We live in a world where we expect instant gratification –  we order food, which can be delivered to the door within an hour, and companies like Amazon deliver our packages the next day. Personal trainer, Vharri McMinn, agrees we’re very privileged to live this way, but it can make us impatient in other areas of our life. If we want to change our health, body shape and nutrition, we expect results instantly, and unfortunately, our bodies do not work like that. We cannot order a new body shape from Amazon which appears the next day! 

There are so many different trends around food and fitness – it becomes confusing and often overwhelming. Social media promotes quick fixes, fad diets, cutting out food groups, and low-calorie diets, to name just a few. Most of which are likely to make you feel miserable and rarely maintainable. What do you do when you ‘finish’ the diet or the gruelling six-week shed programme? Where do you go from there? Back to your old eating habits and old exercise ways? Going on a ‘diet’ and then returning to your original behaviour that led to the weight gain will become a never-ending cycle. Changes do not need to be drastic, but by shifting lifestyle behaviours, you can see long-term results – if there were a quick fix, trust me, we would all be doing it!

Fitness is not about being thin but about being mentally, physically, strong and healthy. You need to look at the whole picture (of your health); a balance can be found. Many of us feel intimidated about going to the gym, what to do, which machines to use, how many repetitions, and how long to train for. This is where approaching a personal trainer can help – it is my job to take the guesswork out of the equation. Fitness and nutrition plans can be adapted for individual clients, even individual days, so clients learn to understand what it is like to feel good – mentally and physically. 

It’s essential to think about your health and fitness goals as a journey. Focus on the weekly routines and daily tasks – as humans; we like routine, which also applies to our health. Set simple tasks or goals on a day-to-day basis. Imagine you had to climb to the top of a building via the stairs; if you think about how far you have to go, it can be overwhelming. Start one step at a time, and you will progress slowly and steadily until you reach your target! Think about the steps as your daily healthy choices; each choice will get you closer to your goal. 

There are simple things we can all do daily. Walk, drink plenty of water, eat lots of fruit and vegetables and choose protein every meal. Build a fitness routine, including lifting weights, into your lifestyle. It is all about balance; we need to get our bodies moving; stretch, walk, swim, cycle, lift weights, dance, do yoga, do Pilates. The benefits are endless; you will feel healthier and stronger, have increased confidence, better sleep quality and improved mood, and boost your stamina and energy levels. Finally, eat some cake and have a treat; it is about compromise, not sacrifice. If you have a little of what you fancy, you will not crave it so much. And, most of all, remember, fitness and health is an outfit that looks different on everybody. 

Vharri’s Top tips

Find a form of exercise you love doing; you will be more likely to stick with it

Do not fear lifting weights; the benefits are huge

There is no such thing as ‘bad’ foods or ‘good’ foods;  some simply have better nutritional content than others

Refrain from overcomplicating meals or exercise; there is no need for complex plans

Never put off starting

Your health is wealth

VHARRI MCMINN PERSONAL TRAINING
The Lighthouse, Heugh Rd, North Berwick EH39 5PX
07971 606 131
vharriamcminn@hotmail.co.uk | vharrimcminnpt.co.uk