Staying in shape all year round might seem impossible, but it’s not! The key to staying on top of your fitness game is to get into effective and straightforward habits you can actually maintain. But where do you start? What’s actually going to be efficient and practical?
Read on and learn 7 habits used by people who stay in shape all year round 👇 How many of these do you already do?
#1 Read nutrition labels 🥦
Reading nutrition labels is great to learn what is actually in the food you eat. How much protein does it have? How much fibre? Is there too much added sugar? Or are the saturated fats too high? Quite often clever packaging and fancy words like “high protein” or “no added sugar” on the front of the pack can fool you into thinking it’s a healthy option, when it might not be. Here are some things to look out for when studying nutrition labels:
Look at the nutritional information listed under "per 100g" instead of "per serving". Quite often the recommended serving sizes are much smaller than the portion you'd actually eat
Aim for foods with 15g (or more) of protein. This is a great amount and will help boost your fitness journey.
Aim for foods a good amount of fibre. This means that the carbs in the meal are whole grain, filling and nutritious.
If the food contains fats, aim for most of these to be unsaturated fats (healthy fats), instead of saturated fats (unhealthy fats).
In general, buy foods with less artificial ingredients, added sugar, salt and saturated fats.
#2 Strength train 3-5 times per week 💪
Strength training 3-5 times per week is the optimal amount to build lean muscle and a strong body. This is the amount where you’re training enough to build muscle while also giving your body enough rest time between workouts to recover. Doing this consistently every week is highly effective for gaining muscle and weight loss.
Tip: if you’re strength training 4 or 5 times per week, split the workouts into “upper body” and “lower body”. This way you’re giving each muscle group a day's rest between training.
Why not make your workouts work for you? Personalise a training plan with the trainn app.
#3 Walk 8,000-10,000 steps each day 🚶
There’s nothing magic about these numbers, but getting in 8,000 - 10,000 steps per day means you are regularly on your feet and therefore keeping an active lifestyle.
You can easily get your step count up by walking to work, the gym or other appointments. Use it as an excuse to get outdoors, where you not only get your blood pumping but also boost your mental wellbeing.
#4 Include protein and veg with all meals 🥘
It’s no secret that a high protein diet is key to seeing results in your fitness journey. It will fuel your muscles with the right nutrients to grow; it will nourish your body; help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and give you fuel and energy for your workouts.
Aim to include a healthy protein source and vegetables with (nearly) every meal, and make this take up most space on your plate.
Looking for some meal inspiration? Check out our guide on how to get 100g protein in a day.
#5 Avoid binge drinking 🍻
There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a glass of wine on a Friday night or having a couple beers when catching up with friends, but for the sake of your fitness journey, alcohol is best enjoyed in moderate amounts. Try swapping out sugary sodas with soda water or swap heavy spirits with low-percentage alcohol drinks.
Binge drinking every weekend will leave you dehydrated and deflated. You will crave unhealthy foods and likely consume more than you need. And even worse, a hangover the next day will give you no motivation, energy or capacity to workout, making it harder to get back on your plan.
Give these tips a read on how we maintain both a social life and a healthy lifestyle.
#6 Prioritise rest and recovery 😊
During rest is when your body starts the muscle-building process, which is why enough recovery time is important to your fitness journey.
Sleeping 7-9 hours each night is recommended to adults for a reason. It recharges your body, helps establish a routine, and gives your body time for the muscle-building process to kick in. If you can, aim to sleep 7-9 hours every night, and aim to go to bed / wake up at the same time every day.
Furthermore, it’s important to prioritise rest days between workouts and to listen to your body if it needs a break. By going ‘all-in’ every single day you will risk burnout and injuries. Remember, there will be days once in a while when you skip workouts, and that’s fine - a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body.
#7 Be disciplined, not just motivated 🏆
Someone who has built a strong body knows it takes hard work and dedication to get there. They know that it requires getting comfortable with the uncomfortable – pushing yourself in workouts and staying disciplined with nutrition.
While skipping a workout or eating what’s considered an “unhealthy meal” is absolutely okay every now and then, it typically isn’t something which someone who stays in shape all year gives in to every time the urge is there. They think ahead and remember what will feel good and benefit them in the long run, instead of just the current moment.
To avoid hitting a plateau in your training, aim to consistently progress your workouts with heavier weights or more challenging exercises. Use progressive overload to gradually push your muscles further. This will also keep you mentally stimulated and find working out exciting. And finally, remember that relying on discipline and motivation are two very different things.
Ps. You might like this article on how to overcome a weightlifting plateau.
How to start your healthy habits and workout routine
Staying in shape all year round is possible for anyone, not just the elite. It’s about knowing what to build into your workouts and healthy lifestyle, and understanding the best way to implement these.
The trainn app gives you everything you need to make your fitness goals a reality – personalised workouts, healthy habits and weekly accountability. Your in-app Personal Trainer develops a bespoke workout plan to not only continuously evolve and hit new targets, but make it sustainable enough to fit your lifestyle. You also have 24/7 messaging with your PT, to ask questions about anything training and nutrition related.
Download trainn today, and make a massive step forward to staying in shape all year round:
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