ELIMINATE ERRORS
The majority of women approaching 40 and over make errors in their fitness routines; sometimes by working out too hard, not exercising often enough, by sticking to the same routines for too long or by not being consistent. Here are some tips you can take to improve your workouts and how you can get more of what you want from your exercise regime.
SHORT, TOUGH CARDIO
Yes, less can really be best. For years, the fitness community have thought that low-intensity cardio workouts were the best way to lose weight; studies have suggested that this type of long, slow session took its energy from fat stores in the body. However, recent studies show that there is a direct relationship between oxygen-uptake fitness and fat loss, and that working out for either a long or a short time gives you results. Helgerud et al, proved that four 4-minute runs at almost maximum heart rate followed by 3 minutes of 70% your maximum heart rate (three days a week for eight weeks) gave a whopping 10% increase in heart fitness. In other words, working out for shorter but harder sessions will give you amazing results in less time than working out for longer less intense sessions.
Whether you use a heart monitor or not, pushing yourself in your cardio workouts will give noticeable results and will take less time. Of course, if you enjoy long, slow runs you should carry on with these, but maybe try to add in shorter more intense cardio sessions. They wont be easy to begin with, but they will work and you will see results! I suggest you try running (or use a cross-trainer, skip or any other cardio you like) for 30 seconds and then go as hard as you can for another 30 seconds, and repeat… I find that doing this for around 8 intervals with a 5 minute cool down works extremely well! Or here’s a variation on interval running. I also do interval training whilst jumping, swimming and cycling!
MORE TONING EXERCISES TO MAINTAIN MUSCLE
Here’s a new rule that’s not quite ‘use it or lose it’ but more ‘push it or lose it’. Pushing your own body weight in exercise will tone you up, rather than building mega muscle; it’s really rare for women to build mega muscles given the hormones that we have. Don’t be afraid to do fewer but harder exercises to tone your muscles, especially the triceps and biceps, as well as your thighs and bum. Have a look at my Instagram and Facebook for more exercise tips and advice that will fit exactly what you want.
CONSISTENCY
I can’t stress the importance of being consistent with your exercise programmes, whatever it is, you won’t see results you want and expect if you are not consistent. If you aren’t sleeping well enough, drinking enough water, not eating the right foods or not working out in a planned organised way, you’ll think the advice you’ve been following doesn’t work. But it does… Start keeping a diary and see where you aren’t putting in the work.
Trust me, consistency is key!
