While getting fit is one of the most common goals and New Year’s Resolutions, many people fail because the goal feels too big. Instead, we suggest you break your bigger goal down into smaller actionable steps that will move you towards it – and our trainers are here to provide some inspiration for doing just that.
Our team is the best in the business and know their stuff, inside out and backwards – so we’ve asked 10 of them for one easy-yet-impactful health and wellness tip. Here’s what they had to say:
1. INCREASE YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION
“Have a glass of water by your bed before you go to sleep and drink it first thing in the morning as soon as you wake up. I’ve suggested this to many clients, and they’ve gotten at least 500 ml more water a day as a result!” – Simmie
2. Get Enough Protein
“Make sure you’re getting an adequate intake of protein, whatever your choice of protein may be. On a day that you’re working out, make sure to incorporate chicken – or beans or other high-protein food into your diet.” – Ronaldo
3. EAT MORE GREENS
“Buy more vegetables and eat them first. Doing so will fill you up with fibre, and likely cause you to eat less calories. Instead of saying “let’s eat less junk food”, focus on eating the right things (starting with lots of veg). Psychologically it’s better to focus on the positive, the good actions, instead of what you’re ‘missing’.” – Andre
4. Stick to your Schedule
“Schedule your workouts – ideally with Nielsen Fitness and with yourself. Look at the month as a whole and ask yourself: “How many workouts do I want to get in?” Then set the time aside for yourself. If you don’t get the frequency in, it doesn’t work.” – Audrey
5. Build Muscle While You Sleep
“If muscle gain is your goal, have some Greek yogurt or cottage cheese a couple of hours before you go to bed. This gives you that casein protein, which is a slow digesting protein so you can have muscle protein synthesis levels elevated throughout the night while you’re sleeping.” – Matt
6. Walk Everyday
“Walk as much as you can. Walking helps to build the habit of being more physically active. Especially after a meal, walking is important to keep your metabolism and energy up. Also, it’s probably the form of exercise that’s least stressful for the body, so you won’t be overworking yourself either.” – Evian
7. Find Your ‘Thing’
“Find a type of movement and/or workout that you enjoy. This will make it a lot easier to stay consistent, since you’ll look forward to your workouts instead of dreading them.” – Laura
8. Get Enough Rest
“One workout won’t make you, but one workout can break you. Rest and recovery are just as important as training. Being smart and knowing when to pause or adapt programs will lead to sustainable results.” – Brandon
9. Ditch Diets
“Find a meal plan that is sustainable and enjoyable. Forget about strict and extreme diets and focus on eating healthy, clean foods that you actually enjoy. It will be easier for you to stick to something you like!” – Virginia
10. Focus on Consistency Over Quantity
“It’s better to do less and be consistent in your workouts than to workout longer but only do it sporadically. If you don’t have time for a one-hour workout, start with as little as five minutes – but do it daily.” – Poul Nielsen – founder of Nielsen Fitness
