Getting fit for Mardi Gras starts now
Image: Heather #1 trains with Michael Cunico
WITH just six weeks until Mardi Gras some people’s preparations have been underway for months, but for others they are just starting and personal trainer Michael Cunico has said there is no time to lose.
Cunico, who is Fitness First’s national personal training manager, has written a program to help get people started and recently spoke to the Star Observer about his program’s design.
He suggested it could be as intense or light as each person wanted to make it.
“The particular program we have put together for Mardi Gras is a full body program and activates all the muscles and it can wipe someone out if they want to go down that path,” he explained, also touching on the mental benefits that feeling healthy could bring.
“It can give you confidence in other parts of your life.
“Let’s not hide away from it, most people would look better with their clothes off so if we can do that and kill a couple of other birds with the same stone, then let’s do it.”
The personal training boss also warned about leaving preparations too late and urged those wanting to get fit to not leave it much longer.
“If you leave it until two weeks out, that probably is a bit late as your body likes to adapt and this program is designed to build muscle strength over time,” he said.
The program Cunico penned for Mardi Gras preparations is a total-body program, including legs – and he said this was more of a reason to start now.
“Most people that work their legs know that it can be hard to move for the next few days, so it is important to get the strengthening campaign started now,” he said.
Showing his sense of humour towards those that focus only on upper-body exercises, Cunico joked: “the dead giveaway are blokes that wear track suit pants in the middle of summer.”
“In all seriousness, from a physiological point of view failure to train your legs will hamper your result for the rest of your body, including hampering the hormonal response you have to training,” he added.
“But you don’t want to be shooting a cannon ball from a tug boat, so you need to train your legs.”
READ MORE: Michael Cunico’s full program can be found in the health and well-being section or you can download the 2014 Exercise Tips for Mardi Gras.
Fitness First is the major sponsor of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and the Star Observer is also a proud media partner of the festival.
