Been covering up all summer? Not happy with how you looked in your holiday snaps? Why not do what you’ve been talking about for so many years and get in shape? Don’t wait for the New Year, do it now!
The good news is that autumn is a great time of year to get in shape. With the nights pulling in we all find ourselves with more time on our hands and getting your health and fitness program sorted out now, before the Xmas break, gives you a great head start coming into the New Year! Even better news is that getting in shape is a very simple and straightforward process!
This article will cover point by point 4 simple steps to get you off to a great start.
Step 1 – Set a realistic goal.
Before setting out on your health and fitness journey you’ll need to decide where you want to get to. What exactly do you want from your health and fitness program? Do you want to be in better physical shape? Get a six pack? Gain some muscle? Have more energy for daily life? Think carefully about exactly what it is you want to achieve and set your goals. Ideally your goals should scare you a little! Don’t let the fear of failure or the feeling of discomfort prevent you from going after what you really want though; raise your standards and strive for excellence!
Step 2 – Formulate Your Exercise Routine
With your goals in place you’ll need to plan an exercise routine. If you are already exercising or have done in the past then you should have all the knowledge you need to do this. Magazines and the internet can be useful resources if you haven’t exercised before or have little experience. A personal trainer is the perfect solution to this problem though as they will formulate you a suitable exercise program based on your personal goals. A good personal trainer will be more than happy to offer a free consultation to discuss exactly how they can help you before you commit to anything.
Step 3 – Choose Your Gym
If you have chosen to work with a personal trainer they may have a favoured facility but with your exercise program in place the chances are you will need to find a suitable exercise location. You may choose to join health club or local gym but you can also exercise at home or outdoors. Local councils offer excellent leisure facilities at a reasonable cost and there are many private health clubs, which offer a huge range of options to cater for all forms of health and fitness programs. The following points are worth considering when choosing a gym or health club.
- Location : a club located close to your home or workplace can be very convenient as it allows easy access with minimal travel time.
- Environment : is the atmosphere suitable for you? Do you feel comfortable and happy in the club’s surroundings? Are the staff knowledgeable, friendly and helpful?
- Facilities: do they have everything you need for you to follow your health and fitness program?
- Value for money: does the club charge a reasonable price for the services it offers? It is always worth shopping around a little as prices do vary and many clubs offer reduced rate introductory memberships and start up packages.
Step 4 – Nutrition
With your goals set, program designed and location selected you are well on the way! It is always wise at this point to consider nutrition. Chances are that you will have to make some simple dietary adjustments to maximise the results from your new routine. Initially try following these simple guidelines …
- eat 5 small meals a day
- make breakfast your biggest meal of the day
- make sure you get your 5 daily servings of fruit and veggies
- choose common sense healthy unprocessed foods
So there you go – 4 simple steps to get you ahead of the game for 2012. If you need any more information or advice you can contact me personally at matt@lazenbypt.com
Author Matt Lazenby of Edinburgh is an internationally certified personal trainer with over 20 years experience as a personal trainer, competitive bodybuilder, gym instructor and health club manager. For a personal trainer Edinburgh is a premier location and we at LazenbyPT are dedicated to bringing you a quality of service befitting of such a magnificent city; whatever your age, level of experience and personal goals we are dedicated to offering you the absolute best in customized personal training programs.