10 Golden Rules for a Fitter and Healthier You
If you could choose just one tip for good health and fitness what would it be? Maybe you would advise people to walk everywhere instead of taking the car. Maybe you would suggest an item of kit that has made all the difference to you performance. Or would you come up with a great mental strategy that has really worked for you?
Here are 10 golden rules for health and fitness success from 10 sports professionals and experts.
1) Walk whenever you can. Whether it's to and from the train station, taking the stairs rather than the lift or going to the shops, I always try to take the walking option.
Michael Matheson MSP, also a keen sportsman and mountaineer
2) I only use the car when absolutely necessary. I go on foot or by bike as often as practical and it keeps me fit -while at the same time helping the environment.
Angela Mudge, Everest marathon record breaker and champion hill runner
3) Sleep and nutrition. I guess that's two rules but they both add up to improve your training and fitness.
Lornah Kiplagat, World champion runner
4) The golden rule is attitude. If your head is in a good place everything else will follow. Your diet will be better as temptation will be less and your exercise programme will be better as you'll tend to be more committed.
Ali Campbell, celebrity lifestyle coach
5) It's really easy to waste all the effort of fitness training by not eating and drinking properly after training. My golden rule is to always consume carbs and protein within 30 minutes of finishing intense exercise.
John Hibbard, a British champion windsurfer
6) If I have one rule it's self-discipline. When I was walking the Munros I learnt a lot about self-discipline. For example, I always tried to eat a meal at night however tired I was or however hard it felt. Now every day I always try to get up early and go for a run and then eat a good breakfast at a leisurely pace.
Lorraine McCall, the first woman to complete a self-propelled continuous solo round of all of Scotland's 284 Munros
7) My rule is to ditch the car and cycle instead. I save money and stay fit.
Tracey Brindley, former World mountain running champion
8) I always eat the five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables. It is easy to do and makes you feel both mentally and physically better.
Catherine Hankey, senior lecturer in human nutrition, University of Glasgow
9) Get the right footwear. Make sure your shoes or trainers are light and have them fitted professionally. Once you have the right shoes you can focus on the running or walking and not on the foot pain.
Wayne Edy, creator of off-road running shoe company Inov-8
10) My golden rule of fitness is to keep things fresh and varied. The most motivating - and physically effective - exercise programme is one that is full of variety.
Carolyn Murray, personal trainer
Here are 10 golden rules for health and fitness success from 10 sports professionals and experts.
1) Walk whenever you can. Whether it's to and from the train station, taking the stairs rather than the lift or going to the shops, I always try to take the walking option.
Michael Matheson MSP, also a keen sportsman and mountaineer
2) I only use the car when absolutely necessary. I go on foot or by bike as often as practical and it keeps me fit -while at the same time helping the environment.
Angela Mudge, Everest marathon record breaker and champion hill runner
3) Sleep and nutrition. I guess that's two rules but they both add up to improve your training and fitness.
Lornah Kiplagat, World champion runner
4) The golden rule is attitude. If your head is in a good place everything else will follow. Your diet will be better as temptation will be less and your exercise programme will be better as you'll tend to be more committed.
Ali Campbell, celebrity lifestyle coach
5) It's really easy to waste all the effort of fitness training by not eating and drinking properly after training. My golden rule is to always consume carbs and protein within 30 minutes of finishing intense exercise.
John Hibbard, a British champion windsurfer
6) If I have one rule it's self-discipline. When I was walking the Munros I learnt a lot about self-discipline. For example, I always tried to eat a meal at night however tired I was or however hard it felt. Now every day I always try to get up early and go for a run and then eat a good breakfast at a leisurely pace.
Lorraine McCall, the first woman to complete a self-propelled continuous solo round of all of Scotland's 284 Munros
7) My rule is to ditch the car and cycle instead. I save money and stay fit.
Tracey Brindley, former World mountain running champion
8) I always eat the five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables. It is easy to do and makes you feel both mentally and physically better.
Catherine Hankey, senior lecturer in human nutrition, University of Glasgow
9) Get the right footwear. Make sure your shoes or trainers are light and have them fitted professionally. Once you have the right shoes you can focus on the running or walking and not on the foot pain.
Wayne Edy, creator of off-road running shoe company Inov-8
10) My golden rule of fitness is to keep things fresh and varied. The most motivating - and physically effective - exercise programme is one that is full of variety.
Carolyn Murray, personal trainer
