitter and younger. What's not to like about that? ;)

See for yourself the calories you can burn off by even just doing half of the steps below.....

Active Christmas

I must have been a good girl last year as Santa was very generous in my presents. I love exercise and are always happy to receive gifts that help my daily activity and motivation.

So at Christmas I was very happy to receive some new wrist/ankle weights (my old ones were that old, the sand was leaking out of them), a new bike and a fitbit. I felt like a child wanting to play out with their new toys that day.

For those of you that does not know what a fitbit is, this is what is does:-

• Records steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned
• Track your goals with online and mobile tools
• Record active minutes, hours slept, quality of sleep
• Set your goals and sync your stats
• Silent wake alarm, water resistant

Basically it records all of my daily activity which I can view and set goals using my mobile phone.

This also helps to me to gain more Bounts (see past post of the beauty of Bounts and its rewards - link below)

Rewards for Exercising - Bounts

I can't think of a better motivation and reward scheme for keeping fit and healthy. Who needs an expensive gym membership!

Take a look at the fitbit for yourself. Even if you decide not to use one the Bounts scheme is definitely worth joining.

7 Day Intensive Exercise Routine

Two days ago I decided to try an intensive 7 day all over body workout. I am currently on day 3.

Why am I doing this you may ask?

I have always enjoyed exercise and still enjoy it to this day. However, I do enjoy upping the stakes every now and again and thought I would challenge myself a little more. Also I wanted to know if it would make any difference to my body shape after only 7 days.

My thoughts so far are that it is VERY intense. So much so I have had to improvise some of the movements to enable me to get through it. I have not always managed to complete the full amount of circuits they have suggested (but have tried to do as much as my body would allow me to).

This is not for the faint hearted and would take someone of immense fitness, in my opinion, to complete it all to the exact scale they are suggesting.

Having said that I find the challenge enjoyable and are hoping that the end results will be worth the pain. Yes that's right pain! It doesn't come without some aching my muscles are feeling right now.

Having a change in your exercise routine is good. I change my own routine every 6 weeks at least so that my muscles have to work harder and so I am working different muscles too.

This current routine comes with a 7 day food menu to follow. I must confess that I have not been following it as I feel my diet is healthy already. I have been making sure I take in extra healthy calories to feed my muscles along with taking beetroot juice which I know from personal experience is good for stamina and energy.

Along with this routine, I also do my daily Yoga stretches just to help keep the pain in my muscles to a minimum. After showering I finish off with a cold rinse to help with lactic acid (the stuff that causes the pain of over working the muscles).

My final conclusion is that these routines are not for the newbie to exercise and not to be used as a quick last minute fix before a holiday.

I will keep you informed of my progress and final thoughts after the 7 days are complete.

Diet-Friendly Frozen Dessert Recipe

Cantaloupe-Basil Granita

Granitas are a combination of fruit, water, and sweetener frozen into a scrape-able mixture. This recipe includes only a minimal amount of honey, a natural sweetener containing small amounts of nutrients, allowing the natural sweetness of the fruit to really shine through.

Ingredients:

• 1 cantaloupe, seeds and rind removed, cut into chunks
• 1/2 cup water
• 2-3 tablespoons honey, based on sweetness of fruit
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 basil leaves, divided, plus extra for garnish

Directions:

1. Add water, honey, lemon juice, and two basil leaves to a saucepan over high heat. Use a spoon to press down on basil leaves a few times to help release their flavor.
2. Bring mixture to boil, remove from heat, remove and discard basil leaves, and allow mixture to cool.
3. Add cantaloupe and liquid mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
4. Add two remaining basil leaves, and blend until incorporated into mixture.
5. Place mixture into a shallow glass pan and place in freezer.
6. After an hour, remove pan and use fork to scrape mixture around. It should have begun to freeze by this point, but may still be in a fairly liquid state. Place pan back in the freezer.
7. Repeat this process after another hour, and repeat hourly as needed, until reaching desired consistency.
8. Serve in individual bowls, and garnish with basil leaves if you’d like.

*You may want to leave several hours of freezing time before serving the granita

Source:shape.com/healthy-eating/healthy-recipes/10-diet-friendly-frozen-dessert-recipes/cantaloupe-basil-granita

Off The Floor Ab Exercise #5

5. Slip A Punch

(PHOTO BY ERICKA MCCONNELL)

Why: Another benefit to working your oblique muscles: shrinking your stubborn sides. 

How: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent slightly. Bend arms so fists are at about chin level, like a boxer. Keeping shoulders relaxed and lower body still, bend at waist and lean torso to right as if you were trying to avoid a punch. Repeat, bending to left. 












Source:prevention.com/fitness/6-floor-ab-exercises

Off The Floor Ab Exercise #2

2. Cross Punch

(PHOTO BY ERICKA MCCONNELL)

Why: Firms your lower belly by targeting the transverse abdominal muscle. The twisting also slims your waistline. 

How: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and abs pulled in. Bend arms so fists are at about chin level, like a boxer. Keeping feet planted, twist to right and punch with left arm, then return to start. Contract lower abs with each punch. Repeat, alternating arms.











Source:prevention.com/fitness/6-floor-ab-exercises

The Dreaded Cellulite and Holidays

Yes it's getting to that time of year when I must dig out my bikini and make sure it still fits before baring myself beside the pool.

One of my worries each year, is how much cellulite I have gained over the winter months (aswell as pounds!).

Well this year I have been preparing in advance. I have been walking more (and at a faster pace), to help tone up my legs. Imagine the shock I got when I looked in the mirror and saw that my arms had now been 'blessed' with the dimply stuff, gggrrrr.

So here I am once more with time not on my side. I body brush and vigorously massage a quick 'miracle' cream into my dimpled bits on a daily (well almost) basis. There has been some improvement albeit slow and not quite the results I was hoping for, but on the plus side, it hasn't got any worse.

I needed something a bit quicker and with more guaranteed results that wouldn't cost the earth. After much research, I think I may just have found the answer.

Have a look and tell me what you think.......Click Here

A quick tip you can do whilst laying on the beach, is to gently massage your legs and arms with the grains of sand. This will help to get rid of any dead skin and gently give you a free exfoliation. Be careful not to scrub too hard though and especially not if you have over done the sun bathing. Doing this just once or twice over a week will be enough. It can help prolong your tan by getting rid of dead skin that would shed and take your newly aquired tan with it. Once you have had a gentle scrub, wash off in the sea and blather on plenty of suncream, not forgetting to moisturise all over later on after showering.

How To Run Correctly

Running should be as easy as putting one foot in front of the other, right? Anyone can run, but having proper technique can make a huge difference.

Good running technique will help make your runs feel less tiring, reduce your risk of injury and ultimately be more enjoyable.

Mitchell Phillips, director of running experts StrideUK, shares his basic tips to help you run relaxed and efficiently.

Keep your head straight

Look straight ahead of you, about 30 to 40 metres out in front, and avoid looking down at your feet. Looking down will create tension in your neck and shoulders. Keep your jaw and neck relaxed.

Don't hunch your shoulders

Your shoulders should be back and down. Keep them relaxed and avoid tensing them. Don't hunch over as this restricts breathing, allowing less oxygen to get to the muscles.

Keep your hands relaxed

Your hands should be relaxed, but don’t let them flop. Tight hands can cause tension all the way up to the back and shoulders.

Keep your arms at 90 degrees

Your arms should be bent at a 90-degree angle. Try to swing them forward and back, not across your body. The arm movement helps to propel you forward, so swinging them sideways is a waste of energy.

Lean forward while running

Don’t bend forward or backward from the waist as this places pressure on the hips. Some experts advise running in an upright position, but Phillips believes using your body weight to lean forward a bit while running can reduce heel strike and help you land on the middle of your foot.

Keep your hips stable

Your hips should remain stable and forward-facing. Don’t stick your bottom out or rock your hips from side to side. Keeping this position in your hips can help prevent low back and hip pain.

Don't lift your knees too high

Land with a slight bend in the knee. This helps to absorb the impact of running on hard surfaces. Don’t lift your knees too high and avoid bouncing up and down. Your knees should be lifting forwards rather than upwards.

Aim for a mid-foot strike

Landing on the middle of your foot is the safest way to land for most recreational runners. Avoid striking the ground with your heel or your forefoot first. Your foot should land below your hips – not out in front of you.

Don't strike the ground heavily

Aim for short light steps. Good running is light and quiet. Whatever your weight, your feet should not slap loudly as they hit the ground. Light steps are more efficient and cause less stress to the body.

Breathe deeply and rhythmically

Whether you breathe through your nose or mouth, try to breathe deeply and rhythmically. Avoid shallow and quick breaths. Try to aim for one breath for every two strides, but don’t be afraid to try longer breathing.

Source:nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/how-to-run.aspx

Diet & Exercise Plan for Toning Buttocks & Thighs

Getting toned buttocks and thighs is a tough but rewarding goal. Be realistic in your expectations -- any significant change is likely to take at least six months and will require total consistency in your diet and training. Despite the hard slog you will have to put in, the satisfaction and pride you will feel once you've achieved your goal will make it all worthwhile.

Nutrition Comes First

Out of all the actions you can take, what you eat will have the most significant impact on your lower body. Focus on eating natural, wholesome foods in sensible amounts for your body and levels of activity. Eat lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts, seeds, vegetables, fruit and limited dairy and whole grains. Consume grains and fruits either just before or just after your workouts to make sure the carbohydrates are used as energy rather than being stored as fat. Eat until you are satisfied, not until you are over-full, and drink plenty of water throughout the day, avoiding sugary drinks.

Lift Heavy, Lift Often

Lifting weights is an excellent way to tone the buttocks and thighs. In order to get a tight, defined look, you need to lower your total body fat and increase your lean muscle mass. Weight training is the best way to do this. Incorporate weightlifting into your routine three times per week, using lower body exercises such as the squat, lunge, deadlift, leg press, leg extension, calf raise and hyperextension. Complete three sets per session, selecting weights that will let you perform eight to 12 repetitions of each exercise.

Run Like the Wind

High intensity interval training, HIIT, is extremely effective for burning fat and building lean muscle in the lower body. HIIT workouts can be as short as four minutes, or as long as 20 minutes, depending on how intense you make them. The shorter the session, the more intense they should be. A popular HIIT workout is the Tabata sprint: Eight rounds of 20-second sprints at 100 percent effort, followed by 10-second rests. Doing Tabatas two to three times a week will help you shed body fat all over, but the emphasis on lower body activity will help you build lean muscle in your legs and buttocks to create the desired tone.

Take It Easy

Overtraining will stall your progress and undo all your hard work. If you are doing three weight sessions and two Tabatas, for example, your body will be under a remarkable amount of pressure. Your central nervous system and your musculoskeletal system will need increased amounts of sleep every night -- at least eight hours -- as well as leisure time in relaxing environments, such as slow walks through parks or forests, to reduce stress hormones once or twice a week.

Source:livestrong.com/article/541861-diet-exercise-plan-for-toning-buttocks-thighs/

Tips For Getting Some Exercise Into Your Life

Work, friends, family. How does anyone find time to exercise? You know you should, but getting motivated can be a problem. However, it's important to find some way to incorporate activity into your busy lifestyle. 

Benefits of Exercise

Researchers have found that moderate daily exercise may reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis and other chronic diseases. If you are seeking general health improvement, just 30 minutes a day should do the trick. And this thirty minutes can be broken down into 10 minute segments throughout the day.

Moderate Exercise

Even exercising just three times per week (if you can't do it daily) can have benefits (mental and physical). The key is that the exercise is "moderate". Moderate exercise consists of any activity that causes an increase in breathing, forcing you to take deeper breaths. You should be able to carry on a light conversation, but should not be breathless. 

Strength Training

If you are looking for strength training, you should work each major muscle two to three times per week. Perform at least one set with 8-12 repetitions. Before exercising, stretch each muscle group (those that will be used in the activity) for 8-12 seconds. This will help to increase flexibility. You should feel some slight discomfort (not pain) while stretching. 

Set Your Goal 

To help get you started, decide on a goal and make a workout plan designed to meet this goal. Once you decide upon a plan, remember to keep a log. This keeps you motivated and "on track".

Keeping Motivated 

Becoming and staying fit is a lifelong process, so don't become discouraged. Small steps, each day is the key. Also, keep these tips in mind:

• Exercise with a friend.
• Mix your regular training with more traditional activities.
• Keep fitness magazines, books and articles on hand when you have free time.
• Keep a tight fitting pair of jeans (or any other article of clothing) around. This encourages you to exercise. It also allows you to monitor changes in your weight or body.
• Plan for bad weather. Have an alternative to your usual outdoor activity.
• Work out at different times of the day, and then write down how you feel before and after each work out. Discover the best time of day to work out.
• Combine housework with more strenuous activity. For example, shuffle, squat, jog or dance while cleaning up.
• Make exercise a priority.
• Park in the furthest corner of the car park instead of the closest you can find.
• Take the stairs rather than the lift.
• Have a walk after lunch or dinner.

Source:weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/news_features/extips.htm

Easy Exercise Ideas

Inadequate physical activity can lead to serious health problems. Start now - make exercise part of your daily routine. At any age, increasing your daily activity can make a difference.

Our bodies are designed to be active and all activity / exercise will develop and firm the muscles of the body. Exercise doesn't have to be a chore. Read on to find ways you can become more active, lose that fat and have some fun…

Walking

Make a determined effort to walk throughout the day. Get off the bus or train a stop or two before your destination and walk the rest of the way; park your car in the furthest space in the car park; walk up and down stairs (no lifts); walk the children to school; walk to the local corner shop for your newspaper or milk, etc.

15 min moderate walking will burn 52 extra kcal* 

Housework Can Do the Trick!

Turn those tiresome chores into healthy positive ones! Turn on the music and clean the windows, hoover, dust, wash up, iron and burn off those calories. 

15 min hoovering / dusting will burn 38 extra kcal*

Get Out In the Garden

Mowing the lawn, weeding and digging all count. 

15 min weeding will burn 52 extra kcal*

Clean Your Car

Time you ran your car through the wash? Why not wash it by hand? It's cheaper, better for the environment and a great form of exercise. Put your back into it and you'll get a better result!
15 min moderate car washing will burn 43 extra kcal*

Play Actively With the Kids / Get Some Friends Together

How about heading for the park for some football, rounders, catch the ball... or dusting off the bike for a leisurely ride? Exercise at a pace where you can still talk.
15 min recreational cycling will burn 45 extra kcal*

Try A Sport

Dip into our try a sport section for more information on a variety of exercise - walking,cycling, swimming, skipping, yoga ... and more.

The important thing is to become active so that your heart is pumping blood at a slightly increased rate and you are burning calories in empowering your muscles! Go for it...

*Based on a 40 year old female of 5’5" tall who weighs 12st 7lb and is moderately sedentary. Extra calories are those you burn on top of the calories you use for basic day-to-day living. Inputting your exercise into your exercise diary will calculate the number of calories you will burn based on your weight.

Source:weightlossresources.co.uk/logout/sport/easy_exercise.htm

8 Minutes to Get Rid of Your Upper Body Wobbly Bits

Whether it's the little black dress in winter or, for men, stripping down to your shorts in summer, those wobbly bits around the upper arms, chest and back can easily spoil the look. Here's our 8 minute body toning workout to banish the wobbly bits.

Equipment Needed

Any exercise aimed at toning your body needs something to provide resistance for your muscles to work against. Most of the exercises below use hand-held weights to provide resistance: these can be as simple as water bottles (or even tins of food) you can grip comfortably, or dumbbells in the range of 1lb-5lb/0.5-2kg.

Timing and Repetitions

10 reps of each exercise should take about 8 minutes. As with all exercise you should warm-up first. Marching or jogging on the spot for a few minutes interspersed with some gentle stretches will do the trick.

Caution

Body toning exercise can be a pretty painful experience if muscles have lain dormant for a while. The problem is, it's not until 24-48hrs after your workout that you'll realise you've overdone it! Body toning exercise should not be painful while you are doing it - if it is you're using too much weight.

If you've not been exercising your muscles recently it's best to start with a weight that feels "very easy" and build up gradually from there.

The Workout

Exercise 1 - Chest and Shoulders

Lie on your back and grasp your weights with the palms of your hands facing up, and your arms outstretched to the sides. With your elbows slightly bent, lift your arms above your chest until your hands are almost touching. Return to starting position and repeat.

Exercise 2 - Chest and Shoulders

Lie on your back and grasp your weights with the palms of your hands facing up, and your arms outstretched above your head. Grip your weights and bring them over your head and down to your hips, by your sides - a semi-circular motion. Lift back to starting position and repeat.

Exercise 3 - Chest and Back

Sitting with your back straight (preferably supported) and legs straight out in front of you, hold your weights in at your chest with your elbows out to the side (parallel to the floor). Push your arms out straight in front of you then pull them back in. Repeat.

Exercise 4 - Back and Shoulders

Stand with feet shoulder width apart and arms by your sides, gripping the weights with palms facing outwards. Making sure your movements are slow and concentrated, tense your shoulder and upper back muscles, then slowly "shrug" them up and down.

Exercise 5 - Shoulders and Upper Arms

Stand with feet shoulder width apart and arms raised straight up above your head, grip your weights with your palms facing behind you. Slowly bring your arms forward and down, without bending at the elbow, until level with your shoulders. Lift back to starting position and repeat.

Exercise 6 - Upper Arms, Shoulders and Back

Standing with feet slightly apart, grasp your weights and bend at the waist until your torso is parallel to the floor. Extend your arms towards the floor with palms facing outwards. Lift your arms out to the side, keeping them straight, until parallel to the floor. Return to the starting position and repeat.

Exercise 7 - Upper Arms, Shoulders and Back

Standing with feet slightly apart, position your arms straight down in front of you almost against your body - with your weights almost touching. Bend your elbows and lift your weights towards your chin, bringing your elbows out to the side, in line with your shoulders. Return to the starting position and repeat.

Exercise 8 - Arms and Chest

The classic push up. With your hands shoulder width apart place your palms on the floor. Stretch out your body with either your knees on the floor, or if you're feeling ambitious, your toes - so you are supporting your body weight. Keeping your back straight and using your arms lower yourself gently toward the floor until you are hovering just over it. Push yourself slowly back to your starting position and repeat. Remember - don't lower yourself to the point where you come into contact with the floor, it'll be much harder to push back up.

Exercise 9 - Arms

In a sitting position with your back straight, relax your arms in line with your body. Grip your weights with your palms facing upwards and curl them up towards your shoulders, then back down again. Repeat. Keep your torso still and back straight, let your arms do the work.

Exercise 10 - Forearms

Holding your weight with your arm outstretched in front of you, tilt your wrist up and down repeatedly. Try doing this with both an overhand and underhand grip on your weight. Do one arm at a time.

Results

The secret of successful body toning is regularity. If you do this exercise sequence every other day you'll start to see results in a few weeks. 

Source:weightlossresources.co.uk/exercise/body_toning/upper_body.htm

Get A Hot Bikini Body

If the thought of stripping down to slinky swimwear for summer fills you with dread, it’s time to take action. Follow our simple tips to get you looking beach-ready in no time.

Spring may have only just sprung, but summer will be upon us before you can say, ‘wish I hadn’t eaten so many cookies.’

If your new year’s resolution to lose weight has started to stall, redirecting your focus toward getting the beach body you’ve always dreamed of could help to kick-start your motivation. 

Here’s how to make it a reality.

Up the intensity

While a leisurely walk or steady state run a few days a week will boost your health, it’s not going to get you on the path to bikini body glory. To get the body you want you need a workout that will both burn fat and tone muscle. Sack off the 5K run in favour of a high-intensity sprint session in the park – try doing 20-30-second sprints alternated with a minute’s rest and repeat five times. Do this twice a week combined with two or three free weights or circuit sessions to tone up and boost your fat burn. Try this easy circuit in the park: 10 star jumps, 10 squat jumps, 20 jumping lunges, 10 press-ups, 10-second plank, 20 crunches.

Eat well

Eating a balanced and healthy diet is the best way to get your body bikini-ready. Tuck into plenty of dark green leafy veg, which are packed with vitamins and minerals, and replace processed meat with lean protein. Add in small portions of ‘good’ carbs such as brown bread and rice or quinoa, eat plenty of fruit and munch on good fats such as avocados and nuts in moderation.

VisualiseThis is another technique you can add to your armoury in pursuit of the perfect beach body. Imagining how fantastic you’ll feel when you step onto the beach for the first time with your new bikini body will help boost your focus and get you through any motivation slumps along the way.

Give yourself a helping hand with this amazing Bikini Body Diet.

 Don't leave it too late to get in shape!!