Why is the fitness industry so contradicting?

Why is the fitness industry so contradicting?

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This is what happens to a lot of people…… Something happens that makes you want to get your shit together, maybe you try and fit into some clothes that used to fit and are now screaming.

You decide to take things seriously, a quick google search makes things seem relatively simple, but the next article you read completely contradicts the first one, now you’re confused and it doesn’t stop there, the more you read the more confusing its gets.

So why is this?

Well, as you know a large part of the worlds main objective in life is to make a shed load of money, and the way they do that in the fitness industry is by adjusting the facts slightly in an attempt to sell their products……or they just have no clue about human physiology.

You see, fat loss and muscle building is very simple, the confusing stuff is not that important and half the time it’s just marketing. It’s cool to know, but it’s not needed for 95% of gym-goers.

Let’s look at the facts:

Fat loss goals - Train hard, eat clean, make sure you’re in a slight caloric deficit (tracking is key). STAY CONSISTENT AND GIVE IT TIME.

Muscle building: Lift weights, make sure you’re progressively lifting more than you could in the prevues month (tracking is key). Make sure you’re eating a sufficient amount of food in order to put you in enough of an anabolic state to build muscle tissue, you need to fuel muscle building. STAY CONSISTENT AND GIVE IT TIME.

Often a muscle-building plan can look very similar to a fat loss plan, the main difference is the calorie intake and macros nutrient ratios. Regarding actual exercise choice, someone with a fat loss goal would likely need to do more cardio, but it’s not essential.

If you want to learn more that’s great, personally I’m always trying to progress my knowledge further, but you need to make sure you’re nailing the basics, STAYING CONSISTENT AND GIVING IT TIME.

How do I set myself specific calories for fat loss?

How do I set myself specific calories for fat loss?

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Someone emailed this question today, but it’s not as straight forward as some simple maths.

 

First of all…. what is a calorie?

 

Calories are tiny creatures that live in your wardrobe and sew your clothes a little bit tighter every night……or specifically, a calorie is the amount of energy, or heat, it takes to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1 degree Celsius.…… So basically its a unit of measurable energy.

 

Here is what you need to do to set your specific calorie requirements for fat loss.

 

Track food for one week (include the weekend)

 

Find your average amount of calories (Use My fitness Pal to track this)

 

Example week: 

Monday - 1600 Calories 

Tuesday - 1800 Calories

Wednesday - 1750 Calories

Thursday - 1900 Calories

Friday - 2200 Calories

Saturday - 2500 Calories

Sunday - 2400 Calories

 

Now this gives us an average of calories, in this case it’s 2021. Ask yourself how you feel on this amount of calories, full, satisfied, normal or hungry?

 

I imagine most of you would feel satisfied, unless you are already on a fat loss programme or are one of these insane people that ‘forget to eat’!!

 

If you’re gaining fat by eating this amount of food then it’s obviously too much, there is more fuel going into your body than is actually needed, in this case you’ll need to drop your daily calories by about 200-300 calories (dependant on current size and current intake), then assess changes in body composition and weight.

 

If you’re maintaining your body fat on this amount, then again it’s likely too much if your goal is to lose fat. You’ll need to drop your daily calories by about 100-200 calories then assess changes in body composition and weight (if the goal is in fact fat loss).

 

If you’re dropping fat on this amount then it’s about right. Keep doing what you’re doing!

 

One big thing to consider is how hungry you are, if you are feeling really hungry then you have obviously dropped your calories too far and you need to up them or you will lose muscle tissue along with the fat, this will obviously inhibit your performance and potential in the gym.

 

Simple Macros - Make sure you have a decent amount of Protein (1.3 grams per kg of body weight or more…..lots more), a respectable amount of healthy Fats and don’t kick the ass out of the Carbohydrates, you’re trying to lose fat not carb loading to run the London marathon.

 

Also, you can use online calorie calculators to work out your calories, but these base the calculations on your height, weight, age, gender and don’t take into consideration your current muscle tissue or the fact that everyone is different, but they can give us an idea of about how much food we should be eating, it’s a good tool.

 

Alternatively, sometimes you just need to add in an extra conditioning session to give you that slight caloric deficit your body needs to drop fat.

Here is an example of a quick conditioning workout you can utilise:

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Treadmill - 1.5km x 1

Cross Trainer - 4min

Bike - 40 seconds x 4 sets (20 seconds rest between each set)

Rowing machine - 250m x 4 sets (30 seconds rest between each set)

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If you found this useful then please like and share.

Fat Loss Tip - Lift Weights

Fat Loss Tip #3 - Lift Weights

Yes, that's right, let’s pump some iron!

Gone are the days where the main purpose of the session is to just get a sweat on. 

When you lift weights you obviously develop muscle tissue, the more muscle tissue you have the more your body needs to fuel that new founder muscle tissue. Therefore, you can eat more food. Wait!! I can eat more food and lose fat? Yes! If you develop enough muscle tissue by providing your muscles with enough mechanical tension to force them to develop, yes you can then eat more food. 

I’m sure you will all agree that sticking to a fat loss plan is always easier when you can eat plenty of food.

I’m not talking about looking juiced up to the gills, I’m talking about looking strong, athletic and sexy!

Here is a Resistance (weights) session you can try:

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Make sure you warm up first by doing some mobility work.

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START

 

A1 | Goblet squats - 10 reps x 4 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/quads/2016/12/30/goblet-squat

B1 | Bent over row - 12 reps x 3 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/back/2017/1/11/bent-over-row

C1 | Swiss ball leg curl - 12 reps x 3 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/body-weight-lower-body/2016/12/30/swiss-ball-leg-curl

D1 | Kneeling single-arm should press - 12 reps (each arm) x 3 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/shoulders/kneeling-dumbbell-shoulder-press

E1 | Dumbbell skull crushers - 12 reps x 3 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/triceps/2017/1/6/dumbbell-skull-crushers

F1 | Steading alt dumbbell curl - 12 reps (each arm) x 3 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/biceps/2017/1/6/standing-alt-dumbbell-curl

G1 | Weighted Dead bugs - 30 seconds x 4 sets

https://expertpt.co.uk/abs/2016/12/15/weighted-dead-bugs

Online Personl Trainer Weighted Dead Bugs.png

 

H1 | Rowing 200m x 4

https://expertpt.co.uk/cardio-machines/2016/12/30/rowing-machine

(30 - 40 seconds rest after each set)

FINISH