Making the best of your gym membership

Personal trainer, Lee Axon, answers your most common workout problems so you can reach your goals.

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If you joined your local gym in the new year and are struggling to keep momentum, you’re not alone.

Many gym goers start the new year positive but then fall into one of the many common gym snares. So to help you keep on top of your fitness goals and ambitions, Lee Axon, personal trainer at Xercise4Less, shares his advice to answer your common gym problems.

Problem: Too much too soon

Solution: Start small

Make small, realistic changes. A good week one goal may be to simply exercise every other day if you’ve been previously inactive. Week two might be to cut your current calories by 10 per cent and drink an additional litre of water per day. Yes, they’re small adjustments, but these small changes over time can add up to big improvements and help ensure you stick to these changes over the long-term. Save £1 every day and what do you have at the end of one year?

Problem: You underestimate nutrition

Solution: Strategise

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Your friends who make it look easy typically have tricks and “shortcuts” which make their healthy lifestyle far easier to adhere to. Things like cooking multiple days’ worth of food in batches, freezing meals for the week or having the traditional “meal prep Sundays” can all save you time, money and aggravation.

Problem: You’re bored

Solution: Set goals and visualise

Why does every guru tell you to write down your goals? Because when the lifestyle starts to feel like a grind – and at some point it will – you can find motivation by referring back to your goals. Seeing your goal written down, tangible, can help you visualize what you must do to overcome the various roadblocks ahead. Why are you doing this again? That’s right—to get better and to accomplish something few can ever achieve. Working with a personal trainer can help you write a plan that’s easy to follow.

Problem: Trying to know everything

Solution: Pick one approach

Every approach can work. Low carb, high carb, low fat, high protein, etc—all can be effective provided you stick to your decision. Obviously, don’t stick with it if it’s making you miserable. Find something you can stick to for the long haul. So get a professional to help guide you in the right direction or maybe even get you set up on a plan. Even if the programme isn’t perfect, you’ll still be more successful if you are following it to the letter than by trying to follow a blend of “cutting-edge” approaches.

Problem: You’re lonely working out

Solution: Get a Personal Trainer

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A good personal trainer can make the whole process a lot more enjoyable. After all, it’s easy to blow off an evening squat session when there’s just you to answer to. It’s a lot tougher to do if your faithful wingman is already at the gym waiting for you. Stay accountable to each other in both good times and bad. Check in with each other on workouts and your diet, but when you both feel like rewarding yourself for your hard work with a good ol’ pint and burger, keep each other in the loop too, to make sure you find balance and moderation.

For more information about Xercise4Less, visit www.xercise4less.co.uk