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We have many members all wanting to know which is the best system for working out in the lead up to a wedding? Not an easy answer. Should one do cardio? Should one train abs separately? How hard should I work? How often?
There are many debates, so I can guarantee one thing, different trainers will say different things often dependant on their background and training, their understanding and experience of what the outcomes should be.
At the Vitality Show I spoke with a dietitian who had developed a theory of weight loss and was no longer counting calories as in her mind it had been proven that each person digested calories differently. I always listen and think “oh yeah that sounds about right, why didn’t I think of that!!”
Then I bumped into another dietitian who thought that it was the supplementation process aiding hormones, which help balance the blood sugars, that is the long sought cure to obesity (plus following a well thought out nutrition plan). With the correct balance of healthy fat, carbs and protein the body burns off body fat beautifully, and of course, I couldn’t argue with that either.
Another trainer I have spoken to recently commented that of course calories where a valuable measuring tool and that no one who’d faced extreme hardships such as starvation EVER looked obese. Which means, the link is directly to food consumption as apposed to hormone production, again, this sounds right.
So there are many theories and thoughts keeping the industry alive and kicking.
In general terms (not specific to Bides) it could be argued that diets sometime create weight gain as by thinking about food one becomes overly hungry. It also could be argued eating correctly for the human body is a separate issue to body fat levels. Healthy eaters can put on weight because their portion sizes out weigh what they can use up fuel wise.
In an ideal situation one would be eating as nature intended us to eat, and any fat stores are monitored through clothing tightness and modifications to portion sizes adjusted accordingly and exercise increased. Of course the real reason we get fat and quickly is that we succumb to all the other stuff our bodies are not really supposed to be having, and that indulgence is the cause of fat gain and usually the elimination of it reverses the situation quite quickly.
Again, in general terms my view on training is that one should be working at a Rate of Perceived Exertion 8 (RPE) which feels tough to you and makes you sweat and really only able to concentrate fully on the job in hand with all your effort. If you’re able to sing at the top of your voice, chat easily, or daydream about what clothes to buy for your holiday, then you’re not working hard enough. You want to be working so that you are thinking, “how many more minutes of this are there left?”
Now to Brides
If one wants to drop 10lbs of body fat in six weeks then one is looking at a reduction in calorie consumption (through eating) and increase in calorie output (exercise).
Nutritionally the easiest way is to stop eating rubbish and replace rubbish with lower calorie alternatives.
Physically if you want to tone up specific muscles but also want to burn calories then any routine must take this into account.
So What’s Best?
I have pondered this a while now and gone through a list of options. There are many pro and cons. From joining a class, to doing videos, to following a diet, to joining a slimming club, to doing interval training, to doing Pilates, to building a self styled routine of swimming and walking, to making little changes in food to making big changes to food and my answer is………
If you have six weeks and a specific goal then a good Personal Trainer three times a week will help you achieve this better than any other option.
Why?
The DIY route is great for maintenance and for very determined people who are self-starters and who have a good understanding of what they are doing. All the tips, the advice, and the videos we provide are solutions for a self-motivated person, a person with some experience and someone confidence in their dedication.
However, my overall view is that with Specific Training the best solution is a Specific Trainer. In terms of brides one is looking at postural alignment and this requires a second person present to be correcting technique constantly. Specific to the bride as well is that the injury risks are low and again checking form is crucial to being able to progress.
The type of trainer suitable for a Bride may be Pilates trained and perhaps able to offer reformer training (great for posture, core and strength), weighs you every week and works with you closely on nutrition keeping you motivated and on track and answerable for slip-ups.
They will work you harder than you would work yourself so again the chances of success increase. Lastly a decent trainer will also be able to combine exercises so that body fat is burnt yet all the toning requirements of great abs, arm and bum definition are in place.
How Do I Find A Good Trainer?
I would suggest going on to the REPS site, which lists professional trainers and their qualifications. You can type in the area you live in and trainers in that area will be listed. Look for trainers of Reps Level 3 and above and then ring a few up with a list of questions. This way you can have a chat and see if there is a rapport there, see if they offer what you want and ask about their fees.
A decent trainer will cost £35-£60 dependant on location.
Having found a few you like the sound of check out their info online (most will have their own web sites) and ask to see pictures of their success stories relevant to you.
At your first meeting, access if this person themselves looks fit, motivated and passionate about what they do and if their equipment, gym looks well run, clean and busy.
Final Word
As is apparent throughout this article, all trainers think differently, so this is only my opinion. Look to work with what you know you can do, and look for help to keep you motivated and focused.
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