Despite increased time at home, lockdown has seen a significant increase in the number of Brits exercising regularly. Since the start of restrictions, people have changed their attitudes towards fitness and view it more as a lifestyle rather than a temporary weight loss fix.
Fitness equipment specialists BLK BOX conducted research into the reasons that people have been transforming their lives through exercise.
Their findings revealed that more than half of Brits (64%) use exercise as a way of relieving stress. Meanwhile, 38% of respondents admitted that they exercise solely for the health benefits, while 22% were training for a specific event.
Organised sporting events and marathons were put on hold for many, but popular expeditions included climbing Ben Nevis, 24-hour bike rides and virtual races from one end of the country to the other.
With the closure of gyms and leisure centres, more people have been turning to online workouts and the great outdoors to keep fit, with 48% of Brits revealing that working out at home has helped them to build a better daily routine.
The top 5 at-home workouts were revealed to be:
HIIT sessions
Yoga
Jogging in the park
Bodyweight training
Dance workouts
These findings highlight just how important exercise has been to people during lockdown. It’s clear that, while everyone has had different reasons for working out, the nation has become more active as a result.
However, a small number of Brits (8%) confessed that lockdown has meant they’ve been exercising less. While the first half of lockdown had many people trying out new routines during furlough, returning to work has forced them to press pause on working out.
BLK BOX Marketing Manager Catherine McLaughlin commented: “We’re thrilled to see that so many people have turned to exercise to help them through these difficult times. Working out really can have an amazing impact on both your mental and physical wellbeing, but it’s only natural for some of us to struggle with new routines.
McLaughlin continued: “Don’t make it a battle. If you’re forcing yourself to stick to a rigid schedule that you don’t enjoy, you won’t want to show up and put the time in. This has been a really stressful period for all of us, so be kind to yourself and have fun.”
It turns out that some parts of the country have been more active than others, with Liverpool taking the lead as the most fitness-focused place in the UK. Followed closely by Manchester and London, BLK BOX’s research reveals the top 10 most exercised crazed cities:
Liverpool
Manchester
London
Cardiff
Newcastle
Bristol
Birmingham
Glasgow
Leeds
Reading
As one of the UK’s leading fitness equipment manufacturers, BLK BOX is committed to supplying Brits with quality products to help them achieve their fitness goals. See what they have to offer on their website: www.blkboxfitness.com
