JANUARY2016|19

Chinese New Year is just around the

a challenging period having to juggle between their work, preparing for Chinese New Year and helping their kids to adjust to a new school year. Inevitably, this takes a toll on our health and stamina. However, we can keep our stamina high with regular exercise. Popular actor, sports nutritionist and personal trainer Hero Tai answers common questions about keeping yourself in tiptop condition.

1. What are the best exercises to

Chinese New Year? A: There is a difference between slimming down

excess fat in order to slim down, and work your

to do both cardiovascular exercises (which burn fat) and resistance exercises (which build muscles) alternatively in a regular manner. With this, you

Chinese New Year!

2. I’ve been working hard in the gym for months but why am I not seeing the results? A: There are many possibilities why you’re not seeing results from your exercise. I suggest that you check your form, intensity and movement – these three areas will help you determine the root of the problem. In the gym, you can ask the trainer to check whether you’re doing your workout properly. You can also refer to online videos or books to see if your workout is targeting the correct areas, and whether you’re doing it with the right intensity and correct form.

3. What is the top exercise mistakes that people make?A: The top exercise mistakes that people make is thinking that repetitions or weight is all that matters. For example, they try to achieve a targeted amount of reps hastily, ignoring the proper movements of the workout and whether the muscles

frequently see people lifting weights that are heavier than what they can bear. This is not only ineffective, it can also cause

injury. It’s more effective to choose a lighter weight that you can tackle and do your reps one one by one sensibly.

4. Is it true that the more stressed/busy you are, the more exercise you need? A: There are many types of exercises available to suit

your mood and schedule. During spare time, you can perform high intensity resistant training to increase your

muscle strength. But this sort of workout is not suitable when you are busy or tired. In my opinion, the most effective workout involves the body, mind and soul. During a busy period, I would suggest that you listen to music as you go for a 20-minute slow jog and do some stretching exercises after that to relax and loosen your muscles. Remember, the purpose of exercising is to achieve good health, not exhaustion!

5. Will running for 30 minutes a day increase my stamina? A: Running is an effective cardio workout. Performing 30 minutes of cardio training per day can strengthen the heart and lungs, which in turn

6. Since exercise burns a lot of calories, am I free to eat whatever I like after exercising?

your body requires food to replenish the energy that has been used. But this doesn’t mean that you can eat whatever you like, especially foods that are high in trans fat. Trans fat easily accumulates in the body

On the other hand, it’s recommended to consume root vegetables (such as potatoes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes) as they are high

eggs, beans and so on). Taking cordyceps supplements can also help to boost your stamina and energy, and aids your body to recover quickly.

“Keep you up to the task anytime anywhere”

This article is brought to you by Eu Yan Sang. Visit us at www.euyansang.com.my

Source from Urban Health, Issue 131