Happy Valentine’s Day – As we hit Valentine’s Day this week our headline message is Love Yourself Healthy.
So, we have quizzed two of our voluntary gym instructors on their favourite exercises, food and general workout tips to give you some ideas on just how to Love Yourself Healthy and we will be sharing them over the next six weeks.
First up – meet our voluntary gym instructor Richard Metham, age 36, from Millhouse Green.
He has two daughters aged six and two and has been an instructor since he was 21, when he started at a gym in Sheffield.
He began using Penistone Leisure Centre as it gave him chance to work out away from his working environment as an instructor in other gyms and he’s used it ever since it reopened. He currently works as assistant manager for Penistone Grammar School leisure centre
Richard became an instructor as he likes to do things with the local community. His children have also reaped the benefits of the leisure centre with Swegway and skating sessions, so he likes to put something back. Outside of the gym, Richard keeps fit by walking his dog and his two children keep him busy ‘none stop’ now he has given up his regular 6-a-side football.
Richard said: “I like to change my routines. I work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday and I like to make each workout different. Variety is a key factor, changing things every so often, moving through different exercises for different muscle groups. You might concentrate on three or four for a number of months, but changing makes it more interesting and keeps you motivated.
“I like to say, ‘go heavy or go home’ when I’m working out. It’s not about the number of times you do something, it’s about the quality of your work out.”
So what does Richard like to do in his workout?
BICEP CURL
“It is just a favourite of mine. It’s a concentrated exercise. It gets muscles working. It works on a smaller muscle group. It gives you a get go. It’s one I always start on. The reason I start on it is an isolated exercise, but it hits major muscles. Then I move on to a larger muscle group, like the chest press or a back exercise. I like to start and finish on an arm exercise.”
For an alternative or complementary exercise to the bicep curl, try a tricep extension.
TOP TIP – “Steady progression and work at your own pace. If something starts to feel easy don’t ‘cheat it’ put the weights up or results will slow down,” said Richard.
Let the leisure centre help you Love Yourself Healthy. Join our gym with weights and cardio rooms – £2 day pass, £5 week pass, £17.50 month pass. No contract, simply take an induction (followed by your first session for free) to be able to use the gym whenever it’s open – click for opening times.