Hey, you…yes, YOU! Why are you on the couch? As great as it was, the Festive Season is over. It’s time to get back into the exercise routine that has been neglected.
Let’s face it, many of us can’t even fathom the idea of exercising in a public gym; besides the exorbitant cost of a membership contract, training with strangers around you can be disconcerting. Well, not to worry. You can have your workout in the comfort of your own home.
The type of equipment that you need depends on what you want to achieve, but generally speaking, a combination of the following items will ensure that the body you want is achievable.
Weights
If you want to increase mass and/or tone your muscles, lifting weights is definitely the way to go and depending on which, you need to take note of the following:
Mega mass = heavy weight, low reps: 5 – 6
Toning and definition = light weight, high reps: 10 – 12
*If you can, you can try to rep until failure (until you cannot physically lift anymore); the extra exertion aids the muscle-building process.
What you will need: a set of dumbbells, a barbell; weight plates; wrist straps (for support and injury prevention)
Please get assessed by a trainer before you begin any type of exercise. The evaluation will also allow them to gauge the weight range that will suit you.
Cardio
If you’re looking shed the kilos, cardiovascular exercise is vital. These activities include running, walking and swimming. Essentially they increase your heart rate and strengthening your lungs, increasing your endurance.
The result: Your body burns energy (calories) that you get from your daily food intake. If you torch more calories than you take in, you will lose weight.
Note* the average daily calorie intake is 2500 and 2000 for men and women respectively.
Equipment options: skipping rope; treadmill; stationary exercise bike
Apparel
There is a huge variety of clothing to help you reach optimal performance. It’s recommended that you invest in a few garments that are specifically designed to wick away sweat.
Look out for Nike’s Dri-Fit® and Adidas’s Climalite® range.
Accessories
Welcome to the world of wearable tech! Smartwatches and fitness trackers have been developed with your wellbeing in mind; they’re your personal, continuous health assessment tool!
Brands such as Samsung and Apple offer high-quality wearables that track your vitals throughout the day; all you need to do is download the app (information about this will be found in the box) and sync it to the device.
Have a look at our Wearable Technology products
Shoes
The correct shoes are essential. Whether you’re lifting weights or running on the treadmill, your feet need to be protected because they’re going to be absorbing a lot of impact.
Shoe options: Crossfit shoes are a good choice because they are lightweight and flexible.
