Which exercise is the best?
Ooooh this one that gets everyone talking. Nearly everyone has an opinion on which exercise is best and will argue about it until they are blue in the face.
I have seen personal trainers and fitness gurus debate this online for hours. It’s quite entertaining but like the numerous diets out there, it leads to a massive amount of confusion.
Here is a run down of some of the different types of fitness and why you need them in your life.
So all types are good, but which is the best?
Basically none of them are the ‘best’. To have an overall level of fitness we need a bit of all of them. Of course, realistically it isn’t that easy…we just don’t have the time to do a million different exercise sessions in a week. Instead we need to be a bit clever about how we manage our time and exercise.
Here are my top tips for getting the most out of your exercise:
Work to your level and to your goals
If you are a beginner or just want to work on your fitness as a whole, it makes sense to do sessions that combine more than one area of fitness. Bootcamp for example often works cardio, high intensity and resistance (with often a bit of the others thrown in as well). This will give you a good grounding in everything and improve your overall health (which is, after all the name of the game for most of us).
But if you are after perfecting one type of fitness or you have a certain goal then focus on that. If you want to be a weight lifter then it make sense to prioritise weight lifting and resistance work. Of course, it is still important to try and fit in some of the other types…don’t lose sight of the fact that fitness is a reflection of overall health. If you can lift more than your body weight but can’t climb the stairs without stopping for a rest then you have a problem.
Don’t overthink it
Every week there is a new headline claiming that one type of exercise is the answer. Use your common sense and take it with a pinch of salt. Be careful who you ask for advice – quite often people have a vested interest. They will tell you what they enjoy and why it’s amazing rather thinking about what’s best for you. A good personal trainer, won’t automatically tell you what you should do – they will listen to you first then work out what will help you towards your goals. It really is all about you! Do things that make you feel good.
And, at the end of the day, doing something, anything, is better than doing nothing.
Be consistent
Whatever exercise you do, make sure you keep doing it! You’ll only see progress if you are consistent.
Make it fit in with your life
If you don’t like the gym or don’t have time to fit in an hour class then don’t do it. Think outside the box. All movement counts – mix it up and find something that works for you. One of the reasons why my 8 week Kickstart programme works so well is that all of the sessions are between 15 and 45 mins long and they can be done anywhere with no equipment.
Enjoy it
I know lots of people look at me like I’m mad when I say find something you enjoy…but honestly it is possible: some people thrive in a group; some prefer individual activities; some like to do an actual sport like football, rock climbing, etc; some love the gym. Find what you enjoy and keep exploring new options until you find it.
And if you are really struggling, think about how good you feel when you’ve done something. Often the thought of exercise puts people off but if you remember how amazing you feel after, it can give you enough motivation to do it.
Get help
If you are a beginner (and even if you aren’t) you don’t need to go it alone. Train in a group, work with a friend, get a PT – your heath should be number 1 priority…if you can find money to spend on new clothes/ manicure/ meals out, etc then you can afford it! Try my 8 week online Kickstart programme if you want something completely flexible, that you can do from home. It works on all areas of fitness so you don’t need to worry! Pop over my Kickstart page to check it out.
So to sum up – the main message from this blog post?
JUST MOVE!!!!