Rewards. Workout buddies. Challenges. And a book to inspire.
Reinvigorating your 2023 fitness goals
Dark, cold, frosty mornings. It’s jolly difficult to let our fitness goals fall by the wayside during the Winter months. So much easier to stay in bed a little later, or catch up on your favourite series after work. However, exercising will have us not only looking good, but feeling good mentally too.
Themba Ndlovu, brand manager for Clere For Men, shared some of his tips to get back on track.
Set specific goals
The first step is to set specific, measurable, and achievable goals. Instead of saying you want to ‘get fit,’ set a specific goal like ‘run a 5km in under 30 minutes’ or ‘do 10 pull-ups.’ This will help you track your progress and give you something specific to work towards.
Find a workout buddy
Having a workout buddy can make a huge difference in your motivation and accountability. Find someone who shares your fitness goals and can help keep you on track. You can work out together, share progress updates, and motivate each other when things get tough.
Switch up your routine
Doing the same workout day in and day out can get boring and lead to a lack of motivation. Try mixing up your routine by adding new exercises, trying a spinning class, or doing a different form of exercise altogether. This can help keep things fresh and exciting. If you’re running, change the route to keep things fresh.
Try a challenge
Setting a fitness challenge for yourself can be a great way to reinvigorate your fitness goals. Try something like a 30-day plank challenge, a 100-pushup challenge, or a 10000-step challenge. It helps you stay motivated and gives a sense of accomplishment.
Get proper sleep
Sleep is crucial for maintaining good health and achieving fitness goals. Lack of sleep can lead to fatigue, decreased motivation, and poor performance during workouts. Aim for seven to eight hours of sleep each night to ensure your body has the rest it needs to function properly.
Reward yourself
You’ve worked hard. You deserve a reward. Set up a reward system for yourself when you hit certain fitness milestones. Treat yourself to a delicious meal, new workout gear, or a night out with friends. This can help you stay motivated and give you something to look forward to.
Look after your skin
Taking care of your skin is important for several reasons. Healthy skin can help boost your self-confidence and make you feel good about yourself, it helps prevent skin damage and premature ageing. If you’re out running early morning or evening, that chill can damage your skin. Moisturising your skin regularly can help prevent dryness, flakiness, and wrinkles. Clere For Men’s Gly-Co-Jelly Ice combines glycerine and petroleum jelly, giving a whopping 48 hours of moisture, exactly what you need to combat Winter dryness.
Details: Facebook ClereForMen, Instagram: @clereformen
From a handful of runners who finished the race more than century ago, the Comrades Marathon has grown to be the world’s greatest ultra-marathon. Tom Cottrell – well known for his Nedbank Runners’ Guide to Road Races in South Africa, and who has for 30 years been part of this race as a competitor, spectator and backroom TV broadcast support, has just launched Comrades Marathon – 101 Years of Highlights and Heroes … a fascinating story which tells the tale of its glories, its disappointments, its triumphs and tragedies. Beginning with the early heroes, then covering the 1970s, when official permission was finally granted for women and people of colour to run, the 1980s and nine-time winner Bruce Fordyce, democratic South Africa in the 1990s, to the domination of the Russians in the early 2000s, and the ascent of black runners in the 2010s. It brings us right up to date with the last race run, in 2022, following the two-year closure as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. A superb read – and a lot of inspiration for those who need a push to get out there and run. Guide Book Publishers, R340
