High-intensity interval training, or HIIT, is a fitness strategy that helps to maximise performance with short training sessions. Alternating fast bursts of intense exercise with slower recovery periods, it is a great way to burn calories and improve your fitness, especially when you don’t have much time to exercise.

Sometimes it can seem hard to fit in enough exercise when your job keeps you cooped up in the office all day. Making an effort to be active wherever you can is a good start to improving your health and fitness, making you feel fresher and brighter as well as supporting your weight loss goals.

Try some of these simple steps to a more active lifestyle…

We live in a society that stresses healthy foods and values perfectly shaped bodies. It is a trend that has many health enthusiasts watching their diet, and forces them to work out at home or at the gym every chance they get.

Swiss balls are large, durable, inflatable balls with a diameter of 35 to 85 cm (14 to 34 inches). They are usually constructed of elastic, soft PVC and known under a variety of names, such as exercise ball, gym ball, therapy ball, Pilate's ball, sports, fit or fitness ball, stability ball, yoga ball, balance or body ball, and birth ball.

Swiss balls originated in Switzerland where, as early as the 1960’s, physical therapists used the oversized toys to assist with rehabilitation. Because of their effectiveness, the idea took off and Swiss balls are now used all over the world for a number of therapies, as well as other weight loss exercises.

Core exercises should be a part of any well-rounded fitness program, and not be restricted to a few occasional sit-ups and push-ups. It pays to work those core muscles around your trunk and pelvis, and improve balance and stability.

Using a fitness or balance ball to strengthen your core muscles helps to work even your deepest muscles. Further advantages of using a gym ball for core exercises include:

As creatures of habit, we humans live by routine. Muscles become very efficient at reducing the work output and adjust and acclimatise. We want to make sure we get the most of our work out and squeeze as much as possible out of it. Importantly, our brain seeks stimulation, and often the same workout routine day in and day out can become strenuous and boring and in need of a good old shake up.

Exercising but not losing weight? Do not despair.

For all of those who have hit a plateau in their weight loss, do not despair.  Professionals in Australian health promotion have found that overweight individuals that exercise regularly have greatly improved health prospects weather they are losing weight or not.