We don’t get fitter in the class workouts, they are designed to apply a stimulus that elevates your heart rate and breaks down muscle fibres, causing the adrenal glands to secrete hormones to tell your body to function at an athletic level.
“Getting fitter” is the body’s response to that stimulus, and it comes after the workout.
When you are eating and sleeping the body is repairing damaged tissue, strengthening the heart and other muscles. It restores depleted fuel reserves and gets better at transporting oxygen throughout the body.
In short, your body makes a more efficient and stronger version of itself by reacting to your exercising.
We are now heading into a two-week break, and many of you are worried that you will lose your gains. Don’t worry!
There is plenty of research to say that by taking a break from intense exercise is healthy; psychologically and physically.
It is the reason that athletes and sports professional have an off-season and power lifters have a “deload” week in their training.
The results from a study of cyclists by scientists at the University of Stirling, Scotland (2013) suggested that while high intensity exercising is important, a bigger impact to fitness can be made by combining periods of low intensity exercising.
Having a few weeks off from our Shape-UP classes doesn’t mean sitting on the couch with a bucket of ice cream or relaxing into drinking and eating more than normal.
Having a break is about doing some different exercising, for example, taking long energetic walks or swimming a few times a week.
Perhaps, if you have not yet attempted our online exercises you may have the opportunity during the break.
Live well and eat well!
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