Fitness | Fitness & Food

Growing up I was always very active and involved in sports. I've been horse riding for five years now and used to be in athletics club in middle school. I've also been in a tennis club, and still play every now and again when I can. It's funny how back then I used to get annoyed when my riding instructor used to make us go for another round of show jumps. These days I'm begging for an extra round, or another five minutes on Zumba. Sometimes it's hard to find an hour in the day to exercise. Being a waitress though, it really helps.. seven hours running around a hotel. Definitely worth it. Your health effects everything from your body to your brain and your skin. Incorporating exercise into your regular routine will pay off - try to do at least thirty minutes of exercise four days a week. Schedule the time, like you would with any other activity in life. It's not just your body the responds positively to moderate exercise; your mind will benefit too. Try a kickboxing class at a end of a long day and tell me you don't feel better. 

   Finding an exercise plan that works with your schedule can be hard. Here are some tips that help me move.

• If you're not a fan of intense exercise, (e.g. running or spinning) consider investing in a pedometer in order to track your steps everyday. Set a reasonable goal and then make yourself walk until you meet it.

• I'm a fan of group exercise. I always have my best success sticking to an exercise plan when I'm either meeting a friends at the gym or at a class that's scheduled to my calendar.

• Music can be a huge motivator, particularly if you're struggling through a long run. If I'm excited to hear a playlist, it can be everything in getting me through until the end. Sometimes, if I feel like quitting or slowing down, I make myself run until the end of the song. Music with a strong, steady beat will keep you moving.

• Get outside. A three-hour hike with a good friend is a great way to catch up - and break a sweat. Same with a day on the slopes or a bike ride along the beach. These sorts of activities are generally so enjoyable that you'll barely notice how hard you are working. The other great upside of exercising outside is that you're challenging your body to react to obstacles in it's path, which is more effective then running on a treadmill. 

• Build up an exercise DVD library. As funny as it might feel to work out in your living room, I love an old school workout video for those days I'm not motivated to leave my home. I generally look for videos that focus on stretching and toning rather than jumping around.

•  Take the stairs. My mum always does this, and I thought it was so funny, but it works. Look for any other reasonable opportunity to move just a little bit more, even if it's taking the long way to the bathroom, or parking far away from the front door. All those little walks add up. If you live within a couple miles of your school or work, leave a little earlier and walk there instead of driving.