Tag: motivation

Tuesday Tip

Tuesday tip: Skipping to Fitness

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday tip: Skipping to Fitness 🏃🏼‍♀️

With gyms closed we’re all having to workout at home (or outside) but as the weeks go on motivation can wane. Having just had Easter too you may, like me, be feeling like you need to do some exercise. If you can’t face long home workouts or don’t have time with home schooling/ work etc then I have the perfect solution!

This is one of my favourite cardio exercises (as many of my PT clients will already know!) – skipping! It’s cheap, easy to do and can be done almost anywhere – and it’s really effective too! As well as being great for improving cardiovascular fitness, it is also great for helping to recruit and increase fast twitch muscle fibres to keep you agile, and improves balance and coordination . Studies have shown it is as effective as a 45 minute run in improving fitness and fat burning. And contrary to what you might think If done properly, skipping is lower impact on the joints than jogging or running. However, it does require the correct technique – light 2 footed jumps on the balls of your feet, only a couple of cms off the floor. This amount of impact is enough to support healthy bone density and prevent osteoporosis but not enough to stress the knees, ankles and hips too much.

And even better, a recent study by the Waseda University in Japan discovered that participants who took part in ten mins of skipping a day experienced a drop in appetite (compared to those who did nothing or did other cardio exercises such as cycling and running). It turns out that the up and down movements from skipping actually cause less ghrelin (the hunger stimulating hormone) to be produced by the gut. So you end up feeling less hungry – which means you will tend to eat less! Ideal for lockdown eh?

Try 2 min blasts now and then through your day.

Happy Tuesday 🤗

Xx

Fitness and Exercise

Bodyweight workout number 6! Only ten mins!

Dr Nancy P

Woohoo! It’s time for another workout!

I’m sure you’ve spotted the pattern by now – ten exercises, ten mins in total and no equipment required – just yourself, a watch/iphone to time it, and a mat if you want one for your knees/hands.

If you have more time then you can always do it twice or three times, if you don’t have ten mins then just do half! Get everyone involved! 🙂

If you want to do it “with me” then the video is below.

Or you can use the pics below or download a pdf of the workout here: Bodyweight Circuit 6

Have fun! 🙂

xx

Ps. If you missed the previous workouts they’re here: Bodyweight Circuit 5, Bodyweight Circuit 4,  Bodyweight Circuit 3, Bodyweight circuit 2 and my first one (with no video) is here (Bodyweight circuit 1)

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Fitness and Exercise

Bodyweight workout number 5! Ten mins, ten exercises!

Dr Nancy P

It’s workout time already! No sign of any gyms opening or classes coming back so here’s another lockdown, bodyweight home workout for you!

As usual it’s equipment-free. All you need is yourself, a watch/iphone to time it, and a mat if you want one for your knees/hands.

Anything is always better than nothing so with that in mind this is another ten minute circuit – if you have more time then you can always do it twice or three times, but if you don’t then just do it once! Get everyone involved! 🙂

If you want to do it “with me” then there’s a video below.

Or you can use the pics below or download a pdf of the workout here: Bodyweight Circuit 5

Have fun! 🙂

xx

Ps. If you missed the previous workouts they’re here: Bodyweight Circuit 4,  Bodyweight Circuit 3, Bodyweight circuit 2 and my first one (with no video) is here (Bodyweight circuit 1)

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Tuesday Tip

Tuesday Tip: Eating too much in Lockdown

Dr Nancy P

Tuesday Tip: Eating too much in Lockdown 😋

Home workouts and our allowed outdoor exercise are great but many of us are going to be far less active during lockdown and therefore worried about weight gain. This can lead to a cycle of feeling rubbish and eating rubbish etc. However with a few little tweaks you can make sure you come out the other side of lockdown feeling physically and emotionally better!

The most important thing is to eat to your current activity, not your ‘normal’ activity. But now is definitely NOT the time to try drastic fad diets, or to be cutting out food groups, so instead focus on these tips:

#1 Reduce portion size

This is the simplest thing to do. You don’t need to cut foods out, just eat smaller portions. Start by using a side plate instead of your usual dinner plate. Reducing portions will reduce cals without needing to think too much about it.

#2 Load up on veg and fruits

Fill your plate with vegetables. The higher amounts of fibre will help to keep you full, and of course the vitamins and minerals will help your immune system. Snack on fruit; a whole punnet of strawberries is only 100 cals or so, so load up! They’ll help quash any sweet cravings too – win win.

#3 Protein and fats

Make sure every meal contains protein and fats. Protein will help with muscle maintenance, and combined with fats will keep you fuller for longer. So half a plate of veg, and the remaining half split between protein (lean meat, fish or plant based proteins), fats and obviously some starchy carbs (pasta, rice etc).

#4 Water

Make sure you’re drinking enough. If you’re out of routine you may be drinking less than usual – double check you’re having 2-3 litres in a day.

#5 Think before you eat

This is the toughest one but try to ask yourself one question before you reach for that snack. Are you really hungry or just bored? If you’re used to dashing around and suddenly you’re not then you may be boredom snacking. Pop a post-it on your fridge posing that question, so you stop and think before you snack.

Hopefully these will help you stay on track.

Happy Tuesday 🤗

Xx

Fitness and Exercise

Bodyweight workout number 4! Ten mins, ten exercises!

Dr Nancy P

Well this is becoming a bit of a tradition now isn’t it! We’re over 2 weeks into this lockdown now with no sign of it changing anytime soon. So while we’re all still missing our classes here’s another little workout for you!

Once again it’s equipment-free. All you need is yourself, a watch/iphone to time it, and a mat if you want one for your knees/hands.

Always remember anything is better than nothing so you don’t need to do a long exercise session. This is another ten minute circuit – if you have more time then you can always do it twice or three times, but if you don’t then just do it once! Get everyone involved! 🙂

If you want to do it “with me” then there’s a video below.

Or you can use the pics below or download a pdf of the workout here: Bodyweight Circuit 4

Oh and in case you’re wondering why my clients know the fast feet as the seagull dance… this is why: seagull dance (the resemblance is uncanny! 🤣)

Have fun! 🙂

xx

Ps. If you missed the previous workouts they’re here: Bodyweight Circuit 3, Bodyweight circuit 2 and my first one is here (Bodyweight circuit 1)