For the last 14 years of my career as a fitness expert, the same message still exists today: lose weight quickly with “this” amazing diet or exercise program!
Why are there so many of these “options,” yet this country’s waistline is still growing?
It wasn’t until the last six years of my career that I realized that there was a huge part of my industry that overlooked the missing link: to supply someone with a plan of action that is sustainable and doable.
Here are the areas that the fitness experts and nutritionists have failed to clearly outline.
1. You do not need to work out every day to get good results.
According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), people should do a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every week.
Do the math, and that can break down to as little as five days a week, 30 minutes a day.
Related: How To Get More Fit With Less Exercise: A Guide To Fitness Minimalism
2. Calorie counting is worthless.
While many people still count calories to accelerate weight loss, calorie counting isn’t as accurate as being mindful of macronutrient distribution and insulin monitoring.
According to age management specialist Dr. Yvonne Maywether, MD, “Different food groups have different metabolic responses. Concentrating on low glycemic nutrition is crucial for appetite control and sustainable weight loss. Preferably, following paleolithic nutrition, which is low glycemic, will keep your insulin and leptin levels down plus provide you with highly nutritious foods. This includes grass-fed meat, free range poultry, and eggs, fish and seafood, fresh fruits and vegetables with nuts, seeds, and healthy oils.”
3. You must get at least seven hours of quality sleep a night.
All nutritionists and fitness experts emphasize sleep, but no one seems to put as much value in it.
If you don’t get good sleep each night and you wake up feeling exhausted, then this will negatively impact your weight loss, increase your cravings, decrease your mental acuity, and mess up your physiology, hormones, enzymes, and more.
Related: 8 Bedtime Hacks: A Guide To Getting A Good Night’s Sleep
Do not be a workaholic and stay up all hours of the night. No caffeine can help this issue. Sleep is sleep. No substitutions.
4. Manage how you handle stress.
Adrenal fatigue stems from chronic stress to the body. Whether you are the breadwinner, the full-time do-it-all parent, the executive, or the 24/7 worker, you must learn how to manage your stress.
This includes taking personal me time, every day for a minimum of 20 minutes. It means learning how to say no to things that you define as over-extending yourself. Learn to put yourself first so that you can be effective for those you love.
Living in an optimal mind and body allows you to handle virtually any of life’s trials and tribulations.
Related: 10 Ways To Allow Stress Eating
5. Eat to live—don’t live to eat.
When you are on vacation, you can eat what you want. However, in your day-to-day life, fuel your body with the best nutrition so that you can be your best at all the things you strive for.
Sub-optimal eating will only hinder performance, both mentally and physically. Being on your “A” game requires a healthy body and mind and that all stems from what fuel you put in the tank.
The Takeaway
If you truly wish to lose the pounds once and for all, follow these five crucial tools of nutritionists and fitness experts listed above and learn to live a lean and optimal life. Everything else will all fall into place when you do!
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Jenn Zerling, MS, CPT, also known as JZ, is a fitness expert, global presenter, author of Breaking the Chains of Obesity, 107 Tools. Her mission: to break the chains of obesity in America. JZ has her first nutrition app coming out on iPhones in October 2014, called JZ FITNESS. Follow Jenn Zerling, MS, CPT: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube.
Photo by Mae El-Ezaby
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