40 www.faceup.ie

41www.faceup.ie

BODY TALKSUMMER IS FINALLY ON THE HORIZON AND THIS ISSUE MARIE DUFFY BECOMES... MS MOTIVATOR AS SHE HELPS YOU KICKSTART YOUR LONG-ABANDONED FITNESS REGIME AND WORK YOUR WAY OUT OF WINTER HIBERNATION.

BODY BITS:The amount of

saliva you produce throughout your life is enough to fill two swimming pools. Don’t fancy going for a dip in

that!

Keeping fit is a popular New Year’s resolution. It’s also likely to be broken by 31st January. But mid-Spring, with its lighter evenings, is the perfect time to get revitalised and buzzing with more energy than Jedward on Red Bull. These motivational tips might tempt you to drag your backside off that oh-so-comfy sofa.

TIP 1. FOCUS ON A GOALIt’s important to have an achievable goal from the start that won’t put you off exercise for life. What does ‘getting fit’ mean to you? Do you simply want to become more active or do you plan to run a marathon? Writing your goal down on paper will make it more real, which will fire you up and help you get closer to it. TIP 2. CREATE A SCHEDULEDecide when you’ll find the time to exercise during an average week and you’ll be more likely to stick to it. Be realistic and start off small – hitting the gym seven days a week is impossible to maintain. Experts recommend 20 minutes of

cardiovascular exercise, three times a week. Have your gear ready the night before so there are no excuses if you’re running late in the morning.

TIP 3. PICK ‘N’ MIX YOUR ACTIVITIESYou might get bored and lose motivation if you stick to one form of exercise, so choose a few activities that will keep you interested. The more you enjoy what could otherwise be seen as a chore, the more likely you’ll keep your regime going.

TIP 4. FIND A FITNESS FRIENDExercising with someone else is much more fun, and studies show it can help you stick to a regime. Your fitness buddy will be a valuable support when your motivation levels plummet and they might even peel you off the sofa when necessary.

TIP 5. SET REWARDS FOR YOURSELFOnce you’ve achieved a goal it’s important to reward yourself. Rent a dvd, go shopping or meet up with a friend.

Stop the excuses and get moving!If you’ve always got a reason why you have to be doing something else rather than exercising – like picking your toenails or cleaning out the hamster cage – then you need a pep talk. And you’ve come to the right place.

Your excuse: “I’m too busy”It’s easy to include just 30 minutes of activity as part of your daily routine. Try walking to the shops, taking the stairs instead of the lift, and getting off the bus a stop early.

Your excuse: “I’m too tired”Being active will provide you with energy and as a result you’ll get more things done in less time.

Your excuse: “I’m not the sporty type”You don’t need to be ‘sporty’ to lead a healthy life. Three 10 minute bouts of everyday activities like walking, cycling, stair climbing and dancing, will help you notch up 30 minutes of exercise.

Your excuse: “I hate exercise”There’s a type of activity to suit everyone, whether it’s street dance, skipping, off-road running or playing the Nintendo Wii Fit.

Your excuse: “I don’t live near a gym”The best ‘gym’ in the world is probably right outside your front door. Exercising in the fresh air has been proven to be more beneficial than working out in a stuffy gym.

A little exercise = big benefitsYeah, yeah, we all know the health benefits of a moderate amount of weekly exercise. But here’s a reminder to motivate you that bit further.

• It improves self-esteem: Not only will it get you a step closer to achieving that fit body you’ve always dreamt of, just knowing you’re doing something good for yourself will boost your confidence. And the feel-good chemicals released in your body during exercise will leave you happier too.

• It will unwind your mind: Regular exercise can improve your mental health, giving you clarity of thought. Next time you feel overwhelmed, hit the gym or go for a walk.

• It will help you sleep easy: A good work out will use up all that restless energy, helping you fall asleep quicker and stay snoozing in a more peaceful state.

• It will reduce the risk of heart disease: People who aren’t active are nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack. Exercise reduces cholesterol levels and high blood pressure, and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 50%. It also strengthens your immune system.

BODY BITS:It’s impossible

to tickle yourself. Go on, give it a try.

Freida

Pinto and

Dev Patel

enjoy joint

workouts at

the gym.

“A fi tness buddy will support you when your motivation plummets”