The XLCharity Riders fitness regime is well and truly underway.... and while we are awaiting the final profile of the fifth XL... the elusive ‘Chunky,’ I thought it was about time to invite some guest blogs... so watch this space.... but lets start with my good friend known as Pacey.
Pacey is 35, and tried everything in fitness there is to try and always hated it.... until she realised that once you find something you enjoy it makes sticking to a routine A LOT easier.
**REMEMBER ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE UNDERTAKING ANY NEW FITNESS ROUTINE**
Words from Pacey...
Firstly if you’ve not been to a gym in years then don’t go hell for leather sweating it on a treadmill for hours a day, you’ll get bored.... BELIEVE ME!!!
To start with what you really need to look at doing is boosting your levels of general daily activity, this might be getting off the bus a stop earlier or taking the stairs at work. No one’s asking you to run a marathon straight off!
Find something you enjoy! I made the mistake of hiring a personal trainer, who was more interested in making me lift weights than actually listening to what I liked doing. I lifted kettle bells until I was basically ready to drop them on my own foot, so I just didn’t have to go any more! Turns out all I really needed was to find something I enjoyed, and for me it’s dance based things. Zumba and body combat are my new favourites and I can’t get enough of them! I think I’d even enjoy bike riding if it was in tandem with Ashley Banjo and it included some body popping.
If you’re trying to fit in exercise with work or raising a family then try and fit it in to what you already do. A group of people I work with have formed their own running club, every night after work they can be spotted sprinting round the car park! If you’ve got children then take them to the park, run round with them, instigate a game of rounders or football, you’ll get a work out and they’ll be tired (this is what’s known as a result!).
If cost is an issue then don’t worry about having to rush out and join a gym and buy all the fanciest gym gear. Adapt it to what suits you, if you can afford to join a gym then great, but choose one close to home so you can’t put off going or invest in a couple of exercise DVD’s, there’s loads on the market and you can pick up quite a few in the bargin bin! Interval training can really help boost your stamina so something like the 30 day shred might be good for helping build your fitness for a Coast to Coast ride.
If you’re carrying an injury and are worried about aggravating it then have a word with your doctor, they’ll point you in the right direction. DON’T JUST GRIN AND BARE IT!
Whatever exercise you do, enjoy it and try and make it a social occasion, I love my post combat brew with my friend, we especially enjoy calling all the people in the class who take it way too seriously!
Words from Trinderella...
.... So far the lads seems to embracing some of these techniques and incorporating the routine in their daily lives. Dog walks seem to be the favourite way of doing this for the XL’s and I can’t say I blame them, although my dog is tiny and gets pooped walking down the road.
Although I tease them about coming spinning with me and have thrown away Dave’s takeaway menus hidden in his desk, I’m really pleased with their commitment to the project.
