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FAISAL ABDALLA is the Barry’s Bootcamp master trainer who helped Ellie Goulding achieve her optimum shape. He shares his top fitness tips for achieving body confidence goals. Listen up…
GET OUTSIDE
“Now that it’s brighter and warmer, we can take our training outdoors. The vitamin D we get from the sun boosts our happiness levels, and there’s so much you can do outside that costs nothing. Go for a run, hike, cycle, yoga session, HIIT (high intensity interval training), mobility… Just get out and into nature.”
FIND A TRAINING STYLE YOU LOVE
“If you enjoy something and it makes you happy, you’re going to find the time for it. With HIIT, you can get amazing results with a 20-minute session.”
PUT IT IN THE DIARY
“Exercise has got to be part of your life and schedule. Like brushing your teeth, look at exercise as an essential part of your daily routine.”
DON’T FORGET TO STRETCH
“Stretch after each session and keep moving, especially when you start to stiffen up. Find the time to use a foam roller. We all have five minutes before bed, so stretch then. And make sure to schedule in rest days.”
HIIT THE HOME WORKOUTS
“I am a massive believer of HIIT. You can do it at home, in the open, add weights for extra intensity and strength work. There are so many apps and videos. My YouTube channel, PMA Fitness, allows you to work out anytime with anyone in your home.”
IDENTIFY YOUR WHY
“One way to achieve a positive mental attitude (PMA) is to identify your why. Why do you want to lose weight? Tone up? Get stronger, healthier? Every time it gets tough, shut down that negative voice by asking yourself, ‘What’s my why?’”
TAKE A FARM TO FORK APPROACH
“Try to only eat carbs post-workout and combine them with a protein source. Stick to good carbs like quinoa, butternut squash and sweet potato. If you take a farm to fork approach – meaning the food is grown out of the ground and has gone through very little processing before you buy it– you’re on the right track. In terms of snacks, it’s as simple as a handful of almonds, cashew nuts or blueberries.”
FOCUS ON YOUR PMA
“Positive mental attitude is the key to success in everything from fitness to healthy eating because it’s what drives us. It stops us from giving up. It’s not just fitness – it’s life as well. Happiness is a journey. It’s about learning to be happy with whatever you have, rather than always searching for that one thing you think will make you happy.”
Photo by Becca Matimba on Unsplash.
This article originally appeared in IMAGE Magazine. For more beauty features, check out the June issue of IMAGE, on shelves now.