Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Government guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week. The NHS has informed us that “taking a brisk walk, spending some time doing the gardening or doing a few laps of the local swimming pool on the way home from work" can all improve health. However researchers from Brunel and Exeter Universities said vigorous exercise was best for averting disease.

As a personal fitness trainer, my advice for a basic weekly exercse rogram would be:

3 exercise sessions of 1 hour. Which includes at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise. Put these in your diary every other day, preferably with a friend so that you are committed.

Running/ skipping/ DVD/ exercise class/ competitive sport could be included

Also if you are trying to loose weight, aim for 30 minutes of light to moderate exercise all of the other days.

Brisk walk/ swimming/ gardening

Please also remember that it is important to spend equal amounts of time doing strength training as well as vigorous cardio vascular exercise. If you keep toned and increase your muscle mass this will help reduce your body fat because you will have increased your metabolism.