How to get back into exercise from earning medals to workouts in the dark
ALMOST half of women do not do any regular exercise any more, according to a new report into the fitness habits of British adults by healthcare company Nuffield Health.
Many respondents blamed the lockdowns for getting them out of the habit. If you’re one of them, Jane Atkinson looks at new ways to get back into it – all in time for National Fitness Day on September 21.
WHAT DO YOU WANT, A MEDAL?
IF you’re looking for a new fitness goal, virtual course creator Conqueror has routes from the Amalfi Coast to the length of the UK to keep you motivated and reaching for goals.
Using the app, log the miles you have covered in a run, walk, cycle, swim and when you reach 1,084miles – the distance from Land’s End to John O’Groats – you get sent a medal.
It isn’t free and does seem a bit pricey but if a challenge is what works for you maybe it’s worth a go.
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The UK challenge, for example, is £34.95 but for that you get the medal, virtual postcards along the way, a street view of your virtual location, a completion certificate and the company will plant five trees or recover 50 plastic bottles from the ocean.
For details see theconqueror.events.
HAVE A WORKOUT ON THE DARK SIDE
GRANTED, this isn’t pitch black. But Blaze at David Lloyd was dark enough that I could see what I was doing, but nobody else could.
I am not hugely fit – or young – so I was dreading feeling intimidated at a HIIT (high intensity interval training) class.
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But it turned out to be great fun – the pumping music helped, too.
In a purpose-built studio, you do an intense workout alternating between a running machine, a weights bench and a boxing station.
The instructor tells you what to do and you wear a Myzone heart monitor so you can work your body at the right intensity.
It monitors heart rate, calories and time exercising then converts the results into Myzone Effort Points (MEPs) – so the focus is on rewarding effort rather than fitness (luckily). I loved this.
See davidlloyd.co.uk.
RUN WITH A PAL OR GROUP
RUNNING is one of the easiest, and free ways, to work out with a friend – or make new friends.
Even if you can’t run now, by downloading the Couch To 5k app you should be ready to do a free 5k Parkrun (parkrun.org.uk) in your area by November.
You could also sign up to a local running club, or join an app such as ouirun.com to find a running buddy.
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Simply fill in your details, such as how fast you can run, when you like to run etc, and search for runners in your area.
Great for anyone from complete beginners to marathon runners – and free.