Wouldn’t you love to have a personal trainer tell you exactly what you need to do to slim down and stay fit for the new year? We caught up with Promax Nutrition’s team of elite health and fitness professionals to get the skinny on getting in shape.
Here are 20 top tips from Billy Blanks, Jr., Kathryn Budig, Holly Perkins, Billy Miller and more. Even better, Promax is inviting fans to Like them on Facebook for a chance to win a Trainer for a Year.
Drink your greens
Kathryn Budig, yoga guru and creator of yoga DVD Aim True recommends getting your greens every single day.
Budig says, “Drink your spinach. Blend up raw spinach with your favorite fruits, berries (low in sugar), grapefruit, coconut water and a little bit of ice. It tastes delicious and you’re getting over a cup of raw greens a day!”
Eat like an herbivore
Karina Petroni is a professional surfer who stays in elite surfer shape by following a vegetarian diet based on wholesome foods.
Petroni says, “My New Year’s resolution is to spread the word about the incredible importance of a whole foods/plant-based diet anytime I have the opportunity!”
Make resolutions like a triathlete
Sarah Haskins, professional triathlete and US Olympian, suggests following her favorite resolutions for 2012:
- Being more mindful of saving Earth’s resources — more recycling and less throwing away.
- Stretching your hip flexors twice a day.
- Cutting out all “fake” and chemical sweeteners.
- Eating more organic produce.
Become a Qualitarian
Ashley Koff is a dietitian and the author of Mom Energy: A Simple Plan to Live Fully Charged. Her top tip is to think quality when it comes to your diet.
She explains, “Become a Qualitarian in 2012! Do you want to lose weight or exchange fat for muscle or get healthier hair and skin, or improve your energy? The answer lies in the quality of the food you consume. Yes, you are what you eat. The type of fuel you put in will determine how your body runs. Choose organic food in the form closest to nature and your body will get more nutrients. That means less build up around your middle, in your caboose, or in your digestive tract and arteries. Become a Qualitarian – choose the best quality food available, like organic whole foods, for more fit, healthier you in 2012.”
Do but don’t
overdo on exercise
Celebrity trainer Holly Perkins stresses the importance of easing into fitness instead of doing too much too soon and ultimately burning out. “Following the holiday season, many people are chomping at the bit to get started on a New Year fitness plan. A secret to seeing results sooner? Don’t go out of the gates too fast. Despite your bounding enthusiasm to get started, start slow with two to three workouts this week. Then in a few weeks add more time or frequency to your workouts. You’ll see results sooner, avoid too much muscle soreness and become more fit faster!”
Identify what you truly want for Y-O-U
Perkins also forgoes new year’s resolutions. Instead, the Promax Nutrition DOer, recommends digging deep to determine what you really want for your life, then reach for it.
Perkins explains, “Getting in shape for 2012 is about forgetting ‘resolutions.’ Ask yourself what you truly want for yourself, your family and your life. Spend a moment and identify the essence of your goals and really sit with them. If you can find true meaning in your desires, you’ll be off the couch and on the treadmill in no time.”
Diet right
Robert Marting, fitness author and Promax Nutrition DOer, has three basic rules for eating right.
- Stay away from processed/fast foods.
- Use substitutions for the cheat foods you like, just with fewer, basic ingredients you can find at any market (this is the more do-it-yourself version), like Grandma used to do. Going back to basics will do your long-term health (and waistline) some good.
- Cook your food in bulk for storage (like a bag of chicken breasts that you cook all at one time) so you don’t have to cook often if you prefer not to .
Dream big but set realistic goals
Jenny Fletcher, professional triathlete and Oakley Ambassador, says, “Set goals. First and foremost, set realistic goals and, secondly, set dream goals — the ones that keep you striving and inspire you to keep trying. It’s important to set realistic goals first, because if you set unrealistic ones like, eating no sugar or wanting to lose 50 pounds in two weeks, chances are you’re going to break it. Most people are not able to meet their goals because they’re not realistic. How about saying, ‘I’m going to start by cutting down on sugar’ or ‘I want to lose 50 pounds but first I’m just going to focus on five pounds at a time’? Baby steps! The key to success is to dream big but realize getting there takes time and is a process with ups and downs and highs and lows!”
Detox with a cleanse
Shel Pink SpaRitual lifestyle futurist and Slow Beauty leader advocates clean eating for your health, wellness and beauty.
She suggests, “Consider eating clean as part of your 2012 approach to beauty. This month, choose a cleanse that is appropriate for your lifestyle to give your digestive system a rest from too much holiday activity. Your body will thank you by releasing toxins. Cleanses renew, an important aspect of a holistic approach to beauty, health and wellness — a growing movement called Slow Beauty.”
Read labels and understand every ingredient in packaged food
Veronica Bosgraaf, lifestyle expert and Pure Bar founder, says if you can’t read it, don’t eat it.
She explains, “When I created the Pure Bar for my daughter, I wanted every ingredient to be healthy and functional. If you read the ingredient list you will see that. I live by that same principle when I buy other packaged foods. I read the ingredients and make sure I can understand what every ingredient is. If I can’t, I find an alternative product whose ingredients I do understand! It’s that simple.”
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