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Exercise this Autumn to help beat the blues |
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As the nights begin to draw in and Autumn officially begins, the temptation to stay in and comfort eat strikes. An estimated half a million people in Britain are believed to be afflicted with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and up to one in five of us are estimated to suffer less severe forms of the condition, also known as winter depression. Although the illness is worst during the very darkest times of the year, symptoms can start as early as October. Even for those who do not suffer from winter depression, it is quite natural that we generally feel less energetic as summer ends and the short days and cold weather kick in.
One way to help beat the blues is through regular exercise. Keeping active encourages our bodies to produce mood enhancing chemicals, including endorphins. Nicky Lawson, Head Personal Trainer at David Lloyd Leisure gives 6 top tips on how to stay healthy and happy this season:
1. If you know you get down in the dumps during the winter months, it's time to make a positive difference to your life and try something new. Try a new Studio Class where you will meet new people and achieve new goals. If you haven't done so before, why not try Personal Training, it's a great way to make sure you reach your goals in the fastest way possible and you will receive all the motivation and advice you require to make those goals come true for you especially important if motivation is an issue for you at this time of year. PT is guaranteed at DLL to be fun enjoyable and Results Based for you! You can either buy a special PT Package (e.g. Weight Loss Package) guaranteeing results or you can buy PT independently and set your own goals with the PT.
2. It is very easy to become demotivated at this time of year so make sure you schedule everything in your diary and treat the gym just like any appointment. Tell people you are going to the gym, arrange to meet friends at the gym, have Personal Training which is appointment led or choose classes that you book onto. You are more likely to turn up for a meeting/appointment if others are involved than if you leave it to willpower alone especially at this time of year, treat your exercise sessions in the same way. Keep up the habit!
3. Make sure you give yourself goals to achieve each week (short term goals - e.g. I will go to the gym 3 x week) and a long term goal (i.e. I want to lose 1 stone by Christmas). These goals will help you to keep focused and motivated. If you want help with your goal setting, then book an appointment with one of our Fitness Coaches or Personal Trainers who will be more than happy to help you with this process. All of our PT packages that we offer at DLL includes at the beginning a goal setting session with your PT to make sure that your goals are agreed and achievable.
4. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN it is important to plan especially when you are subject to feelings of low esteem, tiredness, lethargy or just plain low because it's winter. Know it's coming, sit down
and write yourself a plan of what you want to achieve, how you are going to achieve it and then bring in whoever you need to make it happen. Failing to plan often leads to failure, so be prepared and make some changes now that will break the monotony of winter! Go on you know you can!
5. Try to train as much as possible outdoors. It helps you get some sunshine and feel better about life. Remember it doesn't have to be a sunny to day to get the benefits of Vitamin D and sunlight, training outside on a cloudy day can really help you if you suffer with SAD. It's the darkness that makes people feel low at this time of year. Natural daylight and fresh air is guaranteed to make you feel better about life. Maybe have a game of tennis on one of our outdoor courts, or does your club offer outdoor running clubs, these are a great way of meeting new people and getting some fresh air and exercise at the same time.
6. If you are training outdoors make it a pleasurable experience - ensure you are wearing the right type of clothing for the activities you are taking part in. otherwise the whole session could turn into an uncomfortable experience where you get too cold or too hot, this will do nothing to help you
feel better about exercise or yourself at this time of year.
David Lloyd Leisure has launched two new personal training programmes across the UK designed to achieve results in just 10 sessions. The two new packages, Shape Change and Weight Change, are tailored to help people accomplish their own perfect shape or weight goals in record time. Combining fitness advice and nutrition coaching, the packages are available as three sessions over one month, or ten sessions over three months, providing an effective and fun way to start a new routine or get back in shape.
The 10 session packages are available to members and range from £30 a session (sold in blocks of 3 or 10), or alternatively one to one coaching sessions can be requested for specific personal exercise goals and dietary advice. |
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