OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2016

(Women’s Health) NARDIA NORMAN 10 THINGS YOU NEED TO STOP DOING Nardia Norman shares this list of things you should stop doing - for the sake of your health. A s a personal trainer, here are are the top ten things I wish my clients would stop doing. 1. Stop equating the amount you sweat with effectivness Here’s the thing: anyone can make anyone sweat – that’s not rocket science. Anyone can run someone, make them jump and do ridiculous amounts of burpees but that does not mean it’s an effective way to train. There are plenty of non-sweat sessions that are exceptionally effective. 2. Stop equating muscle soreness with effectiveness You do not have to be sore all the time. The key to any good session is to make sure that you stimulate the muscle not annihilate it. 3. Stop expecting to train hard when you haven’t taken care of other important lifestyle factors (e.g. sleep, nutrition, stress) 7. Stop expecting to be entertained in each session If you want to be entertained go to the movies. If you want progression then focus on what your trainer is giving you. Sure, variety is interesting and it is important to enjoy what you do, but wanting new exercises each week will not help you progress (the caveat being, if your goal is general health then maybe this would work). 8. Stop saying ‘I’m here to switch off’ but still expect a hard session No, just no. You need to switch ON at the gym. This is your opportunity to truly connect with your body. To feel it. To feel the muscles working as you concentrate on form. Most people’s issue is that they’re already ‘switched’ off to their body – that’s the problem. If you want to work out hard or do exercises with weights, you need to be focused and switched on. If you want to switch off, then perhaps go and have a massage. 9. Stop beating yourself up Honestly, how do you expect to train if you haven’t set your body up for success? Training is energetically demanding and it’s pretty hard to train with intensity and focus if you have no fuel in the tank, are tired and distracted, or are incredibly stressed. Take care of your lifestyle and then you will be primed to train harder. 5. Stop thinking that you are only allowed to eat 1,200 calories If you want to improve your body shape you need to fuel your body. Effective fat loss goes beyond just eating less and exercising more, you need to eat to meet your training demands. Otherwise you become tired, ‘hangry’, weak and a pain (I say that lovingly). 6. Stop signing up for multiple programs and switching between them Commit to one program and then follow through on it. You need to give your body a chance to adapt. Mixing up your programs may be fun, but it probably won’t get you results (other than body shape maintenence or health improvements). You cannot beat your body into submission. Sure it might work for a while but that approach is not going to be sustainable. Why hate on yourself and punish yourself with relentless exercise and rigid rules? Try reframing your thinking so that training and movement is a form of nourishment for your body. Do it because it makes you feel good. Do it from a place of selflove not self-hate. 10. Stop comparing your progression to everyone else How you are progressing should only be measured against yourself. Not other people. It doesn’t matter what other people look like or how much they are lifting. The only thing that matters is that you keep inching forward at your own pace and in your own time. YOU CAN CONTACT NARDIA VIA: Web: nardianorman.com Facebook: nardia.norman Twitter: @nardianorman Instagram: @nardianorman ( OH! MAGAZINE ) JUNE 2016 19

OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2016 | Page 19