It’s been two years of lockdowns and closures of recreation centres, gyms, and at one point, the public park. Some got creative and found a way to stay active at home. Others, however, gave into more lounging, longer Netflix sessions, and ultimately “Covid weight”. So to help you get your fitness back in order, I had the opportunity to chat with Teddy Savage (great name), Head of Health and Fitness Excellence at Planet Fitness.
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The First Hurdle
The mental component of physical activity can often be the hardest. Going on that first jog, lifting that first weight, or even simply getting that stretch done. For Teddy, he encourages people to focus on changing their outlook on fitness. “We at Planet Fitness like to debunk fitness myths like it’s not effective unless it takes ninety minutes. Or It has to hurt to work and if you don’t have large equipment you won’t see results. To get back to where you want to be you have to start by doing 1% more than the day you did before”.
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Don’t save the confetti, celebrate every milestone.
Teddy Savage on rewarding yourself for the hard work you put in.
Consistency
Consistency is often the hardest part of any journey. It happens to everyone, even the star athlete on your favourite team. That initial spike in dopamine from feeling like you’re making a positive change in your body can quickly fade after a few tough days. Teddy says “if you have a goal, write it down. For consistency, breadcrumb your way to that goal”. So how do you maintain consistency? He goes on to say “be creative and challenge yourself. I don’t like running on a treadmill but I love doing sport related agility movements and it gets my heart rate up. Anything that gets your heart rate up is cardiovascular activity”.
Recovery
“Your body won’t respond and show results unless you give it time to recover”. Recovery is a key component of any fitness regiment. “If you don’t allow yourself to rest and recover, you start putting harmful stress on your mind and your heart. It can lead to high blood pressure and other internal problems”. Restfulness and recovery is more than physical, there’s a mental aspect to it. “There’s a neurological effect that happens when we move our bodies. Your brain releases endorphins that produce a natural mood enhancer”. That’s your biological tool to fight against stress, anxiety, headaches, and a number of other health issues.
Life is slowly beginning to resemble some level of normalcy, whatever that means anymore. Gentlemen it is time to get your fitness back in order. Improving your physical health can lead to mental and emotional stimulus and leave long lasting positive effects on your mood, your energy and even your relationships. And fellas, just remember, “every step in the direction of your health and wellness is a step in the right direction and you should feel good about it”. Wise words from Teddy.
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Feature image by Karsten Winegeart
