Do you ever see someone jogging down the street in their activewear and think, ‘Rather you than me’? While lots of people love an intense workout, doing a bootcamp session or running laps around the park isn’t for everyone. And if you’ve ever tried to force yourself to do an exercise you don’t enjoy, you’ll know it’s almost impossible to keep it up.
One of the best things about our Body Magic activity programme is that it gives you the freedom to get active in a way that works for you – and there are so many different activities to try. If an exercise class isn’t your style, you could try hula-hooping in the garden. Are you nervous about exercising in front of others? Then dancing around your living room is a great workout. The important thing is to find an activity you love so much, you’ll want to keep coming back for more.
To give you a taste of how you can combine regular activity with Food Optimising, we asked our members to share how they’ve made Body Magic their own…
MORE ON THE BLOG: Discover a taste of Slimming World Body Magic here
Freedom to… set your own pace
The benefits of moving more are for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re already active or you’ve not exercised since you were at school – wherever you are on your journey, we can help. Your local Consultant and other members will support and motivate you as you make small changes and build up gradually at your own speed, until regular activity becomes a healthy, enjoyable habit that stays with you for life. Target member Eimear (@eims_journey), who’s lost 5st, is two weeks into the NHS Couch to 5K programme and she already feels unstoppable.
She says: “I wasn’t going to let a bit of rain stop me this morning. If you only train on perfect sunny days, you’ll never get to where you want to go. Feel the fear and do it anyway!”
MORE ON THE BLOG: A beginner’s guide to running
Freedom to… fit activity into your routine
Making exercise work with your lifestyle can help you make activity a long-term habit – especially if you struggle to find the time to book an exercise class or get to the gym. Just getting off the bus a couple of stops earlier can make a big difference or you could try cycling to work one or two days a week. Jess (@its_just_another_manic_mum_day) has been taking full advantage of the glorious weather recently to walk her kids to and from school every day.
Freedom to… love the gym (if you want to)
Gyms have a wide variety of equipment, plenty of space to exercise and are often open all hours, so you can plan in a workout at a time to suit you. And while that first visit can be daunting, many of our members say they’ve found their gyms to be very welcoming and inclusive of all fitness levels and abilities. Target member Natalie (@sw.nataliejakings) has recently signed up and she’s amazed by how much it’s benefiting her mental and physical health.
“I’m loving my new-found freedom in the gym. I’ve not been used to having my own space where I can disappear into my own world. I feel so much fitter already. Over a week ago, I wasn’t able to run; now I’m running 1½ to 2 miles (power-walking the rest). It doesn’t seem much, but I keep pushing myself. I can’t wait to see what else I can do.”
Freedom to… exercise with friends
Pairing up to workout with a partner is proven to boost our motivation. Maybe you have a family member or housemate who’d love to join you on a bike ride, or you could ask a fellow slimmer if they’d like to walk to group with you. Lisa (@lisaslifeandsw) has found a supportive and encouraging group of friends at her gym and now she wouldn’t miss a class for the world.
She says: “I absolutely love gym classes. I love the atmosphere and I love how social it is. Some of my closest friends are from going to classes by myself. I have an amazing friendship group from it and I love passing that on to other people on their own.”
Freedom to… strut your stuff
Helping to strengthen bones and muscles, improve posture and flexibility and even combat stress, dancing is a fantastic full-body activity. There are so many dance-inspired workouts to try, too – from bopping around your kitchen to your favourite tunes or shimmying at a salsa club. Slimming World Consultant Katie (@sw_adeyfield) went along to her local aerial dance class recently…
She says: “Finding something that you enjoy, that gets your heart racing and fits in with your lifestyle… I’ve been able to do just that!
Aerial pushes me and challenges me and the classes are full of love, support and laughter. Being back at class after lockdown is like being home among family.
Conquering challenges encourages and motivates me to go out and get active, getting those steps in or using my exercise bike daily.”
MORE FOR MEMBERS: Slimming World members can find more ideas on how to get jiggy with Body Magic – including a handy guide to dance-inspired fitness classes – on the exclusive member website.
Freedom to… have fun
Finding an activity you love is the secret to turning exercise into a long-term habit – and the only way to discover which activities you enjoy is to start giving them a try. You might find you don’t fancy exercising in the gym, but like the idea of doing some lengths in the pool. Maybe you’d struggle to find the time to go for a bike ride but could squeeze in some 10-minute workouts instead. You might even decide to sidestep traditional exercise entirely and find a family-friendly activity that’ll get you moving – like Lily (@lilyann_sw), who found her Body Magic fit at an outdoor adventure centre.
MORE FOR MEMBERS: You’ll find lots of Body Magic information and inspiration on the exclusive member website, including…
- Support to help you work towards your Body Magic awards
- An online planner to help you track your activity
- Motivation and ideas in your Slimming World group or our online Community
- How-to activity guides and videos
Slimming World real-life groups are back! Find out more about joining here.
*If you’re planning to start a new exercise programme, we recommend you check with your GP first – especially if you have an existing health condition, such as high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma. If you’re pregnant, check the suitability of the exercise with your midwife.