New year, new you? Here’s how to get super fit in 2017

The first month of the year is just getting over. But still we have time to decide on how we’re going to be fitter, better versions of ourselves in 2017. It’s tempting to rush right in, but experts say that it’s wiser to take things slowly. 

London-based “trainer to the stars” Matt Roberts says it’s up to the individual to decide what getting fit means to them, but in general, it’s best to start where you feel confident of success and progressively challenge yourself from there. 

START SMALL 

Matt says, “For example, a complete beginner could start with simply increasing general activity. If they don’t already reach 10,000 steps a day, they could work to gradually increase their step count until this becomes the norm.” 

“Next, they could look to raise the intensity three to four days a week. They could do this either by going for some more purposeful faster walks or jogs or perhaps joining a beginner’s group exercise class, which can range from dancing or climbing to strength training or aqua aerobics.” 

Matt insists that it doesn’t really matter what the exercise or activity is “as long as it is enjoyable, serves the individual’s idea of what fitness is, and is progressively challenging over time.” 

Zahra Pedersen, founder of London-based Muslim fitness company The Healthy Hijab, agrees that the biggest mistake people make with their New Year resolutions is to “take on too much too soon”. She says, “They basically try to change their entire lives in 24 hours, which is next to impossible.” 

MAKE A PLAN 

Zahra says that most people get so caught up in wanting to change their lives that they forget to put in a lot of the necessary preliminary work. 

She advises, “If you're not used to eating a healthy diet, cutting out excess sugars or preparing your food in advance, you’re going to need to make a concrete plan if you want to stick with it.”  

“Planning could be anything from printing out new recipes you want to try, creating weekly food plans, researching healthy options for snacks or even working on your mindset.” 

JUST START! 

At the same time, Zahra says it’s important not to overthink it. “The first thing I always recommend, as annoying as it may sound, is to just start! Go to the gym and start playing around with different types of exercises, classes and training methods; figure out what type of training you like to do and feel comfortable doing before anything else.” 

GET A TRAINER 

If you have a specific fitness challenge but aren’t used to training, Zahra recommends investing in a personal trainer to get you started. “All fitness challenges are made to push you out of your comfort zone, and if you don't know how to do that in a safe way, getting help from a professional could make the experience more enjoyable and even lessen your risk of injuries.” 

CHANGING YOUR DIET 

Zahra recommends that dietary changes be introduced slowly. “First cut out the obvious toxic foods from your diet, like sugars and processed foods. When you feel comfortable with your ability to manage that, take it a step further and start cutting out bread, pasta and rice. This way you start clearing out your diet without it becoming overwhelming.” 

And Matt agrees: “For example, eating colourful fruits and vegetables at most meals might be your first focus point. Next, you might focus on reducing portion size with most of your meals. Gradually each of these behaviours will become automatic and will add up to a big change. The key is to be consistent and patient as making a big difference that lasts will often take time.” 

MODEST EXERCISE 

For ladies who prefer to exercise in modest dress, Zahra suggests trying out women-only classes or women-only gyms. “You can also train with a friend so you have someone to give you a heads up if your modesty is being compromised by a specific movement.” 

She added, “If you’re very concerned about your modesty, you can always train from home. You don't need a fancy gym or expensive equipment to get fit; in fact, I regularly train from home on days when I don't have time to go to the gym or want to train while catching up on something on TV. If you're uncertain about training from home because you don't know what to do, there are thousands of online workout plans.”