As a personal trainer in Brighton and Hove, I am finding that outdoor and home training are becoming increasingly popular with clients with Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading. The current gym closures provide an ideal opportunity to mix up your training at home. Very little space and no equipment are required!
Training at home enables you to continue exercising if looking after children with the school closures. As a local personal trainer, I am able to get around the city quickly with the Brighton Bikes above. I find these very useful when moving between clients homes. I would also recommend these as another form of outdoor cardio training if you haven’t tried them yet.
Fortunately, as a PT in Brighton and Hove there are no shortages of outdoor spaces to use either. Favourites being Hove Lawns, Hove Park and Preston Park. With the warmer weather and longer evenings coming, its time to get out of the gym and into the fresh air! This is even more attractive with the recent social distancing measures.
But what about training with colds and flu?
We are so used to being constantly reminded to keep active that it’s easy to overlook the fact that there are times when we shouldn’t be exercising at all. Colds and flu are rife at this time of year and working out when you have a high temperature will only set you back in terms of recovery. This will cause you even more time away from your fitness programme. So if you want to make progress, take a few days off!
Research shows that people who are physically active five or more days a week are actually a third less likely to catch a respiratory infection (such as the common cold). It is believed that bouts of exercise prompt a temporary rise in immune system cells that attack foreign invaders within the body. Although these levels return to normal within a few hours, each session is likely to provide an immune boost to fight off infection. So when you’re feeling well, keep it regular.
As a personal trainer in Brighton and Hove, I know that heavy training or a lack of rest days can limit the fitness gains from your workout. This will undermine your recovery efforts. Your body has an amazing capacity to take care of itself when you allow it a bit of time. By properly resting after a hard session you allow the repair and recovery process to happen at a natural pace.
High-intensity exercise may have the potential to burn lots of calories. But not if you’re hanging on to the handrails for dear life on your treadmill at home. By slouching over, you will recruit fewer muscles and burn fewer calories, making it important to focus on your form. Even if this means lowering the intensity. The same applies for strength training. Good posture boosts calorie burn by about 50 calories per half hour whilst also allowing you to take in more oxygen while you lift each weight. So slow down and do it right! I would recommend using a mirror at home to keep an eye on your posture.
Nutrition
Maintaining adequate vitamin stores in the body is also essential for an effective immune response; well-nourished individuals are better prepared immunologically to fight (and recover from) infections. Be sure to include nutritious foods such as lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, legumes and nuts and seeds in your diet.
As a local personal trainer, I am often rushing about Brighton and Hove to see clients. Whilst I do try and get all of my vitamins and minerals through whole foods, I do supplement with Vitamin C and Zinc. I find these are great for boosting recovery between training sessions too. To keep my immune system strong, I also take a good quality multivitamin during the winter months.
Healthy regards,
Anthony
