By: Natasha Archary
If you can afford a personal trainer, you will have a guided approach to your training and diet.
A professional trainer will guide you with a customized meal plan and workout routine.
The journey to fitness does not happen overnight and it takes a quiet determination, proper meal planning and a solid workout plan to meet your goals.
Should you not have the means to book a one-on-one session with a personal trainer, we have you covered.
We reached out to Ryan Naidoo, a personal trainer at Virgin Active Glenvista who shared 7 tips to help you reach your fitness goals.
Photo by Oluremi Adebayo from Pexels[/caption]
Don’t starve yourself
Skipping meals or restricting yourself from eating will not help you achieve your fitness goals. Starving yourself depletes your body’s reserves of nutrients and puts your body in distress.
Don’t drink or smoke
It’s more difficult to get through a workout when you’re putting additional strain on your organs to filter out harmful toxins from alcohol and smoking.
Do not drink your calories
Fizzy drinks and sugary juices add unnecessary and unhealthy calories into your daily allowed calorie intake. In order to lose or gain lean muscle you need to eat calories in deficit.
Hydrate on water or green tea throughout the day. Depending on your body goals, aim to drink between 2 and 4 liters of water a day. Carry a water bottle everywhere.
Read: 4 free fitness apps that push you to reach your goals
Eat fist-size portions of your macronutrients in each meal
Macronutrients are a combination of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. You need a combination of all three if you want to meet your body goals.
Complex carbohydrates like brown rice, sweet potatoes break down gradually to keep you fuller for longer. Avoid refined carbs, sugar and processed or baked goods.
Get sufficient sleep
Make sure you sleep well. Between 6 to 8 hours a night. Your muscles need to recover after each training session. A lack of sleep equates to a lack of progress in your overall fitness.
Focus on your weaknesses first
Start with the exercises that you dread, then move onto the routines you love and are good at. As your energy levels deplete during a workout, you may become demotivated to continue with the harder reps. Start strong and keep your motivation up until you’re done.
It’s a lifestyle choice not a sacrifice
If this was easy, everyone would have their dream body. Being fit and healthy is a lifestyle choice not a sacrifice. Making it a lifestyle means you remain motivated well after your goals are reached. You set new goals. Reach them. Maintain. Rinse and repeat.
Also read: Expert advice – 6 fitness myths busted
