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Fitness Weekly Discussion
What have you been doing lately for your own fitness? Try out any new programs or exercises? Have any questions for others about your training? Want to vent about poor behavior in the gym? Started a new diet or have a new recipe you want to share? Anything else health and wellness related?
I have been working out with a personal trainer for a few months now.
It’s been pretty life changing, I was not obese or anything but I had a few extra kg of fat probably around 20-30%bf (I would be happy with around 10-15%).
I was also a remote worker who did about 100 steps a day. I was starting to get ill to be honest, I had some weird issues sleeping like numbness in my limbs and sometimes face which freaked me out because I instantly thought these are kind of like stroke symptoms.
Since training 3 times a week those symptoms have gone and I’ve put on about 5-8kg of muscle and lost about 3kg of fat (so net about 5kg weight increase. But my body composition is way better.
I realise a personal trainer is a luxury and its bloody expensive about (£400 per month).
But if you can afford to do it and want to improve your health then it’s a great way to get out of a fitness rut, especially if you code all day and/or you’re a remote worker.
Some tips I found helped me massively:
Proper trainers: most people in the gym wear running shoes which are actually bad for lifting, get some hard flat shoes like Nike metcons (they are a crossfit focused trainer) bring s separate pair of running shoes for the treadmill if you want, conversely the lifting shoes suck ass for running.
Eat a lot: I nearly puked the first few sessions, because I was gassed out and had no energy. I try to eat a big bowl of oats every day and a protein shake either drank separately or mixed in my oats.
Take a basic multi vit and cod liver, creatine is also good (and has cognitive benefits), since taking creatine regularly I stopped drink coffee every day and only drink it for enjoyment not necessity.
Take notebook with you in the gym: I feel like a dork but measuring what you do helps you make consistent progress and stay time-efficient. Don’t mess around in the gym, get in, make progress, get out asap. A lifting log written in a physical notebook is massively helpful.
Finding the right personal trainer: I had some physiotherapy last year so I emailed my physio for a recommendation. I figured that a physio would know really good trainers who know what they are doing. And I found a really professional trainer on their recommendation.
Anyway in summary, I can now lift heavy shit and feel great. I’m 30, and stronger than I’ve ever been. The last time I seriously weight trained I was 21, now with a trainer, I’ve made great progress so any age related slow down hasn't been noticeable.