Fat Loss Quick Start Guide: 3 Ways to Create Momentum

Thanks to the "interwebs" we have access to soooo much information about exercise and fat loss. In fact, I decided to go in to personal training because I was spending so much time researching health and fitness I figured I mine as well make it my job. The problem is we can get overwhelmed by the information. Should I go low carb? Keto? Vegan? German Volume Training? Bare Class? I often get asked what is the BEST exercise for X or the BEST diet for Y. If you are so concerned with finding the BEST plan, you may never start.  Rather then focus on details of the Super Duper Fat Loss Extreme Program, let's focus on a Quick Start Guide to your fat loss.  Like any new gadget you have to start with the basics, and get familiar before you start utilizing the more complex features.

# 1 Drink Water
Begin by asking yourself "How much water do I drink?" If you don't know the answer then its probably not enough. Start with 1 liter for every 50lbs of bodyweight, so a 150lb person would drink 3 liters of water.  Water can help with energy levels, curb hunger, keeping your skin hydrated AND you get the bonus of getting up from your desk to pee more often which means less sitting! See what I did there, I turned a negative into a positive.  

#2 Work on Your Sleep Hygiene 
You may not have total control over your sleep, but you can control your sleep environment.  A few simple steps can make a huge difference.  Start with light blocking curtains and keep any lights coming from electronic devices to a minimum.  I go so far as to cover the light on my AC unit with cardboard.  Keep the TV watching and social media scrolling to outside the bedroom and try to turn devices off 30-60 minutes before bed.  People often complain that their brain is racing at night and they can't fall asleep or get back to sleep when they wake up.  Bombarding your brain with loads of information right before bed cannot help this situation.

#3 Start Walking
Clients are constantly asking me questions about cardio: how much? best kinds? before or after weight training? Walking may not burn a ton of calories but it has many benefits. It's easy on the joints, helps to relieve stress while putting minimal stress on the body.  It's an opportunity to catch up with a friend, or listen to the latest podcast (a slight obsession of mine) or to get out in nature. In fact the exposure to natural light during the day can help you sleep better. It isn't sexy or sweaty but it is simple and effective.

Before you start obsessing about the details of specific programs, work on this quick start guide and you'll be on your way to your goals.