5 tips to get you in shape this year

According to Warren Shandu, a personal trainer, actor, model and professional body builder, the number of people who hit the gym with the hope of losing weight increases each year – only to fizzle towards the end of February.

This to him is no surprise. “Many times people hit the gym with the hope of a quick fix to their weight issues, forgetting that weight loss is a process and not as simple as cutting food, and exercising now and again – it is a lifestyle change and takes effort,” he said.

“Year after year only a small percentage of people achieve their fitness and weight-loss goals, which is sad to see.”

According to Shandu, the number one reason people fail to achieve their fitness goals is because they fail to plan. “It is important to set up realistic goals. Once those have been set, it is important to actually stick to them.”

Shandu added that while there may also be a number of other reasons people failed to lose weight, laziness and a lack of focus were on top of the list.

He also explained that hormones, genetics and food addictions were also some of the reasons people struggled to lose weight and advised anyone interested in making a lifestyle change to always see a professional or a doctor before embarking on their journey.

Shandu gave the following five tips for anyone trying to lose weight this year:

•  Consult a dietician for a healthy eating plan that will be easy to stick to
•  Consult your doctor before you start with any exercise plan, especially if you have health issues
•  Be patient and consistent – it can take up to three months before you see any results
•  Follow an exercise routine that you enjoy – if gym is boring for you, find a sport your enjoy or something fun
•  Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, replace fruit juices with water and stay away from white foods such as white bread, white pasta etc.