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1 April 2008

Exercise groove

Hibernation is for bears, if you want to avoid a bikini disaster by the time summer comes around again then it's best to stay active throughout winter.

It's no good being virtuous and choosing an exercise programme just because you want to shave centimetres off your thighs, that's as boring as eating crackers and lettuce! You need to find an exercise routine you actually like if you're going to stick to it.

The golden rules
1. Start slowly, no matter how keen you feel. Going too hard, too soon only leads to aches, pains and fatigue.

2. Warm up, but don't forget to cool down after your exercise, gentle stretches prepare your body to wind down, and absorb all the benefits of that fantastic exercise.

3. Set yourself a target. Simply saying you want to get fitter or lose weight is too vague, instead set achievable goals. Do you want to lose five kilograms, swim 40 lengths in the gym pool or run a 10km fun run? Once that's sorted out, set short-term monthly goals, and reward yourself with monthly treats.

4. If your goal is to shed a few kilos, take things slowly. Experts say half a kilogram a week is realistic, and even this can be tricky. (The maximum experts recommend you lose is one kilogram per week.)

5. Don't drop out from your exercise plan. To keep yourself motivated:

Exercise with a friend. Studies have shown that exercising with a family member or friend ups your chances of sticking to it.

Keep things interesting by changing your programme every six weeks or so, by adjusting the frequency, intensity or the type of exercise.

Know when to take a break. If you've lost interest and energy, stop exercising for a short while and you'll return feeling rested and invigorated.

Previously published in True Love, Subscribe now and save

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Article: Mandy Collins from True Love
Image: Getty/Gallo Images

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