FAQ’s

What is the best way to track your caloric input and caloric output?
Tracking caloric input and output is tricky and is not an exact science—it involves a lot of estimating. I always encourage people to focus more on calories as a useful tool for comparison-for example, am I taking in less calories than I did yesterday or am I burning more calories in this workout than I have before? Does this sandwich have less calories in it compared to the one I usually eat? Calories are really important for losing weight but tracking accurately and precisely is hard to do and can start to drive a person crazy. I have found that looser comparisons work best.

Can a virtual workout actually help me lose weight?
Absolutely! Many people find that the time they save by not having to travel to a gym is really helpful in terms of keeping them consistent with their exercise. You can burn a ton of calories in my zoom fitness classes which will help you maintain or lose weight, build muscle, improve balance, and reduce stress.

How do I get rid of belly fat around my waist?
There’s no such thing as spot reducing- meaning unfortunately we don’t get to decide where we lose our weight from. The place a person carries their weight has a lot to do with genetics and gender. What we can control is eating well to lose weight and doing strength training exercises, including plenty of core work to have a strong midsection.

What foods are good for losing weight?
There are no specific foods that will help you lose weight. Weight loss has to do with taking in less calories compared to what you have been doing so any foods that help you achieve this will be useful for weight loss. A diet that is balanced with plenty of fruits and veggies, whole grain carbohydrates, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats will help you feel satisfied as you cut back on calories. Taking out 250-500 calories per day is a good place to start-more than that can be too fast and ultimately not helpful for weight loss.

Does working out every day help decrease stress levels?
Yes! It doesn’t have to be an intense workout every time either! Find out what works best for you-do you feel best after a slower pace workout or one that gets your heart rate up? Everyone’s stress is different but working out consistency a few times per week can be really helpful for keeping stress levels down.

As a woman, will I bulk up if I start to strength train?

Absolutely not! Women should do strength training in order to build muscle which helps maintain or increase metabolism. This in turn, helps with weight maintenance. Strength training also helps stimulate bone mass.

How can I start to lose weight?

It can be intimidating to begin but I always encourage clients and friends to start small with a change that feels doable. Pick one area that you struggle with. Maybe its a time of day or a particular food like desserts and make a doable goal. For example, choose to have a very defined afternoon snack of a pice of fruit and some nuts or a cheese stick instead of endlessly snacking throughout the afternoon. Or maybe you want to decide on a caloric number to keep your dessert to. Think about what you’ve been doing and pull back a bit from there.

How can I build bone mass?

Building and maintaining our bone mass is so important! Along with taking in enough dietary calcium, stimulating our bones through strength training is incredibly important and helpful. Add some core work and balance exercises to round it out!

How can I be held accountable for my workouts?

Join one of my live zoom classes! I love when I get to check in with my friends and clients during our zoom workouts. Joining my live zoom class is a great way to have a quick check in and for me to know that you’re getting your workout in! If you choose the recorded video I ask that you send me a quick text when you’re done to have a bit of accountability. I find that joining the live zoom class is really helpful for a lot of clients versus doing a prerecorded video that one one checks in on.

Why should I add strength training to my workout?

No matter what your health goals are strength training is so important. Doing so helps build and maintain muscles which help improve metabolism as well as bone mass and muscle definition!

How do I get a six pack?

Getting a six pack or being able to see your stomach muscles requires a lot of work! For many people this means losing some fat and doing enough core work that those muscles become defined and visible.

How can I tone up my arms?

I’m a very big fan of doing lightweight arm work-using 1, 2 or 3 pound weights with high repetitions-think about continuously moving your arms without a rest for 3-10 minutes at a time. I have found this is a great way to improve the muscle tone on the arms and it mimics the kind of work we do in everyday life with repetitive tasks.

What foods should I eat before a workout?

Before a workout carbohydrates before a workout are the best way to have immediate energy. Things like fruit, pretzels, cereal, granola bars, bread or other starches fairly low in fiber are really helpful.

What foods should I eat after a workout?

After a workout you should focus on carbs (fruits, cereals, crackers, whole grains and starches) to replenish your glycogen, protein to repair and build muscle (low fat dairy, lean meats like chicken, turkey, soy products, eggs) and fluid to rehydrate.

What foods should I eat for more energy?

Having more energy requires having a balanced day of lean protein, whole grain cars, and healthy fats without any meals being too high in fat. When you’re able to eat moderately sized meals every 3-4 hours and drink enough fluids you’ll have better energy throughout the day.

Why should I drink enough water?

Drinking enough water helps you distinguish between thirst and hunger which can be useful for weight loss. It also gives you proper energy throughout the day and during your workout.

How do I lose weight quickly?

I never encourage individuals to lose weight quickly because the chances of keeping that weight off is really low. While there are always exceptions, usually losing half to one pound per week is healthy and safe and can be accomplished by decreasing overall calories by 250-500 per day.