Online Help - February 2007
New Year, New You….?
Lots of people make new year’s resolutions to join a gym and get fitter, and it’s usually around about now that the novelty factor starts to wear off. So, how can you maintain your exercise levels and really get fit?
Firstly, make sure you’re doing the right kind of exercise – it must be enjoyable if you are going to make it a long-term lifestyle change. Are you more suited to groups, in which case exercise classes might suit you.
If the thought of jumping around in front of other people horrifies you, then a personal trainer can help to get you fit in your own home or workplace. If you have limited time for exercise, swimming is one of the most effective ways of toning the whole body at the same time as improving cardiovascular fitness, and places virtually no strain on the joints.
However, poor technique will lead to muscular strains, so it may be worth having a couple of one-to-one lessons to start off – most swimming pools do these. Or try and incorporate more exercise into your normal daily routine – by walking or cycling where possible instead of using the car for instance.
Exercise videos that you can do at home alone or with a friend may help you get started. There are thousands of exercise videos on the market – make sure you pick one that is suitable for your current fitness levels, and includes good warm-up, warm-down and stretching sections – these help to prevent injury.
What ever type of exercise you are doing, it helps to have weekly or monthly targets to avoid boredom and ensure you really do progress – if your routine is easy, it’s probably not challenging your fitness level. And if you are starting exercise for the first time or are overweight, it is best to get your GP to check you out before hand.
Osteopathy can help ease out any aches and pains from exercise, and your osteopath can give you exercises to do at home to reinforce your programme.
Victoria trained as a sports injury therapist before becoming an osteopath, and has treated professional and amateur sports people from a BMX champion to weekend golfers.
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