Starting late 2020, I decided to take my fitness goals to another level, and just as I was thinking I won’t be able to keep up with them in 2021, I surprised myself. We are already a quarter in and I’m getting better and loving every moment of my fitness journey. So, if you think you can’t do it, rest assured you can, you just need to start moving (this is one of the most important top fitness tips I ever got years ago). But why move, what if you end up not doing anything productive? Well, if you don’t put one leg in front of the other and move, then you have definitely, and 100%, not done anything! Anyway, enough with the preaching and on to why we are talking fitness today.

Are you a busy woman (or man)? You want to stay fit, keep fit, and stay motivated but for some reason, you can’t for the love of you find the time to do this? Well, guess what love, you are not alone. I’d say there are millions of you out there! So, to help you out on that front, Rachael Sacerdoti, Iraqi fitness coach who launched It’s SO Simple, a fitness program based on her weight loss journey, stepped into The Beautiful Lifestyle Online and shared top fitness tips that will help busy women (and men) like you start and sustain a fitness routine.

Top Fitness Tips That Will Take Your Fitness Goals to Another Level

1. Demystify myths associated with body image and exercise

These are all false:

Lifting heavy weights will make you bulky
You get abs by doing lots of ab exercises
You can change your body shape by working on specific body parts
Don’t obsess about the scales – they only tell part of the story.

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The following are true:

Lifting weights will increase muscle tone but will not make you look bulky
Abs are made in the kitchen. Nutrition is very important when we want to see muscle definition such as abs
You can’t sculpt your body by selectively losing fat in specific places. The only way to influence body shape is to lose fat and sculpt your body by developing specific muscles
The weighing scale will not disclose muscle gain or water weight. Muscle is denser than fat – meaning it will take less space than fat. Whilst you may not be losing weight on the scale, you can still be losing inches or losing body fat.

2. Specific food groups can work side by side to reach goals quicker

There is a place for all food groups in a healthy diet, never deprive yourself
Protein is a critical part of regenerating and building strong muscles, make sure you pack your meals with lean proteins like chicken breast and white fish
Carbohydrates are not the enemy! Aim to eat whole grains and carbs with a low glycemic index e.g. Swap sweet potato for potato
As a broad rule, your plate should be split: 50% of your daily calories from carbs, 35% from protein, and 15% from fats
Vegetables should be included in all meals as they are rich in fiber, nutrients, and anti-oxidants

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3. Eat well and be creative with your meals

These won’t be top fitness tips if the food wasn’t mentioned at least twice or thrice! Anyway, did you know that being on a calorie deficit diet can be sustainable if we’re creative with our meals? For example, an egg taco is perfectly balanced because it contains all food groups. The wrap is the main carb. The eggs contain both protein and fat. The cheese contains both protein and fat. And the vegetables are rich in fiber and are packed full of vitamins.

4. The ease of a complete fitness regime can be done from the comfort of your own living room

All we need is a small space at home where you can lay your mat and a few small weights and bands. In these COVID times, many people have discovered the convenience and ease of exercising at home. Make fitness a ritual in your day. No more excuses!

That said, what are your thoughts on these top fitness tips? Do you think you can add more tips for your fellow humans? Feel free to share in the comments.