Whether it's lusting over that toned stomach after another round of crunches, losing some weight just in time for your holiday, or building up leg muscle for that marathon you signed yourself up for in moment of spontaneity, we all have something we want to improve about our body. There are a number of hurdles along the way, however these should be embraced rather than shied away from. From "I'm too busy" to "I'm too tired after work", it's time to stop hiding behind the excuses.
The word ‘fitness' itself can be off-putting to some. It's most commonly heard in reference to ‘fitness testing' or people claiming ‘I'm so unfit', and yes this is true, but it's not the true definition of fitness. A mistake people make is thinking fitness is just about how far you can run without getting tired, but it's not. More importantly than that, it's about being in good health and physical condition, which results from regular exercise and good nutrition.
Recent studies from the Department of Health shows that less than 5% of adults participate in the recommended 30 minutes of physical activity each day and only one in three adults receive the recommended amount of physical activity each week.
Having teams of elite athletes and experienced personal trainers serious about fitness, Livefit wants to be a part of your journey towards the transformed and improved you.
Understanding that everyone trains to achieve their own unique goal from yoga to bum lifts, cardiovascular training to weight lifting, or rehabilitation to sports massages, you choose the personal trainer best suited to you and your needs.
A personal trainer helps suit individual needs and pushes you to your limits, helping you find the right balance between exercise and nutrition, as well as incorporating it into your existing lifestyle (see, there's no excuses). With the personal trainers doing the exercise and nutrition planning for you, the rest is up to you. If you stick to your end of the deal and put in the hard work, the dream body and level of fitness you've always wanted is well within reach.
Want to turn that fat into muscle giving you a body that even Cristiano Ronaldo would be jealous of? Here are a few starting tips to lose some of that extra baggage you're carrying:
- Avoid skipping breakfast. One of the most common misconceptions is that the quickest way to lose weight is by not eating. Wrong. Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day and missing meals means we lose out on nutrients our bodies need, particular in the morning when we need to kick-start our day. Research from the NHS shows that eating breakfast actually helps control your weight and lessens the temptation of snacking throughout the day. If you do feel the need to snack, swap crisps and chocolates for nuts and raisins. Packed full of protein, they will keep you fuller for longer.
- Be active. This doesn't necessarily mean running two miles every day if that's not for you, but the key to losing weight is to keep it off. Find thirty minutes every day, whether you're in the gym or not, to do something you enjoy to get your heart pumping. There are various forms of exercises to keep it interesting, whether it's jogging, swimming, riding a bike, lifting weights or even having a kick around in the park with your friends.
- Eat right and eat regularly. This means getting your five-a-day in. Fruit and veg contain plenty of fibre and are low in fat - key factors to losing weight. Other recommended foods high in fibre are oats, brown pasta and rice, wholegrain bread, lentils and beans. White meats rather than red meats help burn fat and convert into muscle, so lay off the steaks and eat more fish and chicken. Eat five smaller meals throughout the day rather than your conventional three big meals to see how much of a difference this makes. The key to doing this is by being organised and planning your meals each week. It will take a bit more time but it's worth it.
- Less alcohol, more water. We all love a glass of wine or a pint of beer, but just one glass is the equivalent to a pack of crisps that you've worked so hard to avoid eating, so don't spoil it now! You might not notice it right away, but just like fatty foods, over time alcohol will catch up with you. You should be aiming to drink at least six glasses of water a day. Not only will you and your body feel better for it, you will always see a different in your training and an improvement in your skin too.
- Get a good amount of rest. You might not think this is important, but the amount of sleep you get each night affects a lot more than just the bags under your eyes. It is important that you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep, as studies show a lack of sleep leads to binge eating and a fatigued body through the day, meaning less chance of exercising and more chance of gaining weight.
All this information might seem a bit overwhelming for now, but if you're serious about exercising and living a healthy lifestyle, luckily for you the process to get started couldn't be easier with the abundance of personal trainers willing to be with you every step of the way.
From the very first day, there's no middle-man involved. You'll deal directly with your personal trainer and continue to build a relationship with them throughout the journey. Livefit firmly believe "having a good relationship with your trainer is vital" in building success towards your fitness goal.
The most important thing for you to remember is-what you put in is what you get out!
