Coach B! How Do I Lose Weight?

Photo Courtesy of Cherle Durbin

This is a question I hear almost everyday. It usually starts on Monday with someone who comes to the gym after a weekend of poor eating. 

"Coach, how do I lose weight?" I respond by asking the following 3 questions.

1. What have you been eating? Losing weight starts with nutrition. Eating properly is by far the most important step while trying to lose weight. Choose foods high in protein, fruits and vegetables and reduce your sugar and carbohydrates.

2. Are you performing interval training? If not, start! Boring, slow, long distance cardio is not beneficial to losing weight. Increase your cardiovascular exercise intensity. Try intervals of 30 seconds at a higher intensity and 30 seconds at a lower intensity. 6-12 repetitions

3. Are you performing the same strength training exercises all the time? Most people do the same thing all the time. If your doing the same thing, than your body has adapted to the physical stress placed on it. Change something! The number of sets, repetitions, intensity, or rest periods in-between exercises is a good place to start.