By instinct or simply not knowing any better, many fall into the trap of massive cardio sessions believing it will burn fat the best. Sure, incorporating cardio into your workout is beneficial, but it’s paramount you balance it out with the rest of your workout schedule. If you’ve just completed a strength workout, following it up with a 1-hour run can impact on your muscle gain. A better way to approach cardio sessions is to use HIIT (high-intensity interval training) after your workout. Through this, more calories are burned while avoiding those well-worked muscles. NOT HITTING THOSE MACROS There cannot be enough emphasis put on the importance of hitting your daily macros (fat, carbs and protein). After all, your workout doesn’t finish in the gym - it extends through to when you’re home. What you eat and how much of it can greatly impact on fat loss and muscle gain. Make a note of your macro intakes and ensure you are doing your utmost to hit them. As always, keep a special emphasis on protein, as this macronutrient will promote lean muscle growth as well as muscle recovery. Protein is king! Don’t skimp on it! Try OxyWhey Lean Protein here! NOT HITTING THOSE MICROS We do tend to hear so much about macronutrients, that we can easily forget the micros! What are they? Micronutrients are comprised of substances such as vitamins and minerals. Long story short, while they are still required to maintain life, you need less of them. Still, if you’re running at a calorie deficit, you could be depriving your body of essential micros that allow it to run at optimal level. To ensure you’re hitting your daily macros, supplement with a multi-vitamin or branched-chain amino acids such as Beyond BCAAs! Try Beyond BCAAs here! CUTTING LOOSE ON CONDIMENTS This one is a little hack that could completely change the dynamic of your fat loss. It may seem minor at the time, but going crazy on heavy and thick sauces with your meals can have a considerable impact on fat loss. While substantial salads packed with all the right ingredients may be prepared guilt-free, saturating it in dressings can often add unwanted sugars and fats. Yes, dressings do taste good, but make sure to check what you’re adding to your meals if you’re serious about your fat loss. PICKING PROCESSED OVER WHOLE FOODS Meal preparation does not have to be a chore. Cooking with healthy whole foods is an undeniably effective way of ensuring fat loss is consistent and healthy. When you shop, try to scale the outskirts where whole foods are found. Heading down each aisle and purchasing bulks of processed food can negate the hard work you’ve done in the gym. Aim for vegetables, meat and whole grains and you’ll thank your body in the short and long term! The lesson: Good food = great gains!
AU
UK
CA