Training Tips
DON'T SWITCH OFF DURING THE OFF-SEASON
At the start of every season most hockey players struggle with the extra few kilos of Christmas pudding they're carrying around and the difficulty of surviving for even 15 minutes on the field when fitness training is a distant memory. If you would rather commence the season with comments on how good a shape you're in ... don't switch off during the off-season!!
The off-season is the best period of the hockey calendar to lose excess body fat, gain some muscle tone and optimise your fitness, without impairing other crucial hockey attributes that need to be focussed on during the season such as speed, agility and power.
So here are a few simple tips to help you get into shape this Summer;
1. Find another active sport to participate in over Summer (e.g. touch football, athletics, triathlon, rowing or swimming).
2. Include 20-40 minutes fitness session in your schedule at least every second day. Ensure you choose a variety of enjoyable exercises e.g. jogging, swimming, cycling, rollerblading, skipping, aerobics or boxercise.
3. Commence a resistance training program specifically designed by a Personal Trainer to achieve your individual goals and fit in with your lifestyle. If you already have such a prgame make sure you ask your exercise expert to adapt your program to enable you to achieve the specific results that you want over the off-season. Resistance training programs can be done in the gym or in the comfort of your own home. They are highly effective in speeding up your metabolic rate, assisting weight gain/loss, providing muscle tone, reducing postural pain, preventing injuries and improving speed and power.
4. Be careful of excess alcohol consumption over the 'silly season'. 2 creamy cocktails contain as many kilojoules as 3 Big Macs. Likewise, consuming 10 stubbies is equivalent to eating 14 slices of meatlovers pizza or 21 medium thickshakes!
5. Indulge in the delectable delights of Christmas but exercise self-disipline by serving yourself only small portings of these special treat. On days when you have a special function make sure that you do an exercise session that morning and eat extra healthily for the rest of the day.
I wish you all a very enjoyable and healthy Christmas! Please feel free to contact me anytime. I would love to help you to achieve your hockey and health goals.
Leanne Hammond
Personal Trainer and Accredited Practising Dietitian
leanne@completeperformancesolutions.com
0402 076 311
