Want to kick-start your spring fitness goals? We ask PT Kim Beach to share her top tips for success.
Her shape-up philosophy is all about balance and finding ways to keep the peace between fun, fitness and food.
1. Don’t weigh yourself every day.
“This will allow you to focus on the positive things you need to do to achieve your goals and not let the scales dictate your emotions. I recommend weighing in weekly or fortnightly as this will show your real results.
2. Set your expectations correctly at the start if weight loss is your goal.
“It’s going to take time and effort, so don’t expect to see results in the first week or two; stay consistent and your results will come.”
3. Agree to commit to your goals 80 PER CENT of the time.
“I call it my 80/20 rule; then you don’t have to feel bad if you do indulge occasionally or miss a workout. It’s about developing a positive relationship with food and exercise that doesn’t involve guilt.
4. Don’t overtrain.
“Overtraining can lead to fatigue and will have a negative impact on your weight loss goals. Remember, when it comes to training, it’s about quality, not quantity. Give your body time to rest and recover and it will thank you for it.”
5. Fitness in the kitchen.
“Respect your body by fuelling it with whole foods and remember self-control and portion size are your best friends. Eighty per cent of maintaining the body you want comes down to what you eat rather than how hard you train. Most people have this the wrong way around.”
6. Ditch calorie
counting.
“It’s restrictive and in my opinion takes you down a negative path when it comes to how you think about food. Instead, focus on eating whole foods with a high nutritional value.”
8. Weight training.
“I strongly recommend weight training to every woman. There are so many benefits, especially when it comes to weight loss and the ability to give your body shape.”
9. Make your healthy lifestyle fun
“Train with friends and get creative with your food. You need to find that balance where you are working hard towards your goals but also still living your life!”
