Kick start a healthier, happier you

Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator

In the quest to be healthy, many persons' plan of action involves hitting the gym every morning, noon and night. But according to personal trainer Nicholas Pitt, without the proper information, all that work will be for naught.

Pitt has devised a more hands-on approach to training with a new programme that takes him into his clients' home. He will reorganise refrigerators and pantries and go shopping with the clients.

"Everyone knows how to shop, but contrary to what they may think they know, they have no clue about the additional additives that may be in products marked 'sugar free' or 'fat free'," said Pitt.

He will also set up diet plans with three meal options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There is also room for snacks. "Monotony kills us," he said, adding that this is a major pitfall for dieters.

"Lack of knowledge is the major cause of the obesity problem, not only in Jamaica, but all over the world," he said.

"Most persons know how to eat healthy, but don't know how to eat for weight loss, which is all about calorie count." He noted that the common mistakes people make when they try to lose weight is skipping meals. Pitt said this is detrimental, as having five (properly proportioned) meals per day actually speeds up the body's metabolic rate. These five meals will include breakfast, lunch, dinner and two snacks.

Always have colour on your plate.

Stick to complex carbs such as yam and potatoes. If you're eating carbohydrates at night, make sure it's not more than four ounces.

At nights, stay away form snacking on unhealthy desserts and replace juices with water.

Make sure that the first thing that goes on your plate is protein.

Don't skip meals. Skipping meals works against you as you have to keep your metabolic rate up.

Pitt said that many people who go to the gym in the mornings, skip breakfast. This, he noted, causes many persons to undertrain. He recommends a shake for those who no not have a strong appetite in the mornings.

All About You Fitness Studio

8 Goodwill Terrace

Tel: 925-6630/403-5256