Best Nutrition and Fitness Advice
I asked my former clients to share one piece of fitness or nutrition advice that really resonated with them. Here is what they shared:
”I really appreciated the holistic approach - the tailoring to my needs, the workouts which varied but were aligned to my goals, the consideration of diet too. I had never worked that closely with anyone for these issues and it was really so helpful. And kept me so accountable!” -34 year old, female client
Creating a healthy lifestyle begins with acknowledging the interconnectedness between your choices. I always start by asking my clients what they feel is currently holding them back from accomplishing their health and nutrition goals. Identifying why and when they are making unhealthy choices will help us recognize where they can shift small habits in order to prioritize their goals. For example, if someone is glued to their desk all day and working overtime, they might be skipping out on their workout routine and eating out instead of prepping their meals. For this client their barrier is a lack of time and prioritization of their health. From there we can discuss solutions such as waking up earlier or blocking off an hour of their day for working out and meal prepping on the weekends. This is setting the foundation for sustainable lifestyle changes.
On the note about keeping workouts varied, it is also important to choose a form of movement that excites you! Whether it’s tapping into your inner child through dance and intramural sports or releasing some anger in a boxing class, whatever gets you moving, do it!
“For me, the most valuable lesson was to start by setting a small goal that is easily achievable. I started with going to the gym for 15-20 minutes and lifting light. I left feeling like I could have done more. I built on this foundation, slowly, over 3 months, increasing the frequency of workouts, my time spent in the gym and lifting slightly heavier each week. Now I am 6 months in, my stamina has greatly improved and going to the gym is something I look forward to.” -28 year old, male client
As a former DI track athlete, I can relate to this so much. It used to be applauded when we threw up at practice or after a hard race. For the longest time, I thought that if I wasn’t feeling sore after a workout, I wasn’t achieving results. This mentality led me towards injuries and burnout. While there is certainly a time and place to push past the limits, it shouldn’t be your everyday. Secondly, if prioritizing time to workout each day is a struggle, your first step is training yourself in making this a habit before focusing on the long-term gains. Once you start showing up for yourself and it doesn’t require days of inability to move due to soreness, your brain will have a more positive association with movement. It will reduce stress rather than be the source of it!
A personal trainer and nutrition coach can help you set goals, stay accountable and transform your lifestyle. Drop me a note if you are interested in a consultation to see if this programming is right for you!
