The ultimate stay-trim secrets

Want to know the ultimate stay-trim secrets to shed those post festive season pounds? Everyone knows that at Christmas saying no to mulled wine and mince pies is easier said than done! So if you’re now facing the struggle to get back in shape post-pigout, you’ll be pleased to know we spoke to trainer Clint Kelly – from one of our favourite gyms, Six3Nine – to find the key to staying trim after the festive season. Here are the ultimate stay-trim secrets…

You can never out-train a bad diet

Staying rigid to your training regime and diet can be hard work during and after the festive period. Between Christmas parties, indulgent dinners and mum’s homemade mince pies, the calories can stack up. Remember, everything in moderation. When it comes to changes in body composition, the largest component of change is diet. One meal of indulgence, while delicious, doesn’t have to derail your diet. Balance is the key to sustainability. As often as you can, get back to your routine and ensure adequate protein, fat and carbohydrate intake for health, and then give an appropriate calorie deficit to cater for fat loss needed to balance the indulgences. Without this, a calorie surplus will always lead to unwanted fat gain.

Take away points: Calorie deficits are needed for fat loss. Enjoy your indulgences, but don’t get lost in them.

Don’t put things off

Benjamin Franklin said: ‘Never put off until tomorrow, what you can do today’. Even with the best intentions, we can often fall victim to unexpected complications in our work schedule, social life, relationships or family life. Take the opportunity to get back to your routine as often as possible. By planning exercise around the start of the week we give ourselves a better chance of fitting in all of the sessions planned. Try to accomplish the most time-consuming parts of your programme early in the week, giving yourself more allowance in the later end of the week to finish strong.

Take away: Take the opportunity to exercise whenever possible

Lack of time is not an excuse 

Time is often a limiting factor for those wanting to get back on track after the festive season. However, being short on time doesn’t mean you can’t get a great workout done. By choosing exercises that give you more bang for your buck, you can ensure your goals can still be met. Opting for large multi-joint exercises like Squat, Deadlift, Bench Press, HIIT protocols or Interval training will maximise your workload in minimum time.

Take away: Sprints and intervals will make the best use of your time for maximum benefit.

Find a training buddy

Training with a friend can yield several benefits, the most obvious of which is motivation. It can provide added accountability in remaining consistent to your programming by having another person to answer to when we may have otherwise skipped out on a training session. By having a friend to share our continued success it will encourage compliance and consistency.

Take away: Training with a friend helps keep you consistent.

Have a reason

What are you ‘really’ doing this for? Remember why you started your fitness journey and keep this goal in your mind. Having a clear understanding of why you started and where you want to go with your health and fitness will be a constant source of focus, encouragement and motivation.

Take away: Remember the ‘real’ reason for your fitness goal and use this daily.