The Hour

Before taking part in any training programme it’s essential to check you’re fit and healthy to complete the task at hand. Stella’s tips and tricks for maintaining fitness promise to keep you butt-clenching and push-upping until your body can’t take anymore.

It’s that time of the year again. The season of marathons, sprints and races has caught up with us. Fitness guru Stella delivered a quick guide to maintaining strength and stamina as you strive to achieve your fitness goals:

“Before taking part in any training programme it’s really important that you go see your GP and check that you’re fit and healthy. After all the great work you’ve done to get fit for your race, it’s really important for you to maintain your fitness.”

Firstly, Stella demonstrated a great idea for a strength training programme which uses simple exercises to produce incredible results.

She suggested the “plank walk” for fitness freaks who aim to tone and strengthen their core:

“Starting on the toes and the hands in the plank position, squeeze your butt cheeks tight. Walk down onto the elbows and back onto the hands. Avoid rotating at the hips.”

However, if you find this manoeuvre a little intense to start with, feel free to drop your knees to the floor and attempt the same exercise.

If you fancy something a little more exhausting and a lot more demanding why not try Stella’s “all body squat jump”. Crank up your metabolism and wave goodbye to those weighty calories:

“Start in the squat position with your butt to the back and your hands forward. Drive off the floor. Push your arms to the back of your body.”

An alternative to strength is stamina. An excellent cardio vascular challenge is “mountain climber”. Get your heart pumping and follow Stella’s easy steps:

“Put your body weight over the hands with your toes down onto the ground. Drive your knees towards the elbows. Stay in this position for as long as you can.”

If you’re feeling a little stiff, Stella’s “inch worm push up” is the solution for you. Gain flexibility in your hamstrings with this simple but effective regime.

“Start in the standing position. Keeping your legs straight, touch your toes and walk your hands out to the press up position. Perform one strong push-up. Walk the hands back towards the toes with straight legs. Maintain the standing position. Repeat the position for 60 seconds.”

If your legs need a little work, try out “the lunge”. This drill works both the front of your legs and your butt.

“Start in the standing position. Take your right leg forward. Then bring your rear knee down. Step back into standing position. Repeat for 60 seconds.

This exercise works wonders for posture. Keep your upper body straight and make sure your butt is tucked in. Also, be sure to alternate to get the perfect pins after all your hard work.

“Split jump” is perhaps the most demanding activity on Stella’s checklist. However, the benefit of a full body exercise is invaluable for your physique and will leave you euphoric after a full work out.

“Start with your legs in a split position with the knee to the ground. Drive your arms simultaneously into the sky. Lift your body weight up and split into the opposite legs. Maintain this for up to 60 seconds”.

So as Stella says, check with your GP before following her suggested regime. It won’t be long before your body transforms and your mind feels healthier than ever.