People desperate to shed a few extra kilos can be guilty of buying into the common myth that detox diets and constant cardio is the right path.
But a top personal trainer and health expert who revealed his biggest gripes with the weight-loss industry has warned to stay away from ‘get thin quick’ regimes.
Queensland trainer Clint Hill shared with FEMAIL his top tips for keeping the weight off for good – and says there is no ‘easy fix’ for a healthy, fit body.
‘The common myth is there are people telling us someone like Kim Kardashian lost 12kg in 10 days. The truth is, this is just not possible to do and would never work in the long term,’ Clint said.
Personal trainer and fitness expert Clint Hill (pictured) has busted some of the worst weight-loss myths
The common myth is there are people telling us someone like Kim Kardashian lost 12kg in 10 days. The truth is, this is just not possible to do and would never work in the long term,’ Clint said
‘There are so many things you can do to physically make your weight lighter on the scale, but to actually lose fat cells there are no quick fixes.’
Clint, who works as the national personal training manager for Vision, says he has witnessed too many people dangerously use detox diets to lose weight fast.
Coupled with the wrong workouts, Clint warns this type of crash dieting can be detrimental to your health.
Instead of Googling quick fixes and losing weight for short term goals – such as fitting into a wedding dress – the personal trainer has suggested the best ways to ease into a healthy, fit lifestyle.
Clint, who works as the national personal training manager for Vision , says he has witnessed too many people dangerously use detox diets to lose weight fast
Coupled with the wrong workouts, Clint (left) warns this crash dieting can be detrimental to your health
1. NEVER STARVE YOURSELF
Clint warns the worst habit a serial dieter can get into is simply starving yourself in order to lose fat.
Too many personal trainers offer meal plans for clients that are 700-800 calories per day – but Clint says this is nowhere near enough nutrients.
‘This amount of calories doesn’t meet the basal metabolic rate and can cause you to miss out on vital macro and micro nutrients,’ he said.
‘Exercising hard on an empty stomach is also a bad habit to get into as your body craves fuel to burn while working out, and without energy to burn the body starts to eat away muscles.’
Clint also warns the worst habit a serial dieter can get into is simply starving yourself in order to lose fat
‘Exercising hard on an empty stomach is also a bad habit to get into as your body craves fuel to burn while working out, and without energy to burn the body starts to eat away muscles,’ said Clint
2. FOLLOW DIET PLANS FROM NUTRITIONISTS/DIETITIANS
Another bad habit for those desperate to lose weight is following meticulous meal plans found online or in the pages of a magazine.
Clint says most diet plans are catered to a personal lifestyle or medical history, and following the wrong one can have the opposite effect.
He also advises that sticking to a strict diet will only work in the long run if you plan to stick to it permanently.
‘A lot of celebrity diet trends are for short term goals, such as looking great for a photos hoot or event. But if you want to look good for life, your diet has to fit your needs perfectly and for the long-term,’ Clint said.
Clint says most diet plans are catered to a personal lifestyle or medical history, and following the wrong one can have the opposite effect
He also advises that sticking to a strict diet will only work in the long run if you plan to stick to it permanently
4. DO NOT TAKE PALEO LIGHTLY
Many people confuse healthy eating with cutting out certain food groups entirely – such as the paleo diet, veganism or vegetarianism.
But Clint says there can be negative health effects to abruptly changing your diet with the sole intention of dropping a few kilos.
‘Going from eating meat everyday to never touching it, your body will undergo severe changes. This can include bad side effects, such as your zinc levels dropping dangerously low,’ he added.
Clint’s advice for changing your diet to lose weight?: ‘Eat four to five regular meals, including carbohydrates, fats, fruits and vegetables and then watch what happens.’
Many people confuse healthy eating with cutting out certain food groups entirely – such as the paleo diet, veganism or vegetarianism
5. EXERCISE TO SUIT YOUR LIFESTYLE
According to Clint, there is no one perfect exercise regime to suit everybody.
All his clients have different needs and lifestyles, and catering your workouts around this can help to ensure it is a permanent fixture in your life.
‘It doesn’t matter what your choice of fitness is. If it makes you happy and keeps you healthy, do it however you like,’ he said.
‘Be sensible about what works for your lifestyle. Around 2pm might be the best time for muscle mass and early morning for burning fat, but you need to figure out what regime will work in the long run.’