llamajenn Member

You are correct about motivation and time management. And I wasn't referring to myself since I've always made an effort to get workouts in, even before I worked in the fitness profession. Why? Because it's important to me, as it is to you. But it WAS a lot harder when I had a full-time job outside the gym. I am simply…

Depends....Work on a more community/family-centered gym (like a Y) and they tend to be less about aesthetics (IMO). A lot depends on the gym's clientele and who they are trying to attract. I've heard stories from other gyms about very competent instructors being turned down for jobs because they weren't "skinny and in…

BTW, I'm not sure if you are a trainer or not, but having a little empathy for people (especially clients) goes a long way. Maybe you've got things all figured out, but for some people it is a little more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

It definitely helps to "look the part." However, there is a difference between fitness instructor and trainer. Most fitness instructors I know don't do this full-time. They may only teach a few hours a week and otherwise lead a "regular" life. This is true for some trainers as well.

Exactly. And as others have mentioned, you never know if this person used to be a lot heavier and successfully lost weight. I work at a facility where there are a variety of shapes and sizes in the members and also instructors. People want a good workout. They want a motivating and inspiring instructor. Appearance helps…

How rude. A person's genetics usually play a big part in weight distribution and shape. Some people just don't look good in certain styles but look fine in others. Skinny jeans are tricky...they don't do me any favors. Experiment with different cuts. Sometimes the skinny jeans are too low-rise and more of a mid-rise might…

Yes. Everyone's body is so different, and often people don't know what is appropriate, healthy, or sustainable until they try. Goals shouldn't be set in stone, and overall health and fitness should be a higher priority. (I know, it's hard for us females to NOT be pre-occupied with the number on the scale.) I agree on the…

Yes, sort of.... I used to weigh less than 115 back before having kids and also when I had less muscle. Now I'm between 120-125 but fitter and stronger. I think that matters more than the number on the scale. I am 5'5 BTW. I believe body fat percentage and how clothes fit are better tools to assess your fitness and…

Right, that is the traditional Tabata formula for HIIT. If done as intended (i.e. close to 100% effort during those 20 sec intervals), you will burn a lot of calories and continue to burn more over the net 24 hrs. It is great for conditioning and for weight loss....so that might be an issue for you.

Which part? A pound of muscle does burn a few extra calories more than a pound of fat (not as much as some may expect, but it's something). I agree with stretching being important. I'm not sure about how it has anything to do with not adding bulk though.

It's an expensive habit.... I think my all-time high was 3 in a day once. Lately I only have 1/day. Cookies & cream and coconut cashew are my favorites.

Depending on how much exercise you do, cutting carbs can really mess with your body. I tried to cut down a little last week (I have a photoshoot and was freaking out). I kept exercising a lot and eating enough calories, but I started feeling really off - mentally and physically. I consulted with someone who does nutrition…

Maybe this is why he was reluctant to encourage you to go on with this program. It happens all the time in the gym....someone comes in new to _whatever_ (weights, kickboxing, etc) and goes gung-ho, ending up with an injury within the first few weeks. I'm not saying that would be the case with you as you seem more…

Unfortunately there is no way to spot reduce. Exercising will always help - a mix of cardio and strength training/resistance/weights will likely give you good tone. You may also want to start including more vegetables and fruits in your diet and gradually cutting down a bit on the processed food. Just start slowly; small…

agreed, lifting is a great idea. Keep in mind that your weight not might go down quite as quickly if you are gaining muscle but that this is a good thing regardless! Decreasing body fat while increasing lean muscle mass may not look good on the scale but is best for your health.

Great suggestions here. If you have a serious conversation with her about it and she isn't willing to change, I'd suggest going to a professional for help. Initially It might just be you going to get ideas on how to help her or staging an intervention if needed.

Well said.

Yes. Also the suggestion on HIIT or interval training. If you're short on time, go for an easy warm-up, then do a bit of strength training (maybe compound movements, i.e. combining a couple exercises like squat + overhead press). Put some intervals of cardio in. You could go Tabata style which is 20 seconds max effort…

Agreed on the comments about modifying/backing off if you are losing form. Last thing you need is an injury. I try to go ahead with it, sometimes taking it slower at the beginning (extended warm-up might help). Sometimes that's all it takes; it not, modify, lighten, or go with an alternate workout. I've learned the hard…

Hi there, I read this thread for the first time today. There are lots of good suggestions as far as nutrition goes (nut butter, liquid calories with meals or in between, healthy sources of fat i.e. avocado, guacamole, hummus, nuts). If your pictures are current, please realize that you look very healthy to others. There…

Try mixing it up with some speed training/interval training.

This wasn't addressed to me but I'll chime in anyway. :) I have 3 regular BP classes that I teach each week. The fitness levels and body types are really varied in each class. Many of them enjoy the group exercise format and would be unlikely to be found lifting heavy down in the weight room...using Nautilus/Cybex…

Also if you had caffeine earlier in the day and are sensitive to the crash, this could be a cause for the energy drop. I always like a little caffeine pre-workout but have to time it right (45min-1 hr before). Everyone is different though.

You're right, I wouldn't worry about he fancy energy drinks at this point. Focus on the nutrition from whole foods first. Usually it helps to have food with some protein, a little fat, and some carbs (complex is best but not too high in fiber). It's possible that your glycogen stores got depleted, which caused your energy…

Take extra rest for now and see how your body responds coming back to the workouts. You can probably make a better determination then as to how many rest days you need. As you know, the more intense the exercise, the more rest that's needed. I know one trainer who is jacked and makes a point to only workout 3-4x/week. He…

Also, are you running and kettlbell training on the same days? So a "rest" day is truly no exercise?

Take a rest day for sure, possibly more. Losing your form, muscles weakness, overall bad feeling means you need to step back (glad you did). Make sure your electrolytes are ok. Summer heat can be tough on the body, so I'd go for Gatorade or some electrolyte drink if you sweat a lot. Are you hydrated enough? Eating enough?…

Yes!

That is incorrect. No one is supposed to teach Body Pump (or any other Les Mills class) unless they get certified. It isn't a quick & easy process either. 2-3 day training + certification video, etc. There are other pre-choreographed programs out there (like Group Rx Rip) that DON'T require certification and are available…

I love Body Pump. I teach it at least 3 x/week along with a couple cardio classes (usually a kickboxing & cycle) and rarely do other strength training or weights. My goal has never been to look like a bodybuilder; if so, I'd spent some time in the weight room lifting heavier as well. There is an element of cardio to it but…