3 home truths about home workouts
Monday came around and that’s it - I was back on it! We are NOT going to get fat and unfit during lockdown, I WILL leave my house in a bikini with perfect abs and perfectly detoxed skin. So 9am Les Mills Body Balance was on TV - brilliant - Cara and I could do some yoga together and get our health kick started!
Yeah right, all i got was these 3 harsh realities i learned trying to workout with family at home:
I cannot jump around doing burpees with my old lady glasses on my sweaty face. Clearly I never discovered this in the gym where I can actually see the life size instructor but with middle aged eyesight I spent half my time squinting at a screen asking “what the hell are they doing?”
Visions of great inspirational family time went out the window quickly as my daughter resorted to the sofa and became a back seat driver. “Mum you're not doing it right, you are meant to have your right leg back behind your head and your left hand stretched out”. Ok, ok this isn't Twister!
I had the shocking realisation half way through Grit Cardio that maybe to my daughter I looked like my mother and a host of 70s mothers doing their Jane Fonda VHS videos. Ok there was no spandex and leg warmers but i am sure it didn't look elegant!
In all seriousness though, there are a few top fitness tips to bear in mind as the home fitness revolution sweeps back onto our devices:
Much as it's tempting to save time and do HIIT (high intensity interval training) sessions each day, remember science shows you should only do 1 - 2 HIIT sessions a week. Balance it out with other cardio and strength based sessions. If you want more on the science check out this article:
If lockdown is stressing you out adding more cortisol and adrenaline to the mix with aerobic activities will not help the stress levels. Try and get some balance and calm back by adding yoga, pilates, Body Balance etc. If you have not yet read Dr Libby’s Rushing Woman's Syndrome then jump online and buy it and read the science behind the title we can all identify with!
Home workouts and goal based programmes are great but nothing beats getting outdoors. Get the bike out, go for a run or walk, as long as you stay local. Outdoor workouts not only get you fresh air but they also tend to burn more calories. Compare your spin bike ride to a windy, hilly ride out on your bike and you will know what i mean!
So there you go, keep your exercise up to boost the endorphins and stay sane! Good luck 🍀🍀
