Over the past eight weeks I have been following a strict meal plan. My goal was to lose 2kg’s of body fat and to increase my strength and muscle tone for summer. When I got back from the UK in March I really wanted to take advantage of the chance to get some consistency in my fitness regime and diet, but it took me until only a few months ago to really step up my progress.
To achieve my goals I decided to see a trainer who could not only plan my workouts for me but who was also able to take care of my nutrition plan. I always thought that my knowledge was pretty sound, but I quickly found out that there was a lot of stuff that I was doing wrong in both my form and my diet. Having a professional to sit down with has made all the difference. It’s why when people ask me about my diet and my workouts, I always say speak to a trainer. It’s not a cop out, it’s genuine advice.
To achieve the change I had to go on to a calorie deficit to burn fat. My first body scan gave me a clear insight in to my body and the areas which needed work. At just over 15% body fat I wasn’t overweight but I didn’t have the tone or shape that I wanted. Having my macros done also ensured that I knew exactly how much protein, carbs and fat I needed to maintain my muscle mass whilst shredding body fat.
At first I was hungry all the time and my energy suffered. The diet was counter productive because my workouts were suffering. It’s important to listen to your body and I discussed this with my trainer who tweaked my calories slightly. After the change the balance was just right and I really started to move on my goals.
It was a challenge to stay on the diet, but as I began to see results after the second week it motivated me to keep going. Not only do I look healthier, I also feel much healthier. In eight weeks I’ve managed to almost eliminate chocolate and chips from my diet, I rarely drink alcohol and I’m much more aware of what I eat, and how much of it.
Staying on the diet also meant taking time off the diet. Life needs to be worth living and I allowed myself the odd treat or cheat meal. You have to indulge yourself otherwise you just end up binging. It’s why most diets don’t work. You just deny yourself and then give up. Never be afraid of food or of eating, just make sure you understand what you are putting in your body and most importantly how much. I always tell my friends to eat the damn cake, just don’t eat the whole cake. Love life, love food, be sensible.
My diet right now consists of lots of vegetables, nuts, mince chicken, brown rice, lean beef mince and tuna. Education and portion size is everything. I have learned how to prepare those foods healthily and tastily using much less oil and fatty sauces and more yummy herbs and chillies.
The main goal now is to try and gain a little size in my butt and shoulders. I’ve got another session with my trainer today to discuss the next stage.
