WHY IS DRINKING WATER SO IMPORTANT? Posted on 14 July 20215 November 2021 by Michelle Jones Most people are unaware that the human body is made up of approximately 70% water. This needs to be maintained for our body to function properly. The amount of water we need each day has been argued and debated for years. The age old advice was that, if you look at a 24-hour period, you should drink 8 glasses per day. However, advice has evolved to consider a person’s size versus recommended intake. If you take your body weight in KG and multiply by 37, you’ll get the amount you need in millilitres per day. For example, if you are 100kg you should drink 3.7 litres per day. On an average day, we lose 2.5 litres of water a day through perspiration (sweating), inhalation (breathing) and urination. However, if you are eating a well-balanced diet of fruit and vegetables the water from this food recovers about one litre. Water in its most natural form is generally the best way for hydrating the body, as fizzy drinks and other caffeinated soft drinks contain lots of sugar and caffeine and are generally low in nutritional value. Squeezing half a fresh lemon into the water will alkalise any acidic elements in the water and help with the body’s natural detoxification process. 6 benefits of drinking more water: Water is good for your skin. The moisture will reduce the appearance of fine lines & wrinkles! Keeping hydrated helps with weight loss, as it suppresses appetite and aides metabolism. Next time you think you are hungry in the middle of the day, try drinking a glass of water! Water helps muscles rehydrate, get stronger & is good for your joints. Good hydration improves concentration levels & performance. Drinking enough water reduces fatigue and headaches caused by dehydration. Don’t try to suddenly increase your water intake dramatically; Take it gradually and you will find it much easier to adapt.
WHAT IS FUNCTIONAL TRAINING? Posted on 14 July 20215 November 2021 by Michelle Jones Functional Training has been around for decades, but today’s vast range of equipment has made it a top fitness trend! Some kit, such as swiss balls, punch bags, BOSU & medicine balls has been in gyms for years… but how about TRX, Plyometric boxes, ViPR, Battle ropes, Core & Bulgarian Bags, Sleds and Sled Tracks? easyGym has invested in functional kit to give our members the opportunity to have fun & spice up their workout! TRX Developed by a Navy SEAL Squadron Commander, TRX is a suspension trainer, which uses bodyweight to effectively work out! Core Bags These durable leather bags are used by our armed forces and are available in a range of weights. With easy-to-grip handles, core-strengthening exercises become much more interesting. Plyometric Boxes Plyometric boxes come in a variety of heights, allowing for jumping practice without the fear of scraping those shins if you don’t quite make it to the top. Bulgarian Bags A crescent shaped weighted bag that you swing around, and use your body to control its momentum! Kettle Bells Kettle bells are weights that looks like a basketball with a suitcase handle! Its centre of gravity extends further than the handle, making it an exceptional tool for ballistic exercises. Battle Ropes Essentially, a strong gym rope that is fixed at one end to offer a fun, dynamic and complete body workout in a matter of minutes. ViPRs Versatile in design, the ViPR is a long weighted rubber tube that can be slammed, lifted, thrown, stepped on or dragged. Sleds and Tracks Able to be loaded with as much weight as you can push along the track, our sleds are great for getting your entire body involved in the movement. TiYRs These large pieces of kit range from 40kg to 100kg and are great for tyre flips, fireman’s carries, plyometric jumps, and much more. Slam Balls While we normally ask members not to drop weights, that’s exactly what these very dense balls are meant for! Providing an additional measure of instability (they are filled with sand, after all), slam balls are great for getting stronger and keeping that heart rate up at the same time. All of our gyms are equipped with a Freedom Zone, which is home to all this kit and more! Our PACK45 workouts focus on functional training too, so join a workout or ask a member of our team for more information today!
IMPROVING YOUR POSTURE Posted on 14 July 20215 November 2021 by Michelle Jones If you’re struggling with poor posture, there are things you can do to help. Try to keep the following in mind: 1. Sitting posture Ensure your back is aligned against the back of your chair. Avoid slouching or leaning forward, and keep your shoulders straight. Knees should be even with your hips when sitting, with both feet flat on the floor – use a footrest if necessary. 2. Standing posture Try to stand with your feet about shoulder-width apart, and avoid locking your knees. Keep your weight mostly on the balls of your feet, with your shoulders upright and your head level. When standing for long periods of time, try to shift your weight from one foot to the other, or rock from heels to toes. Avoid regularly wearing high-heels as they can alter your overall body alignment. 3. Driving Posture Your seat should be the correct distance from the pedals and steering wheel to avoid leaning forward or reaching. Sit with your back firmly against the seat for support, and adjust your headrest, so that the middle of your head is supported and kept upright. 4. Move around! As our muscles become tired, we end up slouching or slumping, which puts extra pressure on the neck and back. In order to maintain a relaxed yet supported posture, change positions frequently. For example, make an effort to get up from your office chair every hour – go to the loo, walk to the printer or make a cup of tea. On long drives, always stop, even if you don’t need to – a walk around a service station car park will do you a world of good, for your body and mind! 5. Exercise! Regular exercise helps to condition your muscles, and specific strengthening exercises will help the muscles surrounding your back to stay strong and prevent strain or injury. Have a chat to one of our Personal Trainers about specific exercises you can do to help stretch and relax the major back muscles – especially if you work in an office or drive a lot. Some people find that meditation or other forms of mental relaxation are effective in helping relax the back muscles – so jump into one of our holistic classes on offer. However, if you continually suffer from back ache, consult a specialist, as you may benefit from chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation.
BOOST YOUR ENERGY LEVELS Posted on 14 July 202125 November 2021 by Michelle Jones Energy is essential in this sleep-deprived, overstretched, high-speed world. But how do we recharge our batteries when there is always something we need to do? DIET Have a look at what you are eating – a balanced diet will supply your body with all of the vitamins and minerals it needs. Try to cut out sweet foods, as although you may get an initial burst of energy through a spike in blood sugar, it will soon be followed by a rapid drop in blood sugar, which in turn can leave you feeling wiped out. Eat more whole grains and protein-rich foods, which provide a slow and steady release of energy to your body. THINK ABOUT YOUR MEALS Not only is the type of food you consume important, but also the time of day and how often you eat. If you are struggling for energy during the day, why not try: Eating bigger meals in the middle of the dayYour digestion is much more active during the day, allowing your body to use food for energy more effectively. At night, the body naturally begins to slow down and it is harder to digest. Eating smaller, more frequent meals Instead of three substantial meals, eat five to six smaller meals every three hours or so. Small meals won’t weigh you down like heavy meals, and eating more frequently will keep your energy levels steady. EXERCISE The idea of exercise when you feel exhausted may sound unbearable, but it will boost your energy more than almost anything else you can do. It stimulates your heart and oxygenates your blood. Plus, if you exercise, you will lose weight…Those excess pounds also consume energy! TAKE TIME TO YOURSELF One of the biggest energy zappers is stress, as anxiety uses up a big proportion of our energy, and can leave you mentally and physically exhausted. Taking time to relax will reduce tension and that will help increase energy. Try taking a bath, reading a book, listening to music, having a quiet cup of tea, or trying a new yoga pose. You could also have a power nap, which research shows can make you more alert and productive. DRINK MORE WATER Our bodies use water every day for sweating, exhaling, urinating, and bowel movements. Research has shown that staying hydrated is necessary for the brain to function at optimal levels. Even minor dehydration can cause impaired concentration, headaches, irritability and fatigue. GET UP AND STRETCH! Regular stretching does more than keep your muscles and tendons in a healthy state; it also keeps the brain’s arteries open and unclogged. Maintaining a free flow of oxygenated blood to our most vital organ is an excellent way to create more vigour in your life! THINK POSITIVE AND PLAN AHEAD! Negative thoughts drain your energy, whilst positive thoughts replenish it. So try to focus on the good things in your life, and surround yourself with enough positive people so you can keep your energy level up, as other’s low moods can bring you down. Planning further ahead will also have a positive impact on your attitude – constantly having things to look forward to is a great way to increase vitality! Get a calendar and start booking in dates – a holiday, catching up with your family, a day out with friends, “me time”, special events… Writing each one will make you focus on your social life – something we often neglect! If you feel consistently sluggish, we would advise you to talk to your doctor, as they can speak to you about your specific symptoms.
IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP Posted on 14 July 202123 November 2021 by Michelle Jones Not getting enough sleep? Join the club – increasing numbers of us are suffering from constant fatigue. In today’s society, the pressures of work, running a home and maintaining a social life often means we burn the candle at both ends, often falling short of the recommended 8 hours sleep per day. Sleeping well promotes positive energy, increased concentration levels, good moods and physical health. Here are some tips regarding exercise and nutrition to help you improve your sleep: 1) TIME YOUR EXERCISETrain at a time when you are at your liveliest. If you are bright eyed & bushy tailed in the morning, it would be a great time to exercise. However, if getting up at the crack of dawn is your worst nightmare, it’s unlikely you’ll have a good workout. Exercising before you go to bed can actually make it harder to fall asleep. This surprises many people, as it’s often thought that working out makes you feel more tired. However, exercise stimulates your heart, brain and muscles: the opposite of what you want at bed time. Make sure you give yourself a few hours of relaxation before you plan to go to bed. Morning exercise can also relieve stress, improve mood & give you increased energy levels to tackle the day ahead. 2) TYPE OF EXERCISEThe best exercise for sleep is cardiovascular workout that raises the heart rate for at least 20 minutes. Holistic exercises, such as stretching and yoga will also help you relax and get ready for sleep. 3) EAT BREAKFASTThere’s a reason that breakfast is called “the most important meal of the day.” It gives you the energy you need to kick-start your day and fire up your metabolism. Try to begin the day with an energy-packed, low-fat, high-fibre breakfast. Reduce the amount of high-fat and high-sugar foods, which will to make you crash later on. 4) AVOID BIG MEALS AT NIGHTEat dinner earlier in the evening, and avoid heavy, rich foods within two hours of bed. Fatty foods take a lot of work for your stomach to digest and may keep you up. Also be cautious when it comes to spicy or acidic foods in the evening, as they can cause stomach trouble and heartburn. 5) AVOID CAFFEINE & ALCOHOLAs any coffee lover knows, caffeine is a stimulant that can keep you awake, so it’s best to avoid it for around four hours before bed time. Many people find that alcohol may help bring on sleep, but after a few hours it acts as a stimulant, increasing the number of times you wake up and decreasing the quality of your sleep.Prepare yourself for sleep by doing something to relax to take your mind away from your everyday stresses, like taking a bath, reading a book, or watching TV. Don’t take your problems to bed by doing work emails or talking about emotional issues – stressful activities can cause the body to secrete the stress hormone cortisol, which is associated with increasing alertness.Also, remember to go to bed when you are truly tired – struggling to fall sleep just leads to frustration. If you’re not asleep after 20 minutes, get out of bed, go to another room, and do something relaxing, until you are tired enough to sleep.If you are suffering from constant fatigue, book an appointment to see your GP, who can give you specific advice regarding your symptoms.
