How January goal setting can hinder your progress

Hi everyone and a Happy New Year to you all!!

So here we are in early January and I expect many of you have already decided to adopt a healthier lifestyle and lose the extra lbs that have crept on over Xmas.

The first thing that we must all remember is that it is perfectly normal to gain a pound or two over the festive period; even if we keep over-indulgence to a minimum.

From my experience in the gym this is the time of year when a lot of people decide to make the necessary changes to their lifestyle and it normally begins like this:

"I'm going to go the gym 5 times a week"
For some people who have just lapsed over Xmas it is perfectly achievable to visit the gym 5 times a week. But these are the members that follow a structured work out split already and probably have a personal trainer once or twice a week.

If you are new to the gym, set yourself a realistic goal e.g. "I am going to make sure I go to the gym at least twice a week". This will encourage a sense of achievement and you will be much more likely to continue working out regularly.

 "I am going to eat 'clean' from now on"
 It is a popular choice for many people nowadays to 'eat clean'. The first pitfall with this option is that it can be interpreted in many ways. More often than not it will mean the elimination of a certain food that may be considered 'unhealthy'. A popular choice would be to cut out caffeine, sugar, wheat, alcohol etc etc etc.

My advice would be to adopt a more flexible way of eating. Consume a diet at least 80% rich in whole foods and the remainder can be reserved for the odd treat that everyday life will inevitably throw at you. Everything in moderation is a more realistic goal.

"I will lose a stone before the end of January"
Unfortunately there is no quick fix for weight loss. In fact it has been proven that if you lose weight quickly, not only will you put it back on, you will gain more than you set out to lose in the first place!


In order to lose 1lb per week we need a deficit of 500 calories per day. This can be done in many different ways e.g. 250 calories worth of extra exercise a day and 250 calories less consumed to name one. Using this method will ensure permanent weight loss and your goals will be realised.

By taking these points into consideration you will ensure that 2016 becomes a very successful year as far as health and fitness is concerned.

I would like to wish you all the very best for the year ahead and if you need any advice or assistance just message me. I am here to help every one of you!

Maximise your Christmas calories!

In the next couple of weeks there will begin a string of events that none of us will be able to control..... and that will be the onslaught of Christmas celebrations. Lunch engagements, parties, Christmas drinks and family get togethers in abundance!

For some, this can be a scarey time as the inevitability of weight gain seems unavoidable. So we have a couple of choices to make:

1. Stay at home and don't accept a single invitation

or

2. Go out and have a good time, be mindful and use the extra calories to your advantage.

I know which one I will be choosing and of course it has to be number 2.

Those of you who have a few years experience training in a gym are well aware that to build muscle there needs to be a caloric surplus; and this is where it all comes together. (To the beginners out there you can refer to my earlier post on 'Bulking' if you need more information on this subject).

The key things to remember and put into action are:

1. Keep up your training during the festive season and if you are not already in a hypertrophy (muscle building) phase start now.

2. If you know that you are out for a big carb rich meal use this to your advantage by performing your workout beforehand. A good leg workout in the 12-15 rep range would be a great way to use these extra calories to your advantage.

3. Use cardio wisely and limit it slightly; this way when you eventually begin the fat loss phase it can be introduced again to accelerate results and reveal the newly built muscle.

4. Be mindful when you do have a meal out. Drink plenty of water inbetween the alcohol to keep feeling hydrated and to prevent over eating.

5. Don't go to an event feeling overly hungry. Make sure that you have had a snack a couple of hours before so you don't eat too much at the meal.

By following these 5 tips you can relax and enjoy this time of year and even come out the other end with some good results. You can then ensure that it really will be a Happy New Year!

Age Defying Fitness: Be the best version of yourself!

Age Defying Fitness: Be the best version of yourself!: This week I am going to talk about realistic goals. The picture featured in this blog is of a client of mine who I trained for over 2 years....

Be the best version of yourself!

This week I am going to talk about realistic goals. The picture featured in this blog is of a client of mine who I trained for over 2 years. She made incredible progress but it didn't happen overnight - in the picture there is at least 18 months between the first and last images.

First of all Lu lost some weight (pictures 1 and 2) and then we began to build some muscle to make her look toned and tight (picture 3). The change in her physique is phenomenal and she worked extremely hard by training with me and using the macro nutrient breakdown I calculated specifically for her goals. So often we look at images of fitness models on facebook, instagram etc and aspire to become like them. This can only set us up for disappointment, as apart from the genetically gifted being few and far between, the images will invariably be adjusted by filters and other tools that are widely available online.


We are all very different and are all guilty of focusing on our bad bits. However, when we really put our minds to it the results we can achieve are incredible. Be consistent and don't try any quick fixes. Next time you look in the mirror focus on the positives, take pictures at the beginning of your fitness/weight loss journey and document the changes throughout. This is not a temporary change it is a lifestyle to be embraced and enjoyed!

If you are interested in achieving a toned and healthy physique, email me at faieeza_lucas@hotmail.com for more information on online coaching/personal training.

See you soon!

The importance of pushing and pulling...........

Hi readers, today I am going to explain how important it is to know what you are actually doing when you exercise, be it at the gym or at home.

We are all aware that nowadays our posture suffers due to most of us spending a large amount of time in front of a computer or at a desk or similar. To put it as simple as possible, this 'hunched over' position is perpetuating bad muscle alignment and encouraging poor movement patterns. To prevent back pain and other conditions associated with bad posture the best thing to do is to follow an exercise program which will counteract this problem and which brings me back nicely to the title of this post 'the importance of pushing and pulling'!

Pushing

When we push a weight away from us we are working the anterior muscular chain (front). Probably the most well-known movement to describe this is the push-up. In the picture I am performing push-ups using a TRX which introduces instability to the exercise and therefore makes it more challenging. An important aspect to remember is to challenge yourself constantly; if a certain exercise becomes too easy then you need to introduce progression which is why it is a good idea to source your program from a professional.

Pushing a weight above your head, squatting and lunging are in this category and are all functional movements that you probably perform on a daily basis without even realizing it!

Pulling

When we pull a weight towards us we are working the posterior chain or back muscles. In the picture I am performing a single arm row with a dumbell and when I have completed all the reps on one side I will then change hands to make sure all muscles are worked equally.

As common as push ups are to pushing, rowing is the equivalent to pulling. It will be the most common form of posterior chain training that you are familiar with and has been proven to be the most successful when strengthening the back.

Lifting heavy objects, climbing or pulling yourself up onto something are a few of the functional movements associated with pulling.

Conclusion

Having the basic knowledge of movement patterns can only enhance your training. Be conscious of why you are performing certain exercises and become aware of symmetry and how important it is to creating good posture and a functional body.

I hope the above information helps you with your future training and if you have any questions at all don't hesitate to contact me and I will get back to you within 24 hours.

Happy Training!

I don't need my bikini body anymore? ............or do I?

Well everyone, I don't know about you but now it's September I don't need my bikini body anymore, or do I?

The picture below was taken in June this year on my 50th birthday - and yes I am enjoying a rum and diet coke on the beach and basically this is what this post is about.

I think my pet hate in the media and the fitness industry is the misconception that we need to prepare for a particular occasion with a particular 'bodyshape'. At the beginning of the year we need to get ready for summer with our bikini body and get rid of all the pounds we may have gained over Xmas. In Autumn we then knuckle down and work hard at losing the weight we may have gained on our summer holiday; so that when we get to the festive season we have 'room' to be able to put the pounds back on again! This kind of mindset just leads to yo-yo dieting which we all know definitely does not work in the long run. In fact it can actually lead to weight gain when it is repeated year in year out....................

Consistency is the key!

In my experience it is much better to be consistent all the year round. It really is that simple. Calculate your calories and macros (you can see how to do this in my earlier blog posts) and stay within these figures as close as you are able to all the time. If you have a holiday or special occasion be mindful of what you eat e.g. if you go to a restaurant try and avoid creamy dressings and sauces, but if you really want one, don't deprive yourself, just ask to have it on the side which will enable you to be in control of the amount you choose to add. If you want a dessert have one, it really isn't the end of the world. However, if you do go out for a meal or attend a special occasion, make an effort to eat within your numbers the day after. You don't need to keep your food diary in MFP every day. In fact the longer you complete them the more aware you will be of amounts etc. Just enjoy the moment and be aware of the consequences of over-eating. I remember from a long time ago, overeating on Xmas day but not even enjoying it! Picking at sweets etc for most of the day just because they were there................ absolutely ridiculous. Of course there are times of  the year when everyone gains a little weight, but this can be minimised by following these guidelines.

I have definitely reached a time in my life when I am very aware of how much to eat. I love my food and nothing is ever going to stop me having a dessert if I want one. But I also do not pile my plate up with so much food that I can't finish it, eat for the sake of it or think 'oh well I've had two biscuits I just as well eat the whole packet'.

I give you my word that this approach works. My clients and I are living proof that being consistent is the only way to be, so don't forget 'be mindful and consistent' and you are on your way to a much healthier attitude to eating.

Until next time everyone..............................................

Bulking

Bulking or Making Gains

This post is for those of you who have decided that it's time to build some muscle or more commonly known in the fitness world as 'bulking'.

How many calories do I need?

Instead of a calorie deficit you just have to make sure you have a calorie surplus in order to build muscle. Because everyone is so different there isn’t a magic figure I can give you in order to achieve your muscle building goals but there are many calculators online which can give you a suitable starting point. When this has been established, add it to your online food diary app and you are ready to go!

Also be aware that when you are trying to add muscle it is inevitable that there will be small amount of fat gained too. Please don't worry about it as when it is time to lean out, due to different training protocols, this fat will ultimately disappear to reveal the newly built muscle underneath.

Consume enough protein

Your protein intake is very important as it is the ultimate muscle building macro. Ensure you consume 1g protein per lb of bodyweight every day, even the days you don’t train. Your rest days will be the time when your muscles repair and build so your nutrition should be optimal. A good way of making sure you hit your protein levels is to consume a protein source with every meal and always plenty of healthy greens!

I hope this helps those of you who have decided to take the plunge and build some muscle!

See you next week......................