If you have ever felt anxiety or trepidation about going to the gym, you have experienced a type of ‘gymtimidation’. One may feel intimidated by a gym for many different and personal reasons. You may feel you don’t have enough knowledge of the equipment, perhaps it’s your first time and you’re unsure how you’ll fit…
What is functional training? You’ve likely heard about it if you’ve flicked through any pre-made training programmes, talked to a trainer or explored your local AF gym. But what exactly is functional training? In short, it’s a workout designed to help you function on a day-to-day basis. Because the workouts are designed to strengthen you…
Walking is a sometimes overlooked method of exercise, however, walking briskly is one of the easiest ways to get active and improve your health. Introducing walking into your routine or just remembering it’s an option when you’re looking for something to do is a fantastic way to work on your fitness, and have fun at…
We all know that sitting too long isn’t good for our health, but that doesn’t always mean it’s easy to avoid. Working hours, commuting, and the need to chill out after a long day all mean we do probably end up sitting longer than we should or even would like to. Aches and pains are…
Can fitness be a hobby, or do you have to commit to it like you would a job to see results? You often hear the phrase “fitness is a lifestyle” and while this is true, there are many things that make up a lifestyle and not all of them are good! Hobbies, friends, habits, goals,…
Dumbbells are one of the most versatile, transportable and easily accessible items in any gym or home user’s collection of kit. Although they range in price and size, a dumbbell is optimally utilised when you vary how you use them. The traditional curling and pressing motions are good. However, they usually become boring and people…
Marathons are tough on the body, there’s no way around this fact. Your whole body from your muscles and tendons to less thought of hormones and almost every physiological system is pushed to the max during a marathon race. Muscle fatigue, cellular damage and weakened immunity are all common post-marathon consequences but you don’t have…
Exercising safely during pregnancy is likely to be a consideration or concern for many people when they learn they are expecting. Can you continue to exercise? What changes should you make? It’s important to look after yourself when you’re pregnant, and staying active can support you and your baby’s health. But it can be confusing…
If you read out last blog post about some of the warning signs of overtraining, you’re probably wondering how you can help yourself heal from these effects. Recovering from overtraining doesn’t have to be complex and it’s useful to know how to do so, even if you haven’t experienced the effects of overtraining yet. Keep…
What are some of the signs of overtraining and why might you want to look out for them? If you have been successfully exercising for a long time you likely have a good routine, get enough rest and fuel yourself appropriately in order to compensate for the output. But, if you want to increase the…
