#YourActiveStory - Ashley
Although I was living a generally healthy life, I was never a particularly active or sporty person. It was the same when I was younger, growing up through my teens and into my young adulthood. That was until I starting working at the University of Southampton last year. I decided that I would use my new job as a chance to make a change and improve my health, fitness and activity levels. With the Sport and Wellbeing facilities so close on campus, there was no excuse not to make use of them.
It was amazing how much I enjoyed being in the gym and working out. I was only sorry that I have not made the decision to be more active sooner. I found that I would go around five time a weeks and it became a really enjoyable part of my weekly routine. So when the lockdown came into effect. It was like being in limbo; with a big gap where once there had been something to look forward to.
It would have been all too easy for me to slip back into my low activity lifestyle that I had before but I really didn’t want that to happen. However, after speaking to Ben from the Sport and Wellbeing team. Not only did he give me ideas and workouts to follow to help me build my muscles and overall fitness level. He also put me onto doing ‘Trigger Workouts’ throughout the day. Basically, the way it works is that at specific times during the day (usually about one to two hours apart) you stop what you are doing and do a set of four or five exercises. Each time the exercises are different and are usually a mix of a couple of cardio movements and several strength based exercises; working different parts of the body.
One hour may be doing 10 tricep dips; a 30 second tricep isometric hold; a 30 second bicep isometric hold; followed by 5 rounds of 30 seconds of high knees; and 30 seconds of star jumps. An hour later I may be doing a 60 seconds plan;, a 60 second bear hold; and then a stair climb for 5 minutes.
The Trigger Workouts have been great. Each one only takes about 5-7 minutes but they are still challenging and really make me work. I have also found that they force me to take regular breaks away from my desk. Having the added benefit of helping my concentration and focus after I have completed a workout and go back to my computer. They have allowed me to keep active in conjunction with the main workouts I have been doing. With also the Sport and Wellbeing online classes I have been doing, I have really seen a change in my body; both physically and mentally. It has also been great when other members of my household have commented on my body and seeing how it has changed in a positive way. It definitely given me more motivation to keep at it and improve.
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Like Ashley, if you're finding it difficult to work from home. Remember that Sport & Wellbeing have FREE online fitness classes available live on Facebook and fitness class archives Youtube. You can also receive fitness advice from the team by using #DYGCoach on Twitter. All of this information and more can also be found on our dedicated #DoesYouGood page.
Thank you for getting involved with #YourActiveStory Ashley! FREE headphones and a water bottle are on their way to you.