As we move through this period of lockdown amid the Coronavirus pandemic, it is important to remember that each of us is allowed one daily outing for exercise a day.

And it’s important that you do at this time as the benefits to being in the outdoors are huge, for both physical and mental wellbeing.

But how can you make the most of your once-a-day outing, while still sticking to the rules (and it’s incredibly important to do so) to gain the most benefits?

To explain all, Steven Virtue, Fitness Content and Programming Manager at Total Fitness, has suggested:

  • Walk to the shops; don’t drive: It can be tempting to hop in the car to quickly nip out to the shops – especially if it’s a cold day or you’re planning on doing a large food shop – but walking to the shops is a great way of getting the blood pumping and the heart rate up. A 30-minute walk to the shops and back can help you burn between 90-200 calories. But not to worry if the shops are too far to walk or your shopping will be too much to carry, simply park the car at the far end of the car park to get your step-count up. Every little counts.
  • Take a backpack: Another great way to burn extra calories on your daily outing is to take a backpack. Fill your backpack with household items, such as books or clothes until the backpack is heavy enough to make your trip to the shops feel like a workout. Carrying around the extra weight on your back will strengthen your core, back and leg muscles. You can even vary the weight on different days, depending on whether you want to break a light sweat or really feel the burn.
  • Head out for a jog: Plenty of people have been using the lockdown as a good excuse to get out of the house and go for a walk more often, but why not step things up even further and try a light jog or run? If you’re new to jogging, then be sure to have a good stretch before you start as this will help you avoid injuries, and just go at your own pace.