For many of us, doing exercise ends up as an ‘either/or’. situation. We sign up, we go all in, perhaps a little too much, and then work and kids take priority and we’re back to where we started. Perhaps we try to do too much, instead of keeping it simple. Owner of Body Temple, Karine Gauthier’s gives you her personal tips on why keeping exercise basic, is so important.
As a mum of 3 and running my own business , “keeping it simple and getting back to basics” pretty much sums up my personal philosophy. Well it works for me, gets me through the day and looking back on the last 13 years of having had Body Temple and growing a family at the same time I feel it has helped me to build a sustainable business and keep the family balanced.
In this era of health and fitness we are very spoiled with many options of how to keep fit and active on a daily basis. Almost too much to choose from actually. Don’t get me wrong I am the first one to appreciate and enjoy new exercise and classses but from all the different types of training, endless group exercise classses out there, if you are unsure of what is best for your body and like all of us a bit short on time it can be overwhelming. Then there’s all the diets that promise you amazing results in a short period of time and can be contradictory at time. So I say keep it simple and back to basics!
What does that mean? Your body is the most reliable, portable piece of gym equipment you could ask for and it doesn’t cost you anything! So think of all body exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home, outdoor or when you are travelling. And you can do it by yourself, with friends or with your kids, you really have no excuse. Squats, lunges, push ups, triceps dips, pull ups, planks, sit ups, are my to go to! They are basic moves and you can make them as easy or as hard as you want. When it comes to cardio: walking, running, climbing stairs, swimming, cycling and skipping are fab and again, very low cost and a bonus if they are done outside, connecting with nature.
I believe in quality over quantity and a little bit of exercise every day, is better than nothing! We tend to put a lot of pressure on ourselves and tell ourselves we must hit the gym every day for an hour, or must run 5-10km, but sometimes we don’t have that time. So think instead of how every 10-15 minutes of walking to the bus, taking the stairs, or 50 squats in the morning and evening ads up and will make a difference. I like to walk when I take phone calls, train and have meeting at the same with my trainers, go for a run with hubby for a hot date and I love to squat with my kids on my back whenever i get a chance (and they love it too)! Of course, I love to attend classes and I ideally I want to hit the gym 3 times a week, but as this doesn’t always happen, I can always revert to my basics.
When it comes to food, my philosophy is the same. Keep your food simple, a clean diet incorporating plenty of vegetables and fruits, lean protein, good grains and fat and cooked simply and healthy (raw, sautéed, grilled not deep fried) with no artificial flavour, sauces etc.. Eat food that comes from the ground or from a tree, not from a box. Eat locally, organic products if possible, seasonal fruit and veggies and don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Again, it’s all about going back to basics. And Plan!!! Plan ,plan, plan! Have a weekly planner for your meals and schedule your exercises, that is the basic demand, if you want to succeed with your health and fitness goals or any goals. If you fail to plan you plan to fail!
So when people ask me how do you do it? You work, raising 3 kids, staying fit and strong, full of energy? Well, I’m serious when I say that my answer is to keep it as simple as possible. You’re more likely to stick to it, get back to your basics, listen to your body and be grateful every day for all the simple little things in your life.
15 minutes of a very simple progarmme you can do at home:
1-2 minutes of front plank and side planks
Push ups X15
Squats X15
Tricep dips on chair X15
Lunges X15
Repeat 3 times
Finisher
Squat jumps 30 sec
Mountain Climbers 30 secs
High knees 30 secs
Burpees X15
