{"id":3163,"date":"2021-06-11T15:32:16","date_gmt":"2021-06-11T14:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/slimmingworld.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=3163"},"modified":"2026-03-09T11:53:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T11:53:52","slug":"freedom-to-get-active-your-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingworld.ie\/blog\/freedom-to-get-active-your-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Freedom to get active your way"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you ever see someone jogging down the street in their activewear and think, \u2018Rather you than me\u2019? While lots of people love an intense workout, doing a bootcamp session or running laps around the park isn\u2019t for everyone. And if you\u2019ve ever tried to force yourself to do an exercise you don\u2019t enjoy, you\u2019ll know it\u2019s almost impossible to keep it up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best things about our Body Magic activity programme<\/a> is that it gives you the freedom to get active in a way that works for you \u2013 and there are so many different activities to try. If an exercise class isn\u2019t your style, you could try hula-hooping in the garden. Are you nervous about exercising in front of others? Then dancing around your living room is a great workout. The important thing is to find an activity you love so much, you\u2019ll want to keep coming back for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To give you a taste of how you can combine regular activity with Food Optimising, we asked our members to share how they\u2019ve made Body Magic their own…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom to\u2026 set your own pace<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of moving more are for everyone. It doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re already active or you\u2019ve not exercised since you were at school \u2013 wherever you are on your journey, we can help. Your local Consultant and other members will support and motivate you as you make small changes and build up gradually at your own speed, until regular activity becomes a healthy, enjoyable habit that stays with you for life. Target member Eimear (@eims_journey<\/a>), who\u2019s lost 5st, is two weeks into the NHS Couch to 5K programme and she already feels unstoppable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She says: \u201cI wasn\u2019t going to let a bit of rain stop me this morning. If you only train on perfect sunny days, you\u2019ll never get to where you want to go. Feel the fear and do it anyway!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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MORE ON THE BLOG: A beginner\u2019s guide to running<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom to\u2026 fit activity into your routine<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Making exercise work with your lifestyle can help you make activity a long-term habit \u2013 especially if you struggle to find the time to book an exercise class or get to the gym. Just getting off the bus a couple of stops earlier can make a big difference or you could try cycling to work one or two days a week. Jess (@its_just_another_manic_mum_day<\/a>) has been taking full advantage of the glorious weather recently to walk her kids to and from school every day.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Freedom to\u2026 love the gym (if you want to)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gyms have a wide variety of equipment, plenty of space to exercise and are often open all hours, so you can plan in a workout at a time to suit you. And while that first visit can be daunting, many of our members say they\u2019ve found their gyms to be very welcoming and inclusive of all fitness levels and abilities. Target member Natalie (@sw.nataliejakings<\/a>) has recently signed up and she\u2019s amazed by how much it\u2019s benefiting her mental and physical health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m loving my new-found freedom in the gym. I\u2019ve not been used to having my own space where I can disappear into my own world. I feel so much fitter already. Over a week ago, I wasn\u2019t able to run; now I\u2019m running 1\u00bd to 2 miles (power-walking the rest). It doesn\u2019t seem much, but I keep pushing myself. I can\u2019t wait to see what else I can do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom to\u2026 exercise with friends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pairing up to workout with a partner is proven to boost our motivation. Maybe you have a family member or housemate who\u2019d love to join you on a bike ride, or you could ask a fellow slimmer if they\u2019d like to walk to group with you. Lisa (@lisaslifeandsw<\/a>) has found a supportive and encouraging group of friends at her gym and now she wouldn\u2019t miss a class for the world.<\/p>\n\n\n

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She says: \u201cI absolutely love gym classes. I love the atmosphere and I love how social it is. Some of my closest friends are from going to classes by myself. I have an amazing friendship group from it and I love passing that on to other people on their own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom to\u2026 strut your stuff<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Helping to strengthen bones and muscles, improve posture and flexibility and even combat stress<\/a>, dancing is a fantastic full-body activity. There are so many dance-inspired workouts to try, too \u2013 from bopping around your kitchen to your favourite tunes or shimmying at a salsa club. Slimming World Consultant Katie (@sw_adeyfield<\/a>) went along to her local aerial dance class recently…<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Katie<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

She says: \u201cFinding something that you enjoy, that gets your heart racing and fits in with your lifestyle… I\u2019ve been able to do just that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aerial pushes me and challenges me and the classes are full of love, support and laughter. Being back at class after lockdown is like being home among family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conquering challenges encourages and motivates me to go out and get active, getting those steps in or using my exercise bike daily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MORE FOR MEMBERS: Slimming World members can find more ideas on how to get jiggy with Body Magic \u2013 including <\/strong>a handy guide to dance-inspired fitness classes<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 on the exclusive member website.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freedom to\u2026 have fun<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding an activity you love is the secret to turning exercise into a long-term habit \u2013 and the only way to discover which activities you enjoy is to start giving them a try. You might find you don\u2019t fancy exercising in the gym, but like the idea of doing some lengths in the pool. Maybe you\u2019d struggle to find the time to go for a bike ride but could squeeze in some 10-minute workouts<\/a> instead. You might even decide to sidestep traditional exercise entirely and find a family-friendly activity that\u2019ll get you moving \u2013 like Lily (@lilyann_sw<\/a>), who found her Body Magic fit at an outdoor adventure centre.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Lily<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

MORE FOR MEMBERS: You\u2019ll find lots of Body Magic information and inspiration on the <\/strong>exclusive member website<\/strong><\/a>, including\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n