Training » Fitness Tricks

Have you ever started a long run and thought, ‘I am never going to get through this!’ Or finished the first effort of a turbo session and wondered, ‘how can I do this over and over again?’ 

Ultimately, it can be really difficult to motivate oneself when the finish seems so distant and the effort to get there is so great. The good news, however, is that there is a way to ‘trick’ your mind into thinking that the end is near.

Micro-goal setting is something that I have been unknowingly implementing into my training for many years. The act of breaking up a workout into more manageable chunks really helps to alleviate the daunting prospect of having to work hard for a prolonged period of time. 

Below, I have detailed some examples of micro-goal setting that you can try out for yourself. You will be amazed by just how long you can keep your body moving when your mind has mini targets to hit.

Micro goals for a long run

Next time you are heading out for a 90 minute run, why not think about it as six 15 minute chunks that feel infinitely more doable. Or perhaps you might find that three 30 minute chunks is more approachable. The way you break down a run will depend on your personal preferences and the way your mind works.

Micro goals for a turbo session

Sitting on the turbo and repeatedly hitting the correct wattage for a specified period of time can be both physically and mentally challenging which is exacerbated when fatigue sets in. If your session entails nine 3 minute efforts, break the nine efforts up into three. Three lots of three 3 minute efforts certainly sounds more doable than nine 3 minute sets!

Making sure you have the right kit can also play a huge part in getting you through a difficult session. Try Sundried's Cycle Kit today, suitable for all abilities.

Micro goals for open water swimming

Plunging into open water is possibly one of the most daunting scenarios a triathlete faces but micro-goal setting can make things seem much easier. When swimming, concentrate on getting to the subsequent buoy in the loop and once there, focus on arriving at the next. 

 Micro goals for a race 

You can use this same strategy in a race too. After logging all those training hours and miles, you should have a good idea of your goal race time; use this information to break things up. For example, if you plan to run 40 minutes for 10k, then split it into four 10-minute chunks. 

It is amazing just how long you can ‘trick’ your mind into carrying on by focusing on the next mini goal. Remember to try out different approaches during training so that when it comes to race day, you know exactly what method works for you. 

Connect with the Sundried Personal Trainers on our app for more advice, workout tips, training plans and more. 

About the author: Laura Smith is a high level athlete and has been a Sundried ambassador since 2017.

Get your daily dose of movement with home workouts that require nothing but motivation to get them done. No matter what your goals or preferred method of exercise, we know that there is something for everyone.This guide also includes a general warm-up and cool-down that should be done before and after to any high intensity or strengthening workout, retrospectively.

All of the following workouts include adaptations, progressions, and regressions to suit all abilities.

Please note that this guide includes official names of exercises/moves. If you are struggling with what an exercise entails,then You-Tube have some great tutorials on how to execute them. Just type in the name of the exercise to find a demonstration.

Shop Sundried's home training accessories to take your workout to the next level.

10 minute pre-workout warm up

Do each exercise for 60 seconds.

1. March in place
2. Jumping jacks
3. Butt kicks
4. Mountain climbers
5. High kicks
6. Side to side squats
7. Alternating side lunge
8. Big arm circles
9. Hip circles
10. Shake it all out

10 minute post-workout cool down

Do each exercise for 60 seconds.

1. Alternate side toe touch
2. Glute stretch on each side
3. Quad stretch on each side
4. Side bend stretch on each side
5. Over-head triceps stretch on each side
6. Chest-cross arm swing

Workout 1: 10 minute Ab Blast

Depending on your level of fitness you can choose to do anything from 30 seconds per exercise with 30 seconds rest, to 50 seconds per exercise with 10 seconds rest.

Exercise	Regression	Progression
Plank	Push your bum up to the ceiling to create a V shape	Rocking plank
Side plank with one arm support	Balance on your knee rather than the side of your foot	Balance on one leg
Slow dead bugs using alternative arm to leg	Only extend 1 arm or leg at a time	Hold in extensions for 5 seconds
Slow bird/dog	Only extend 1 arm or leg at a time	Hold in extension for 5 seconds
Slow aleknas	Only extend both legs or both arms at one time	Hold in extension for 5 seconds
Slow bicycle crunch with both legs raised above the ground	Keep one leg on the floor	Hold in tucked position for 5 seconds
Slow leg raises	Bend the legs	Add in a hip lift at the top of the leg raise
Cross-body mountain climbers	Go onto your knees	Increase the speed
V-sit hold	Feet on the floor	Straighten legs and lean further back
Knee to elbow in high plank	Go onto your knees	Spider man push ups

Workout 2: 10 minute Glute Activation

Depending on your level of fitness you can choose to do anything from 30 seconds per exercise with 30 seconds rest to 50 seconds per exercise with 10 seconds rest.

Exercise	Regression	Progression
Squats with a single pulse at the bottom	Remove the pulse	Hold in a squat position and pulse
Alternate leg reverse lunge with a single pulse at the bottom	Remove the pulse	Hold in a reverse lunge position and pulse
Alternative leg side lunge with a single pulse at the bottom	Remove the pulse	Hold in a side lunge position and pulse
Alternate leg curtsy lunge into a side kick	Remove the side kick	Make it quick and springy
Pile squat with alternative heel raises	Remove the heel raises	Hold in position with heels raises
Alternate leg glute bridge marches	Glute bridge hold	Single leg for half the time and then swap to other leg
Side clams, half the time spent on each leg	Lie on your back and drop alternate knees out to the side	Add a band around your knees
Side lying leg raises keeping the working leg raised, half the time spent on each leg	Return to rest after each raise	Hold leg up and pulse
Donkey kickbacks, half the time spent on each leg	Alternate legs	Hold at the top of the kick and pulse
Fire hydrant, half the time spent on each leg	Alternate legs	Hold at the top of the movement and pulse

Workout 3: 20 minute HIIT Session

Complete each exercise for 35 seconds and take 12 seconds rest before moving onto the next movement. 

Repeat the entire sequence 4 x.

1. Drop lunge
2. Burpee crunch
3. Plank jack hop
4. Step to jump squat
5. Pop jacks
6. Triceps press back

Regression: Take 30-60 seconds additional rest in between sets if needed.

Progression: Increase working time, reduce resting time, or both!

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Workout 4: 45 minute Full Body Strengthening Session

Exercise	Sets	Reps/time	Adaptations
Squats	4	15x	Banded around the knee, weighted, single leg, eccentric, or jump
Press ups	4	10x	On feet or knees, weighted, narrow stance, eccentric, incline, decline, triangle, or single arm
Single leg RDL on each leg	4	15x	Weighted, eccentric, or raise the knee
Triceps dip	4	10x	Straight or bent legs, weighted, or eccentric
Bulgarian split squats on each leg	4	15x	Weighted, extended, or eccentric
Extended plank shoulder tap	4	10x	On feet or knees, wide or narrow stance, single leg
Glute bridge	4	15x	Banded, weighted, eccentric or single leg
Super man with arm extension	4	10x	Weighted

Workout 5: 30 minute Lower Body Strengthening Session

Exercise	Sets	Reps/time	Adaptations
Squats	4	15x	Banded around the knee, weighted, single leg, eccentric, or jump
Pulses in squat position	4	20x	Banded around the knees or weighted
Forward, side and reverse lunges on each leg	4	15x	Weighted, eccentric, or jump
Wall supported sit and hold	4	60s	Banded around the knees or weighted
Step ups on each leg	4	15x	Weighted, knee raised, or explosive
Single leg standing calf raises	4	20x	Weighted or unsupported

Workout 6: 30 minute Upper body Strengthening Session

Exercise	Sets	Reps/time	Adaptations
Press ups	4	15x	On feet or knees, Weighted, narrow stance, eccentric, incline, decline, triangle, or single arm
Inchworm	4	10x	On knees or feet
Triceps dip	4	15x	Straight or bent legs, weighted, or eccentric
Side triceps side push on each side	4	60s	Weighted, eccentric or single arm
Rocking plank	4	15x	Weighted, single arm, or single leg
Scapular wall reps	4	20x	Weighted

Workout 7: 30 minute Vinyasaa Yoga Sequence

Before you start this workout make sure you have a comfortable flat space to use. Use a yoga mat if you have one or just a softer floor. If you're looking to purchase a yoga mat, shop Sundried's eco-friendly offering here.

Starting Meditation (10 minutes)

In a seated position, close your eyes and fold the sides of your tongue inward for Sitali Pranayama (Cooling Breath). Inhale through your curled tongue like a straw. Close your mouth and exhale through your nose, creating a “ha” sound in the back of your throat. Concentrate on your breathing, and try to keep your mind clear of distractions. Repeat this cycle for several minutes.

Yoga Sequence

Pose	Time	Breaths
Seated cat-cow Pose	1 minute	8-10
Seated half-moon pose	1 minute	8-10
Seated spinal twist	1 minute	8-10
Seated forward with mudra	1 minute	8-10
Cat-cow pose	2 minutes	16-20
Downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasanna)	1 minute	8-10
Low lunge  (ajaneysanna)	1 minute each side	8-10
One-legged king pigeon pose (eka pada rejakapotasana)	1 minute each side	8-10 each side
Wild thing	1 minute each side	8-10 each side
Warrior II	1 minute each side	8-10 each side
Warrior II variation	1 minute each side	8-10 each side
Childs pose (balasana)	2 minutes	16-20
Bridge pose	1 minute	8-10

Concluding Meditation (5 minutes)

Extend both legs and lie comfortably on the floor, turning the palms open. Press the back of the head into the ground as you deeply inhale and focus on sinking into the group. On an exhalation, gently close your eyes and soften. Observe the breath as you absorb the benefits of this practice.

About the author: Laura Smith is an athlete who has been a Sundried ambassador since 2017.

Want more home workouts at your fingertips? Connect with Sundried's Personal Trainers on our app, for top tips, free workout plans and more.

If you dread your workout, chances are you're not going to do it. Slogging away on a treadmill for hours may be good for your body but it's not great for your mind. We've put together 5 awesome ways to get fit and burn calories without even realising it!

1. Gardening

Gardening is a great functional fitness workout as it will have you squatting down, stretching high, lifting your arms, and carrying heavy loads, all of which will challenge every muscle group in your body. A 140lb (10st) woman can expect to burn up to 300 calories from 1 hour of gardening!

This is a great way to keep fit as it is free, you don't have to leave the comfort of your home, and in the summer you will be exposed to revitalising vitamin D from the sunlight. Not only this, it's a great skill to develop and you will have a beautiful garden to show for your efforts!

2. Playing a musical instrument

It may not feel like it, but playing a musical instrument can be a very energetic activity. Especially instruments like the drums where you use your whole body to play, you can expect to burn between 100-300 calories in an hour!

Learning to play an instrument is an excellent skill to develop as it'll focus you mentally and this should help you in day-to-day life. Not only this, it can be very social as you can then join a band or orchestra to share your passion with others.

3. Playing with your children

It can sometimes feel difficult to exercise when you have kids as finding time can be almost impossible. Playing with your children by chasing after them in a park or playing football or another sport with them is an awesome way of getting fit yourself while also allowing your kids to expend all their pent up energy. Forget lifting weights, lifting your kids will give you a great workout without having to hit the gym!

Playing with your children gives you an opportunity to bond and you won't even notice how many calories you're burning. Another benefit is that you'll be helping your kids to get active from a young age which will really help them in the long run.

4. Walking the dog

If you have a furry friend or two, you can expect to burn up to 200 calories an hour by walking them. Depending on how energetic your dog is, you could even go jogging with them to help them exercise better. 

By having the company of your dog, you won't feel as self-conscious while out and about and knowing that you have to walk them will be all the motivation you need. 

5. Cleaning

Finally, spending time cleaning your house can be a great way of burning calories, toning up, and you'll have a beautiful sparkly house at the end of it! Just like with gardening, cleaning will act as a full body workout as you'll be squatting down to scrub low surfaces, reaching high, bending and twisting in all directions in order to clean. This will mean that all of your muscles are worked – even ones you may never have worked before!

The energy and excitement of making new year's resolutions and getting fit is well and truly burnt out and the gym is starting to empty out again. How can you stay motivated when all you want to do is melt into the sofa and eat? We're here to help. Follow these tips to boost your motivation when it feels like there's no hope.

1. Partner up

If you have someone to let down, you'll be less likely to flake. Having accountability means you have more of a reason to get to the gym and it will be more hassle to have to text your friend or personal trainer to say you're not going and then get an earful from then than to just go. Plus, you'll know that once you're there you'll have a great time because training with a buddy makes training more bearable. 

2. Get changed

How many times have you been sat on the sofa watching TV after work telling yourself "I'll go in a minute" or "I'll go when this show is finished" and then it never happens? By getting changed into your activewear you're getting the ball rolling and getting into the right frame of mind to work out. Once you're changed into your sportswear you're already halfway there and will be much more ready to get out there and go train. 

3. Take your gym gear to work

If you go to the gym straight from work, you won't have a chance to talk yourself out of it. If you pair this with point number 1 of partnering up and telling your friend you'll join them at the gym, you'll be well on your way to success. Get changed at work and go straight to the gym instead of going home first. It's much harder to gee yourself back up once you're home from work than if you continue the momentum from your day at the office. 

4. Have a workout to look forward to

There's nothing worse than finishing a monotonous day at work and thinking about now having to go and run on a treadmill for half an hour while staring at a wall. By planning out a fun and exciting workout, you'll actually want to go to the gym and do it. Try circuit training or functional training to mix things up and talk to a personal trainer if you'd like to try something new like Olympic weightlifting or CrossFit. If you're dreading the workout, getting motivated can be impossible. Whereas if you're actually looking forward to it, exercising can be a joy instead of a chore. If you enjoy something like Zumba, sign up for a class! Group exercise can be a great way to stay motivated too.

5. Use the 10 second rule

If you find yourself making terrible excuses like "it's raining" or "I'm too tired" then use the 10 second rule. It's very simple: count to 10 and then go anyway! This will eliminate your mind telling you that you can't do it and 9 times out of 10 you'll find that you actually enjoy the workout and will be pleased that you went.

Articles related to getting motivated:

The Benefits of Joining A Running Club

How To Exercise When You Have Kids

7 Ways To Make Winter Training More Bearable

If you're trying to lose weight or are training for a race or fitness event next year, Christmas can feel like a daunting time. Lots of indulgent food around the house, meals and drinks out with family and friends, and less time to train can all add up. We're here with our 5 top tips to help you stay on track and avoid over-indulging this festive season.

1. Tell your family and friends about your goals

One of the things that makes it so difficult to stick to being healthy at this time of year is pressure from family, friends, and social occasions. If everyone is eating, drinking and being merry, you don't want to be the party-pooper with your salad in a Tupperware container. 

Make sure you tell your family and friends about your intentions and your goals so that they can support you. They'll be more understanding and hopefully won't try to pressure you into eating more unhealthy food if you're open with them about what you're trying to achieve.

2. Make sure there's healthy food in the house

It can be all too tempting to eat cake for breakfast and graze on biscuits and sweets throughout the day if they are littering the house and there aren't any healthy options. 

Make sure you've still got normal, healthy food in your house so that you can eat proper meals and then enjoy the occasional treat as well. Trying to stick to a normal eating routine will be key to success and not falling into a food coma after lunch. 

3. Plan your meals ahead of time

Another reason why it's very tempting to eat the unhealthy food in the house is because it's quick and easily accessible. If you're stuck deciding what to have for dinner, chances are your family's suggestion of getting a takeaway will sound very appealing.

Make sure you plan your meals for the week ahead of time so that you know exactly what you're going to have and can make sure you have all the ingredients you need. There are plenty of healthy recipes that can be made quickly such as stir fry, grilled chicken, or wraps.

4. Stick to a training plan

Find a professionally-written training plan that fits around your schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. Instead of making it up as you go and training ad-hoc, sticking to a proper training plan will make sure your training makes sense and that you don't over- or under-train. 

However, it's also important to make sure your plans are flexible. If a friend invites you out but you have a long run planned for that day, try to compromise and arrange with your friend for another day. Referring back to point number 1, if you've already told your family and friends about your goals, they should understand and support you. 

5. Don't be overly restrictive

It's almost impossible to sit at a table with a salad while everyone else eats delicious festive food. Allow yourself to have fun and enjoy yourself as that is the spirit of the season. If you've eaten a wholesome breakfast and healthy lunch, eating something a little less nutritious but a whole lot more tasty at dinner time shouldn't be too much of a problem. It's only when you're eating unhealthy snacks all day long as well as huge carb-rich meals that things go wrong this time of year.