Hi, here I am again ready to update you on keeping your energy up!  It might sound like a cliché but we all want to feel energised – particularly when you are young, free and dating!  You might have to go out tonight at short notice, you might get an unexpected invitation..for that you need energy!!

Ok, so last week I spoke about getting your eating right in order to keep your energy levels feeling good.   Today we’re going to talk about the exercise side of the equation! Before you groan - just hear what I have to say about how exercise can help!

The UK government at the moment recommend 30 minutes of moderate activity every day but when they say moderate activity they actually mean car washing, walking the dog, mowing the lawn- now that’s not much is it?  They also say that you don’t have to do that whole 30 minutes all in one go either. It could be 10 minute stair walking here and 10 minutes getting off a bus stop early there.   I would like to point out however, that doing a bit more than this will make you feel even better!  Think for a minute and find out how long you sit during the day- and then how long  you sit and watch TV or surf the Net at night?  Well, the key is to get up every 30 minutes and move around, even if it’s only moving away from your desk to get a cup of tea - and then adding a quick round of 10 press ups or 8 squats!  Exercise is a great way of keeping fit and keeping your body in good shape - but it can help your mind too! 

Say you are sitting in front of your computer surveying the dating sites - and your emails to Mister/Miss Date have gone unanswered - you might feel a little frustrated… so turn that into a physical response!  When you are feeling stressed and pressured the body gets into that old fight or flight syndrome. Your muscles tense up for action and the adrenaline pumps round your system making you feel irritable and strained. Learn to switch off this process, as much as you can, by taking 2 minutes out to do some quick explosive movements.

• Stand with feet apart and stretch your arms wide out to the side pressing your palms out to the side and pressing the arms back to feel a stretch across the chest. Then step your feet together, curve forwards and use your hands to press your head into your chest. This will help stretch out the back of the neck. Make the first stretch an explosive movement and then relax into the neck stretch. Keep breathing evenly throughout. Repeat 3 times

• Now sit down and allow your self to flop forwards over you knees. If you can, tuck your hands under you feet and use your toes to massage your fingers!

• This should get rid of some of that excess energy that builds up in your system when you get stressed. As you put it to good use by stretching or working the muscles hard you will start to feel less tense 

Now don’t you feel better?!

In a busy day 5 minutes spent away from your routine tasks, letting the body take over can really refresh you.  The next time you feel your self getting frustrated or mentally worn out try a few of our small exercises and I bet you'll feel miles better!

Here’s ‘til next time!

Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy has 20 years' experience as a fitness author, lecturer and health promotion expert. She is the Managing Director of The London Academy of Personal Fitness (www.lapf.co.uk) and is on hand to answer any of your health & fitness questions (simply email chrissie [at] lapf.co.uk).