Wait, fitness advice from the overfed guys of Top Gear PH? No, you didn't accidentally end up on the wrong website. And yes, we're about to blow your mind with a top-secret workout that'll give you the six-pack you've always wanted.
Ha. Right. Okay, so we're not exactly gym gurus, but we do know that driving for long distances can really take it out of you. That's why Formula 1 drivers stay in tip-top shape all season long. But the same goes if you spend hours stuck in traffic as well. So we've enlisted the help of a real expert to help us be better prepared for our bouts behind the wheel.
Eric Verdolaga is a fitness consultant at Anytime Fitness White Plains. He explains that driving, even if it's a seated activity, still requires your muscles to work.
"First up is our chest and arms," Verdolaga says. "With our hands on the wheel, our chest and arms both contract to make sure that our hands stay in place. Second is our back and core. Despite being seated while driving, we still have to work on these muscles in order to avoid slouching."
This kind of fatigue doubles when you drive a manual transmission. "Last but most certainly not least, are our legs which experience the most abuse. By having to change gears constantly (even if it's just between the first and second gears), our legs are certainly bound to get tired at some point."
To help you last longer in traffic, Verdolaga recommends getting yourself fit for the task (well, of course). The following is a simple but thorough workout that you can try (if you want to visualize the exercises, YouTube has a lot of examples). Do each exercise for 30 seconds for as many repetitions as you can, resting for 20 seconds after each one. Repeat each cycle thrice before moving on. Rest for one minute between each cycle.
A.
1) Burpees
2) Walking lunges
3) Leg raises
B.
1) Push-ups
2) Jump squats
3) Glute bridge (Hold for 30 seconds)
C.
1) Moving planks
2) Mountain climbers
3) Side plank (30 seconds per side)
Verdolaga recommends doing the workout three or four times a week. "By working out regularly, we make it easier for our blood to get where it needs to be. And by doing so, being stuck in traffic doesn't have to be as hard on your legs as it normally is," he advises.
No more excuses to skip the gym, then. Get to work.
