Getting fit
Published on 20 December 16
The most popular New Year's resolution is to get in shape – and typically it can be the hardest one to stick to. More often than not, this is because people are too unrealistic or over ambitious. So, take the following tips on board and be amazed at what you can achieve:
Do your homework!
Before rushing into a regime, it's important to think about what you want to achieve and then to research the best type of exercise to do to achieve your goal. This fitness blog entry gives a great rundown of the different types of exercise you can do.
Build a routine but start slow
Going into an exercise routine at 100 miles an hour will often be the worst approach for making sure that you stick to it. You will tire yourself out and you may get injured so you won’t be able to stick to your plan even if you want to. It's much better starting little and often and then building up gradually until you reach a level you're comfortable with.
Be patient and be realistic
Getting fit will take a while so don’t expect miracle results overnight, be patient and stick at it.
Getting fit is as much about diet as exercise
Unfortunately, getting fit will mean watching what you eat, and keeping to a healthy diet. This doesn’t mean you have to ‘diet’ as such, but does mean keeping an eye on how much fat and sugar you're consuming. Remember, alcohol is really calorific, so cutting down your drinking will help a lot.
Join the gym, but only if you'll go
If you are going to join the gym, think very carefully before committing yourself to a contract you will be tied to. Consider a pay as you go or a monthly gym membership and explore all your options before signing up to that annual pass.
Work exercise into your daily routine
Exercise can be done as part of your daily routine. For instance, try power walking to Uni, or cycling instead of getting the bus The Students’ Union have a great scheme designed to help students cycling around the city for less than you’d think. Also, if you're worried about the security of your bike, the University run a safety scheme, where you can get a subsidised D-Lock.
Get involved with Sport at the University
SPORT Manchester offers a large range of free programmes such as Hall Sport, with over 45 hours of activities each week for everyone living in Halls of Residence and Sporticipate which is open to anyone at the University and boasts 14 different sports and activities. There’s something for everyone!
Get your friends together and take part in some of the opportunities which UoM have at your doorstep. Visit the SPORT Manchester website for a full list of programmes, venues and activities on offer.