Shedtember

If you’ve over-indulged this summer (we’ve owned up – so should you!), then we have just the thing!  This September will see the launch of annual fundraiser Shedtember – a fun and motivational way to shed the pounds whilst raising money for charity.

Shedtember is encouraging everyone to get involved in a community effort to raise awareness about the importance of weight management and healthy living. Figures from recent reports showed the UK to be battling with an obesity epidemic and that it had become ‘the “fat man” of Europe’.

In a bid to tackle this, Shedtember is challenging you to 30 days of fitness to kick-start a healthy lifestyle for the long-term! Founder of Shedtember, Dr Gerry Jayamanne, says ‘We want to offer people a sense of community created by joining Shedtember, which will motivate them to lose weight, get fit and raise money for charity.’

The money raised from your efforts will go towards Diabetes UK and the Daniel Williams Foundation to highlight the wider issues of diabetes and increase the medical support that is needed to support with it.

Getting involved is simple: sign up online to become a Shedtember member where you can record your progress, spread the word to get sponsored or others involved too, and then get started! But remember – there is no minimum or specific weight loss requirement. It’s all in the name of staying fit and healthy!

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some tips and ideas:

1. Check your diet!
Obesity is partly caused by exceeding your daily calorie intake so if you manage to stay in control of your diet, you’re halfway there. The daily calorie allowance for women is 2,000kcal, so try to keep within this limit or reduce it slightly depending on how much you’re exceeding it by. An option is to swap foods for low-cal options but be careful – consuming less than 1,200 cals per day is neither healthy nor safe. The NHS offer a fantastic, easy-to-follow and safe 12-week weight-loss plan online, which is free to download.

2. Up your cardio
Whether you’d like to lose weight or get lean, cardio is your answer. Classes that keep your heart pumping consistently – like Zumba and Dance – burn fat! Check out your local gym for class times and prices. PureGym – which have branches across London – are one of the most affordable chains and offer great Zumba classes for beginners. They also have a ‘Fast Fat Burn’ class at selected branches. A perfect option! Also check out www.zumba.com/en-US for Zumba classes near you, from just £5 per class.

3. Find a free class near you
If you didn’t know this already, Sweaty Betty holds a range of free fitness classes around London, including yoga, circuit training and many more. All you need to do is book online, and join the club at the selected branch!

Join in the the fun this Shedtember and don’t forget to spread the word! Go get ’em!