The Best Fitness Advice I Ever Received



You should do this type of workout…
You need to try this diet…
This is the best workout to loose weight or build mass…

If you ever find yourself in this type of fitness or wellness conversation, it probably sounds very familiar. Everyone, whether they are a fitness professional or not, seem to give their two cents on what they think YOU should or shouldn’t do.

Reality is, everyone is unique with different needs and goals. The way one reaches those goals will vary depending on how their body responds to the stimulus. Some of the best advice is by living and learning on your own, as well as through other people’s experiences. Therefore, discussing options, hearing opinions, and learning from others can impact your view points.

MY TOP 3 FITNESS TIPS

There’s a lot of fitness advice I’ve received over the 25+ years I’ve been in the fitness in-dustry. Some good, some I didn’t agree with, and other suggestions I didn’t quite “get” until I grew wiser into my fitness profession.

I have learned a lot from others, through working with a variety of clients, and from per-sonal experience. A lot of advice you may hear is very specific to certain people’s beliefs and could sway you to think the same. So, I have a few great tips of fitness wisdom that has helped me along the way and hopefully it will do the same for you.

These tips can apply to everybody, no matter what your fitness goals are.

TIP #1

Stretching is just as important as the workout.

  • WHY: I used to slack on stretching thinking I’d “do it later when I had more time”. Even in my classes, participants would stay for the workout, but leave for the stretch! When in fact, it’s just as important and it doesn’t require a lot of time to reap the benefits. It not only prepares them for the next workout, but it prevents soreness, in-jury, and keeps your muscles and joints mobile in all ranges of motion.

  • IMPLEMENT: Make stretching a daily priority. Whether it’s 3 minutes on your own or in a full yoga class, it will help your body recover and achieve more in the long run.


  • TIP #2

    Kill it softly.

    • WHY: Every workout doesn’t mean you have to kill yourself in the process to get a good workout and being sore to the point you can’t walk doesn’t determine your workout success. For example, when I first started working out, I spent hours in the gym. If I wasn’t sore the next day or two, I felt like I did not push myself hard enough. This was a mistake on many levels. First, being sore is nice to know you woke up the muscles and gave them a challenge. But if you can’t walk or move easily, it will effect your next workout! Plus, a solid workout an be accomplished in just 10 minutes, not an hour+. It’s too much.
    • IMPLEMENT: It’s great to challenge yourself and ‘feel the burn’ but know your lim-its. Sometimes less is more and will help you achieve greater results.

    TIP #3

    Love what you do, do what you love.

    • WHY: There’s nothing worse than suffering through a workout that you’re not into. It’s not only grueling, but it might be something you dread when doing something that’s positive. For me, it’s spinning. I used to race mountain bikes and teach 10 classes a week- and now, I’m literally spun out! I’d rather run outside in the heat all day than get on a spin bike!
    • Find a workout style you love and do what works for you. Workout styles and exer-cises are not a one size fits all. So if something hurts, doesn’t feel right, or you really don’t like the activity, there are plenty of sports and other activities to choose from that may work better for you. Plus, if you love doing something, you will be more driven to do it!
    • IMPLEMENT: If you already know what activities you like and will do, then great! Keep doing them. If you haven’t found that activity that gives you a ‘workout high’ yet, try to test out different workouts, take a class, or play a sport. Give it all a chance because YOU like it, not because someone else tells you that it’s what you should do. You are your boss. Take control.

    MORE TRAINING TIPS

    Receiving advice is only as good as how well it resonates with you.

    Therefore, I’ve asked other well respected trainers and fitness enthusiasts what their best fitness advice is to offer a different perspective on the topic. There’s a lot of great advice, so take it all in and hold onto something that will move your needle.

    TOP TRAINER ADVICE

    DRE BALDWIN

  • Former Professional Basketball Player, social media star, author of several motiva-tional books, TED Talk speaker
  • Instagram: @dreallday
  • Advice: Be sure to train the stabilizer muscles (smaller supporting muscles) along with larger muscle groups to prevent injury.

  • SIERRA FELT

  • Megaformer instructor at Bodyrok NYC
  • Instagram: @sierra_felt
  • Advice: Listen to you body and vary your workouts with cardio, strength and flexi-bility.

  • JERRY NEWELL

  • Hard working fitness enthusiast who loves outdoor sports and activities.
  • Advice: You can’t outwork a bad diet.

  • MARK FAZOLARI

  • Personal Trainer, Health Coach, Positive Speaker
  • Facebook: Mark Fazzolari
  • Advice:
    1. Body intuition and learning to listen to your body.
    2. Reconnect with nature and natural cycles.
    3. Embrace your uniqueness and be yourself. Everyone requires something dif-ferent to perform at their best, so do what is best for you.

  • KATIE STEWART

  • Psychologist & yoga/ meditation teacher
  • Instagram: @meta.kate
  • Advice: Consider your mindset and focus on your overall health and wellness to be consistent with a regular fitness routine.


  • ROSE CHAN

  • Track runner, College Student at George Mason University
  • Instagram: @lilflowerchan
  • Advice: Don’t be fit for anyone but yourself. Be your own boss and take control of your body.

  • DANE ROBINSON

  • Fitness Trainer & Atlanta’s Professional Woman’s Football Coach
  • Instagram: @danerobinson92
  • Advice:
    1. Be sure to incorporate stretching/ flexibility and recovery to give the body down time in order to perform optimally.
    2. Fuel your body right to get the results you want.



    VIDEO

    This video highlights words of wisdom from other fitness pros, athletes, and fitness en-thusiasts that I respect and admire. Learning from others is a beautiful gift. Enjoy.

    These are a few tips that you can incorporate into living a healthier lifestyle. However, the most important advice is to focus on your health and happiness first. Be kind to your body and treat yourself with respect. Recognize how amazing you are and be grateful for the traits you possess.

    Best always,
    Maria
    @GROOVYSWEAt
  • Maria Sollon

    Maria Sollon Scally MS, CSCS holds a Master’s Degree in Performance Enhancement/Injury Prevention and Kinesiology. She has obtained numerous certifications in various areas of fitness and is a national conference presenter. Maria specializes in Pilates, Performance Coaching, and Corrective Exercise Techniques and Kettlebells. She is the creator of the Plyo Pilates Method and has developed a series of amazing workout DVDs. She is a Master Trainer for Total Gym, Resist-a-Ball, Body Blade, Peak Pilates, Kettle Bell Concepts and is a freelance writer for Fitness accredited magazines, newsletters, and fitness blog sites. Maria demonstrates her knowledge each day and uses her dynamic creativity throughout her specialized line of work. http://www.groovysweat.com http://www.groovysweatstore.com (purchasable workout videos) http://www.youtube.com/groovysweat (workout clips)

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