When should I increase my weights?

Anyone who reads my blog regularly will know I am a huge advocate of strength training – the benefits are endless. From stronger muscles, improved bone health, mood boost and immunity enhancing, strength training really is wonderful! And the best part is that you don’t need to lift heavy weights to reap the benefits of strength training, but you do need to keep challenging yourself. Your body needs to be challenged and it is this challenge which creates change – this is called progressive overload (more on this later). 

When lifting weights, that fatigue feeling you get towards the end of a set is called exercise induced fatigue or peripheral fatigue and it is this which causes muscle tissue break down. Contrary to how this sounds, this is actually very beneficial because as the muscle tissue repairs, it repairs in an enhanced state, making the muscle stronger than before. The key here is that it happens during recovery so you must make sure you’re giving your body adequate rest time to reap these benefits.

Over time, to keep seeing improvement and changes, you need to keep applying the principle of progressive overload. Now what does this mean for you in your training? It could be that over time you gradually, and I do mean gradually, increase your weights, it could be increasing the number of reps or sets you are doing or by changing your program.

There is no specific formula on when to do this. My advice is when you’re new to strength training, start small. Start with  light dumbbells (I recommend everyone to start with 2kg) and focus 100% on your technique. Then measure how you are finding your sets – if you can do all the reps without any difficulty then it’s time to switch up. My advice is that the last 2-3 reps should be a challenge. However the key is to move up weights slowly, small increments will help ensure that your form stays good while you build strength. It may also be that you can increase for some exercises but not others – ie you may feel stronger in your lower body than upper body so adjust accordingly.

A couple of questions to therefore ask yourself before you increase the weight are:

  • Is it still challenging me?
  • Could I keep going and going? 
  • Do I use the same weight every workout? And have done for months?
  • Am I still seeing results? Or have I plateaued?

And remember by increasing the weight does not mean you will bulk up!

It is important to highlight that when you do increase your weight there is a chance you might feel it in the 24-48 hours post exercise (also know as DOMS). This delayed onset of muscle soreness is totally normal and it will go – it is greatly helped by going out for a walk and loosening off the muscles, stretching, epsom salts in the bath etc.

I hope this is helpful! Any questions always feel free to contact me!

Caroline

What’s holding you back?

It’s that time of the year where it can feel a little bit “no man’s land-ish”! The first month of the year is done yet it’s still pretty wintery, January is over and you might have lost a bit of the momentum and enthusiasm for the new year and feeling a bit flat. Rest assured you are not alone in this – this week I am going to highlight just some of the reasons you might be feeling like this and what you can do to get back on track – these tips relate to your fitness but also apply to many other aspects in your life too:

  1. First of all, is it a lack of commitment or consistency? Making the resolution or choosing the goal is the easy part, sticking to it is that hard bit! Without commitment, focus and consistency it is very easy to become distracted and lose motivation. My advice here is to choose a reward that really means something to you when you reach that goal to help you get that motivation back. 
  2. Secondly goals – are the goals you have set yourself realistic? Or maybe too ambitious? What’s your “Why” for getting started? Setting yourself unachievable goals is sure fire way to reduce motivation. If your resolutions and goals are too ambitious and unable to fit into your lifestyle, it can make it very hard to keep on track, keep up the necessary motivation and therefore things start to slip. So, take a look at the goals you have set and spend some time re-establishing – think short, medium and long term and make sure you reward yourself for reaching them.
  3. Did you set yourself a solid plan? Make sure you write it down, keep a journal, track your progress…
  4. SLEEP – So key to progression. Without rest days for repair and recovery it’s impossible to move forward. When we sleep better, we make better food choices, we move more  – it goes on!!
  5. What does your support network look like? If you are trying to make lifestyle changes and form new healthy habits all by yourself without the support of family and friends, you’re making life much harder than it needs to be. Bring them in on the plan, share your goals and aims and ask them to support you through it. Maybe it’s your other half getting up early with you once a week to get that workout in or it’s meeting a friend to do a class or a group dog walk. Whatever it is that is going to help you create those habits, do it! 
  6. Are you doing something you enjoy? If it’s fun you are way more likely to stick with it!
  7. And finally focus on the positives – if you have time out don’t see that as failure – start afresh the next day – whether that be in your fitness routine or your diet etc. It’s never too late to start again. And you can’t make all the positive changes overnight, it’s a gradual process leading to great results. No one is perfect!

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out a bit more about me check out my Instagram.

Caroline x

Your January Mojo

So it’s still January, cold and wet and we need to keep motivation levels high! Don’t worry if you’ve not managed to keep to all your January plans, life is busy – I’ve got you a few extra ideas for you!

Haven’t got time for a full workout? Don’t panic as short bursts of 5-minute exercise can still have huge benefits and boost our mood. Exercise is exercise and it’s so important to have time for you. Why don’t you try this simple full body routine first thing before breakfast or in your lunch break – take it outside if you can!

– Set your timer:

  • One minute of squats – big exercise for the legs (you can do it while the kettle boils)
  • One minute of forward lunges (while out on a walk?)
  • One minute of push ups – knees/toes working the chest and upper body.
  • One minute of tricep dips on a chair/loo (while running a bath?) – amazing for the back of the arms.
  • One minute of jumping jacks/high knee marches on the spot/stair climbs for a cardio blast. You can keep low impact and build up gradually.

Just 5 minutes of activity which you can do 2/3 times a day. Keep a track of your reps and you can build up day by day. 

Or, you could try this…

Every morning spend just 5 minutes stretching – before work, breakfast, school run. 5 minutes of stretches to wake up the whole body and mobilise the joints. Energise the body for the day ahead. Or in your lunch break get outside into the fresh air – for a walk or a quick lap of the park. Just the movement will energise you and over time you can build this up to a lunchtime jog or work towards a 5k? A short spell outside will give you headspace and time away from the screen.

The key to remember is that exercise is not just physical – the endorphins that we release when we exercise trigger positive feelings of wellbeing and give us such a mental boost. You don’t need to be doing hiit workouts or training for a marathon – as long as it is something you enjoy you will stick with it. Exercise helps us to sleep better, have more self-confidence, it boosts our immunity, raises our metabolism and manages our stress levels. Plus, it keeps us strong. What’s not to love?!

With that in mind, the next 7 days are looking pretty good in the Caroline’s Circuits membership. If you’re looking for that endorphin release look no further. With 4, yes 4, live classes covering all areas of the body you will feel GREAT! Plus if you join before the end of January you can use Caroline20 for 20% off your first month, so what are you waiting for?

The workouts are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (they are all recorded and available to you on demand within an hour of the session if you can’t make the live). Classes have been specifically designed to suit all fitness levels and create fitness habits which last & which produce results.

Intrigued to know more or have a go? Try a class for free here or read more about the platform here.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out a bit more about me check out my Instagram.

Caroline x

Life is all about balance

What does “Balance” mean to you? While focusing on a healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating right is great for your body, “balanced living” means protecting your mental and emotional health too – it’s considering all aspects of your life whether that be relationships, work, health etc. It’s important to remember that everyone is different and the concept of what constitutes a balanced life for one may be different for another so take a moment to think what exactly does the phrase “life is all about balance” mean to you? There is so much information available online when it comes to diets, fads, new exercise regimens and it can be a real minefield. 

These are what I consider to be important for balanced living in my mind – what would you put at the top of your list? Let me know!

1. Ensuring you have some “You” time every day even if just 30 minutes – think of something you enjoy which also will help you relax and de stress – whether it be yoga, walk, a hobby, cooking etc. For me it’s walking the dogs and being in nature. Ensure you have time for self care and make it a priority.

2. Schedule in your exercise – so important for both physical and mental health – it can be just 150 minutes a week but ensure it is something you enjoy and which can be consistent. Again time for you and so good for that mood boost.

3. Eat well – try to cook more. The right diet will keep your body healthy, give you energy, and boost your spirits. Plan your meals and keep them varied. Without the right fuel our bodies cannot function correctly.

4. Sleep – literally your best friend and the foundation to balance – if we sleep well then everything else is brighter and more manageable – from the food choices we make to the tasks ahead at work or within the family. 

5. Be kind to yourself – not everything is going to be perfect every day and try not to compare your lifestyle with others. If you’ve set yourself goals this year make them achievable and realistic and if you have a day when it doesn’t go according to plan just start again tomorrow.

6. Write it down – I find that keeping notes/ making a schedule not only really helps me stay on track but also shows how far you’ve come, expressing your feelings and staying motivated.

“Everything in moderation” is a phrase you hear often, and with good reason. Everything in moderation means that there’s a healthy balance to your life, so laugh, love, live, and be healthy. You do you.

Getting started and sticking with it!

So, this may be the week you are back at work, kids back at school and exercise is on the agenda! This week I am keeping the blog super simple and just giving you a list of my do’s and don’ts to keep you on track:

  1. Don’t go hell for leather in the first week – if you’ve taken a break or are new to exercise build up gradually, whether that is with the weights or with the distance you are running. This will prevent injuries (more on this in a previous blog here) as well as keeping you motivated and avoiding burnout.

2. Set a realistic goal for your first month – you can look back in 3 weeks and see just how far you’ve come! In addition, maybe a longer-term challenge will motivate you – a Spring 10k with a friend or building up to 3 classes/workouts a week come February?

3. Schedule in your workouts – there will be hundreds of post-Christmas jobs to do but if you get your workouts done early then you’ve already hit one target! And it is much more likely not to get pushed to the side as the day progresses.

4. Bored by your 2022 routine? Try something new this January! Step outside your comfort zone… (did you see last week’s blog?)

5. Remember if you are exercising again then you need to prioritise your nutrition – your body cannot function at its best on a poor diet. And the same goes for your sleep and recovery.

6. Remember your mental health – get outside for walks in January even if it’s a rainy, gloomy day, it really does make such a difference to be amongst nature for your mind every day.

7. Write it down! It’s a new year and you will feel committed – write down what you do each day and if you miss a session don’t feel guilty about it just start again tomorrow, all is NOT lost. Don’t put too much stress and pressure on yourself in the first few weeks of the year.

8. Don’t embark on a crazy diet this January or be drawn into a new fad – just eat normally and try to get as many nutritious, healthy meals prepared at home ready to go. You can also try the 7-day reset on my website with Lizzie Loves as part of my membership – soups, smoothies and delicious dinners to fuel your week.

9. Finally – please be kind to yourself! Don’t panic if you fall off the new year’s resolution wagon – whether it is fitness or nutrition there is always tomorrow. Life is busy and stressful and adding mountains of extra pressure to yourself isn’t going to help. Just keep doing your best to be consistent and the rewards and benefits will come.

10. Remember it is important to have support from others but don’t forget these are your goals, your fitness journey and not theirs so stay focussed on you and do what works for you – no need to compare yourself to others.

I have long since been an advocate of strength training, particularly for women, and with this in mind I built my platform – Caroline’s Circuits. My workouts are 4 times a week for just 30 minutes. They focus on strength-based circuits which work different muscle groups and challenge the body, keeping the heart rate moderate to high with passive or active rest – they give the perfect mix of strength and cardio for the best results.

The workouts are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (they are all recorded and available to you on demand within an hour of the session if you can’t make the live). Classes have been specifically designed to suit all fitness levels and create fitness habits which last & which produce results.

Intrigued to know more or have a go? Try a class for free here or read more about the platform here.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out a bit more about me check out my Instagram.

Caroline x

Try something new today!

Are you feeling out of rhythm with your exercise routine? Are you struggling to stay motivated doing the same set of exercises and the same class? Perhaps it’s time to change it up! Have you tried added strength training into the mix? And, no I am not talking about bulking up and becoming weight lifters, I’m talking getting fit, strong, toned and healthy. 

From boosting mood and metabolism to bolstering your body and mind, strength training has magic powers! Whether you choose bodyweight, free weights or resistance bands strength training benefits extend far beyond the body sculpt and tone.

So, before we get onto how to start strength training let’s go over the key benefits, just in case you weren’t convinced. The weights or bands add to the demand placed on your muscles when doing an exercise which forces them to adapt and grow and as this continues as you gradually increase the weight or number of reps over time. But outside of the muscular system this type of training also…

  • Increases bone density: post-menopausal women are at greater risk of osteoporosis due to the drop in oestrogen, weight training stimulates new bone growth to counteract this.
  • Aids weight management: when you train with weights you build lean muscle which increases your metabolism, burning more calories over the day post workout.
  • Boosts mood: strength training releases the endorphins helping relieve anxiety and stress and putting you in a great mood.
  • Reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes: strength training has been proven to aid cardiovascular health to help reduce the risk of heart related conditions.

Research has shown that 30 minutes three times per week is ideal for strength training and NHS guidelines state we should be doing strength sessions that work all muscle groups at least twice per week. Whilst strength training is definitely becoming more popular with women research suggests that many women do not meet the weekly guidelines- so it’s time to try something new! Let’s get strength training.

With the plethora of exercises, pieces of kit and programmes to choose from can be a bit daunting to know where to start. Here are my top tips on getting started with strength training:

  • Learn the basics: Get yourself a personal trainer, join a small class or an online live class which has plenty of instruction to get you started.
  • Warm up: Spend 3-5 minutes doing dynamic stretch and some aerobic work to warm your body up, raise your heart rate and prepare it for exercise. 
  • Start light: Start with bodyweight, light weights or a light resistance band and gradually build up over time as you get stronger. 
  • Form: Make sure you are doing exercises with correct form (this is where the PT or a mirror comes into play). This will help prevent injury and help you build strength in a safe way. 

I have long since been an advocate of strength training, particularly for women, and with this in mind I built my platform – Caroline’s Circuits. My workouts are 3 times a week for just 30 minutes. They focus on strength-based circuits which work different muscle groups and challenge the body, keeping the heart rate moderate to high with passive or active rest – they give the perfect mix of strength and cardio for the best results.

The workouts are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am (they are all recorded and available to you on demand within an hour of the session if you can’t make the live). Classes have been specifically designed to suit all fitness levels and create fitness habits which last & which produce results.

Intrigued to know more or have a go? Try a class for free here or read more about the platform here.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out a bit more about me check out my Instagram.

Caroline x

Short on time Christmas HIIT

Are you wondering where you will find the time this week to fit a workout into the Christmas shopping, turkey collecting, house decorating madness? Don’t panic – I have got you covered with a speedy 10 minute Christmas HIIT!

This is a great one as you don’t need any equipment and you can take it literally anywhere – even the garden (if you’re feeling brave) – minimal space needed! So, if you’re beginner level go for 10 reps of each, intermediate try 15 and if you’re really wanting to feel the burn go for 20!

7 exercises, 3 rounds – let me know how you get on! If you want any guidance on how to do the exercises, check out my Instagram post on it here.

  1. Squats – remember to keep the core engaged, chest proud and weight in the heels.
  2. Drop squats – strong core, strong legs and squeeze those glutes.
  3. Mountain climbers – don’t forget to engage with the arms and core to prevent the body swinging from side to side.
  4. Skaters – make sure you execute each rep fully and focus on that core and balance.
  5. Jacks – get the heart rate up!
  6. Forward lunges – drive through the front heel, keep the upper body upright and tall and keep that core engaged.
  7. Plank taps – focus on not letting your body move from side to side as you do these, lift through the quads and engage your core!

And for anyone who might have issues with knees or need to avoid high impact you can substitute the drop squats for low impact high knee marches on the spot and you can also take out the forward lunges & do plain squats (not too low) or step ups on a stair/step.

Let me know how you get on! Have a fabulous Christmas! 

If you’re looking for a regular, quick class to fit into your busy week? Here’s a little info about Caroline’s Circuits – I have long since been an advocate of strength training, particularly for women, and with this in mind I built my platform – Caroline’s Circuits. My workouts are 3 times a week for just 30 minutes. They focus on strength-based circuits which work different muscle groups and challenge the body, keeping the heart rate moderate to high with passive or active rest – they give the perfect mix of strength and cardio for the best results.

The workouts are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am (they are all recorded and available to you on demand within an hour of the session if you can’t make the live) and are available worldwide. Classes have been specifically designed to suit all fitness levels and create fitness habits which last & which produce results.

Intrigued to know more or have a go? Try a class for free here or read more about the platform here.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out more about me check out my Instagram or the website,

Caroline x

Lizzie Loves X Caroline’s Circuits Collab

This week I would love to introduce you to the fabulous Lizzie King AKA Lizzie Loves Healthy – Nutritional Health Coach, Author, Business owner and Mother of three. She creates food to keep us well and I love her take on nutrition for being easy and effective.

She founded Lizzie Loves Healthy, her mega successful blog, to make eating nutrient dense food as delicious as possible for families. In 2017 she published her best-selling cookbook, Lizzie Loves Healthy Family Food. She has spent the last 10 years working with hundreds of families and companies sharing her knowledge and passion for food and nutrition, by teaching classes, holding workshops and creating recipes.

In 2020, she launched Lizzie Loves Inc. – A range of award-winning natural remedies born of her desire to keep children’s health at the optimum at all times. When she couldn’t find what she wanted, she made them herself, for everyone to be able to use and to make your children stay well.

During January we will be collaborating to bring both of our subscribers some bonus treats to get through the dark days of January. So to kick things off this week I have a few of my top picks of Lizzie’s delicious recipes for you to try. I have picked some proper winter warmers to warm you from the inside out on these very chilly winter days. 

First up is her warming chorizo, lentil, butter bean and red pepper hot pot – perfect for a weeknight supper. 

Ingredients: 

  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 1 red pepper, sliced into 1 inch pieces
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • Chorizo, sliced on the diagonal in 1 inch thicknesses
  • 1 tin butter beans
  • 200g red lentils
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 500 ml chicken stock
  • Oil, salt and pepper.
  • Fresh parsley, stalks removed and chopped chillies and baguette to serve

Heat the oil in a large, heavy bottomed casserole dish, add the garlic, onion, carrot, red pepper and 1 tbsp of parsley stalks, on a low heat for 5 minutes until softened. Turn the heat up, add the chorizo and fry for a further 5 minutes. Add the red lentils with the butterbeans, and their water, tomato purée plus 500 ml stock, stir to combine and bring to the boil. Turn down to a gentle simmer, partly covered until lentils are cooked through, approx. 15-20 minutes, adding more water if needed. Serve with warmed baguette and butter, chilli and parsley as required.

Next I have chosen her smoky 3 bean chilli 

Such a comforting bowl that happens to have 9 of the magical fibre rich plants. Three beans for a dual protein and fibre addition which is so key in a velvety bed of slow roasted red peppers, carrots and onions with some warmth but not too much heat from the cumin and chipotle.

Serve it with some fluffy brown basmati rice, a dollop of yoghurt and fresh coriander. Make more than you need. This keeps in the fridge for up to a week and freezes really well too. And can be reimagined loaded with cheese as a filling for tortillas and wraps later in the week.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 large Red onion
  • 3 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 celery stick
  • 1 red pepper, de-seeded and diced into ½” pieces
  • 1 tsp sweet smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp chipotle paste
  • 3 tins plum tomatoes
  • 1 tin Red Kidney Beans (or 1 Cup dried, soaked for all the beans)
  • 1 tin Black Beans
  • 1 tin Pinto Beans
  • 200 ml chicken or vegetable stock
  • Few sprigs fresh coriander
  • Dollop of Coconut Yoghurt to garnish
  • Fresh red chilli for those in need

In a large cast-iron pan, heat the oil on a medium heat and sauté the onion and garlic for a couple of minutes before adding the rest of the chopped vegetables. Carrots, celery and pepper should be stirred in, and the paprika and chipotle paste added as well, stirring now and again, let them soften for 10 minutes.
Tip in the tomatoes and break them up a bit with the back of your wooden spoon, adding in the stock once you’ve swirled it round the tins to get the last of the juices out.
Turn the heat up to high and bring to the boil. Once it is all bubbling, turn the heat back down to low and let it simmer gently for 45 minutes. Add in all the rinsed beans, with the coriander stalks, and bring to the boil. Season with some sea salt and black pepper to taste and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes.
Add the tomato puree and another dash of stock if it is looking dry and continue bubbling for another 30 minutes, or until lentils and beans are soft. 

Spoon into bowls either as is, or on rice, with a blob of yoghurt and a scattering of torn coriander. 

Finally, I thought you would love Lizzie’s game pie with mustard crust – a real Sunday lunch favourite.

Pastry ingredients

  • 200g gluten free flour
  • 1 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 100 butter, cubed & cold
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • 3 tbsp water

Filling ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp of olive oil
  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 leek, thinly sliced
  • 2 carrots, diced
  • 2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 250g mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 small squash, peeled and in 2 cm cubes
  • 250ml chicken stock
  • 250ml red wine
  • 3 Tbsp corn flour
  • pinch salt
  • pinch pepper
  • 500g game, mixed or plain venison

Peel and dice the butternut squash into 2cm pieces, tip into a lined baking tray. Drizzle over some olive oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for 40 minutes at 180C. Add a slug of olive oil to a casserole dish on medium heat. Tip in the sliced onions, garlic, leeks, carrots, celery and heat for 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms and sauté, stirring for another 5 minutes. Place the game meat in a bowl with the corn flour, salt and pepper and toss with your hands to coat. Turn the heat up, and push the veg to one side. Add the meat to the casserole dish and sizzle for 3 – 5 minutes, to brown. Pour in the red wine and chicken stock. Turn heat down to low, put the lid on, and simmer for 30-60 minutes until meat feels tender to the fork. Tip in the roasted squash and stir together. Meanwhile make the pastry. Pour the flour, egg, salt, xanthan gum, mustard and cold butter into a food processor. Pulse carefully until a sandy texture. Then carefully drizzle in the water, with the motor running, until the mixture forms a ball. Wrap in cling film and place in the fridge for 30 minutes. Place the pastry between two sheets of cling film ( gf pastry can be fragile, ignore if using regular flour) and roll out evenly into required shape to top your dish. Place over the top of your casserole and pinch at the edges. Brush with some milk or egg yolk. With extra pastry you can make a deer/cookie cutter decoration on top. Bake in the oven at 170c for approx 30 minutes until a beautiful golden colour with some juices bubbling up at the edges.

Check out all of Lizzie’s fab recipes here and don’t forget to use code caroline20 if you are browsing her brilliant items in the shop! Happy cooking!

Caroline x

This is an ad for Lizzie Loves

Tips to stay motivated in party season

The festive period can be a challenging time for exercise and wellbeing but remember it is also a time of year when we can indulge a little and enjoy quality time with family and friends – life is all about balance after all! So ensure you get the rest you need, enjoy the festivities and here’s a few tips to ensure you keep on track with your fitness should you need them:

  1. Set small, specific, achievable goals which boost morale – now isn’t the time to take up running or train for a marathon! Commit to things you know you can achieve if you put your mind to it and plan ahead – maybe it’s a yoga class, a quick hiit session/ 3 short classes per week or getting out for a walk and some fresh air? Now that sounds much more achievable. A great idea is to go with a friend too…
  2. Stay hydrated! It will help with the digestion of the rich foods, as well as improving concentration, focus and performance. Drink that water!
  3. Vary your workouts – your normal routine is probably hard to follow this month so why not mix up your training too?! Try that new class, do the free trial and see what you think. We are much more likely to stick with an exercise routine that we enjoy. Keep your workouts short when you are pushed for time in the busy period and try to get them done first thing in the morning before the busy day begins..
  4. On that note, set an early alarm – it sounds mad, you’re probably out later than normal some nights but getting up early, getting out for a walk and seizing the day can massively help concentration and productivity and put you in the right mindset. A Christmas Day early walk is an amazing way to start the day!
  5. Don’t forget to prioritise your sleep this month! SO SO KEY. Not only will you feel more inclined to work out but you will also make better food choices, be more focussed, boost your immune system etc etc to keep you going through December!
  6. Remember finally it’s all about balance this month: try to keep your diet in check with vitamins and nutrients in your meals to replenish those energy stores! But also enjoy those festive treats!

So looking for a quick class to fit into your busy week? Here’s a little info about Caroline’s Circuits – I have long since been an advocate of strength training, particularly for women, and with this in mind I built my platform – Caroline’s Circuits. My workouts are 3 times a week for just 30 minutes. They focus on strength-based circuits which work different muscle groups and challenge the body, keeping the heart rate moderate to high with passive or active rest – they give the perfect mix of strength and cardio for the best results.

The workouts are Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9am (they are all recorded and available to you on demand within an hour of the session if you can’t make the live) and are available worldwide. Classes have been specifically designed to suit all fitness levels and create fitness habits which last & which produce results.

Intrigued to know more or have a go? Try a class for free here or read more about the platform here.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out more about me check out my Instagram or the website,

Caroline x

Exercise for Immunity

With cold and flu season firmly upon us and the drop in temperatures making it easier for viruses to spread, it’s time to think about what we can do to boost our immune systems. Top of the list would be good sleep habits, a nutritious diet, regular exercise and a couple of key high-quality supplements. Here is my go-to winter survival guide! 

Exercise

It is well known that exercise is good for us and there are endless health benefits to being active but did you know that exercise can also help to boost immunity? So how exactly does exercise benefit your immune system? 

Exercise helps increase the number of white blood cells that deal with infections and to circulate these cells more rapidly. Exercise helps to flush the bacteria out of lungs & airways – this may reduce your chance of getting a cold, flu or other illness by 40-50%. In addition the rise in body temperature during and after exercise may prevent bacteria from growing.

Persistent inflammation is linked to multiple illnesses and exercise helps to reduce inflammation (although this is most profound when also linked to weight loss). 

Exercise helps to mitigate the age-related decline in your immune system. 

Exercise slows down the release of stress hormones – it’s been shown that stress increases the chance of illness and lowers immunity.

So, what is the best exercise for immunity? Well, the answer is a mixture. Incorporating walking, running, cycling or swimming for cardiovascular benefits combined with some higher intensity workouts such as strength, weight training and HIIT to give you the biggest immunity boost. (And always remember that overtraining impairs immunity so get that balance just right!) Going outside for a walk in the sun for just 30 minutes can really boost our VItamin D levels too – Vit D can help decrease the risk of getting a virus, improving our immune cell production. 

Sleep 

Sleep provides essential support to the immune system & must be seen as a priority – without adequate, quality sleep our bodies suffer especially our immune system.  Getting enough hours of high-quality uninterrupted sleep gives us strong innate (our immediate response to infection) and adaptive (long-term adaptive response) immunity. Research has found that during our nightly sleep some components of our immune system wake up and do their work. In the same way that sleep helps to consolidate learning and memory, it does the same for immunity – sleep reinforces the immune system’s ability to remember how to recognise and react to pathogens (infections, viruses etc.). 

Improving sleep often starts by focusing on our habits, routines, sleeping environment, and even whether we have the best mattress. Collectively, this is known as sleep hygiene, and even straightforward steps, such as having a consistent sleep schedule and avoiding using your phone before and in bed, can make it easier to get a good night’s sleep. 

If you are looking for ways to enhance your sleep and help you boost your sleep quality, I always recommend Lizzie Loves’ amazing be Sleepy sachets as well as Be Well for immunity – you can grab yours here. Use the code caroline20.

Nutrition 

A well balanced, healthy diet is key to success here. You must fuel your body correctly to fight off the infections as well as giving it all the right tools to recover after your workouts! In the winter months especially, we need to make sure we are getting adequate fruit and vegetables to get our vitamins and minerals. If you are stuck for ideas Lizzie Loves has some amazing recipes – take a look here. Given the shorter days and lacking sunlight in the UK in the winter it is recommended to supplement your diet with Vitamin D through the winter months.

Supplements

Those of you who know me will know that I am a huge advocate of turmeric shots from The Turmeric Co. Do you know about the amazing benefits of taking turmeric? It boosts energy, flights infection, supports your immune system and is a powerful antioxidant not to mention it is rich in vitamins. I take two daily shots of Turmeric Vitamin C/D from The Turmeric Co. Use my code caroline10 to shop their range – the turmeric and ginger ones are my favourite!

If you are looking for ways to enhance your sleep and help you boost your sleep quality, I always recommend Lizzie Loves’ amazing be Sleepy sachets. In addition there are the Be Well Elderberry sachets for immunity, fantastic for children too  – you can grab yours here. Use the code caroline20.

Now a bit about Caroline’s Circuits – I have long since been an advocate of strength training, particularly for women, and with this in mind I built my platform – Caroline’s Circuits. My workouts are 4 times a week for just 30 minutes. They focus on strength-based circuits which work different muscle groups and challenge the body, keeping the heart rate moderate to high with passive or active rest – they give the perfect mix of strength and cardio for the best results.

The workouts are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday (they are all recorded and available to you on demand within an hour of the session if you can’t make the live) and are available worldwide. Classes have been specifically designed to suit all fitness levels and create fitness habits which last & which produce results.

Intrigued to know more or have a go? Try a class for free here or read more about the platform here.

If you have any questions please do get in touch.

For more workout ideas and to find out more about me check out my Instagram or the website,

Caroline x

This is an ad for The Turmeric Co.