So you’ve started going regularly to the gym and you’ve established a programme with a trainer. Congratulations — it’s the single most valuable thing you can do to get fit, whether your aim is to build muscles or lose weight.

That doesn’t mean, though, it’s OK to be a couch potato the rest of the time. There’s plenty you can do in everyday life to back up your gym sessions. Here are a few.

Exercise at Home

This is the obvious one. Whether you invest in home equipment or stick to exercises you can do unaided, scheduling some time every day will help ensure you don’t lose your gains from the gym.

It doesn’t need to be a long session — five minutes when you get up in the morning is invaluable. As for which exercises to concentrate on, your trainer will be able to advise you what will best support your programme.

Walk Whenever You Can

Walking is an activity humans were designed to spend much of their time doing. It’s easy to fall into the trap of going from door to car and car to door, so leave the car behind for distances you can walk, take stairs instead of lifts — even park on the far side of the car park.

Walking can be fun, too. The benefits of going for walks in the country aren’t restricted to exercise — you’ll also be in an environment that’s healthy for body and mind.

Get a Bicycle

Cycling is a low-impact exercise that offers plenty of both health and practical benefits. While offering the chance to go further than walking without driving’s cost or environmental impact, it can increase cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength and joint mobility, among many other benefits.

While you’re increasing your stamina and aerobic fitness, cycling can also help you decrease your stress levels. There’s even evidence it can improve your resistance to diseases like diabetes and some cancers.

Take Up a Sport

Whether your thing is football, tennis, martial arts or any other sport, they’ll all provide benefits for fitness while you’re having fun. Your trainer can suggest which sport would meet your particular needs best, but the important thing is to enjoy what you do.

Playing your favourite sport can improve your stamina, strength and coordination, among many other benefits, as well as being good for your mental health. And it’s great for your social life, too.

Of course, these invaluable activities are supports for your main exercise programme. Why not get in touch with us to find out more about how to improve your fitness?