BASSONIA: WHILE the festive season always brings a positive attitude to many people’s outlook on life, stimulating progressive goals for not only the end of the year but also going into the New Year, keeping fit seems to be the most difficult goal to achieve.
Forbes lifestyle in their 2013 New Year’s resolutions you won’t keep – and five you will, listed: Going on a diet, Lose 10kgs as well as Get more exercise as some of the common resolutions that get made in the New Year and are forgotten just as often.
The month of December can be a busy one, with parties happening every weekend, some getting together with family members for an unplanned braai has often resulted in people neglecting healthy foods and indulging in alcohol; sweet treats also become a staple on the menu.
Speaking to Comaro View Virgin Active Fitness Manager, Professor Qina, who specializes in helping people to reach their fitness and weight loss objectives, he says one of the main problems that they face at Virgin Active is of people joining the gym close to the festive season looking for quick fixes.
“Because people want to go out on holidays, some to the beach, they will come in and ask a fitness instructor to help them realise their goal of losing 10KG in like three weeks,” said Professor.
Realistically, he says at least 5KG can be lost in a three week period although that would require determination from the client as well as pushing as hard as possible on the relevant machines but expecting to lose more than that would be like expecting a miracle.
Going to your gym no less than three weeks is recommended but it has to be supported by eating healthy foods, with maybe an exception of a special day to have one junk food meal or to drink a couple of beers as a treat so that the person on diet doesn’t feel deprived of other foods and treats.
“When a person indulges in a junk food meal, maybe on a Friday, they have prepare themselves to work twice as hard at the gym the following day or on the coming Monday,” advises Professor. Also adding that for those who enjoy an alcoholic drink or two on odd days should opt for whiskeys rather than beers even though fitness conscious people are warned to avoid all alcoholic drinks all together.
Experts advise that setting realistic goals or New Year’s resolutions is essential to ensuring that you are better prepared to keep to making them a reality instead of your aims turning yet again into forgotten resolutions.
