We asked one of the top Greenwich trainers, Eric Claycomb, to answer the most popular questions asked by local moms. As the weather warms, the layers start to come off… prepare yourself with Eric’s advice for a healthy and effective kickstart to your Spring workout.
Biggest mistakes people make at the gym?
No variation to their workouts and only doing classes (yoga, cycling, treadmill). Another common mistake is strictly doing “cardio” and not implementing strength training. Ask for help! We have specialists for everything in our lives, why not have one for exercise?
Best time to workout and what if I don’t have the time?
Whenever you can schedule and fit it into your schedule. This is common but in order to find the time to exercise, you will usually have to sacrifice something. The best way to commit, is to hire a trainer or join a group fitness class, where you can schedule your workouts every week and lock it into your calendar.
What should I eat before or after I workout and are carbs bad for me?
Eat a normal balanced meal 1-2 hours before exercise (if possible) and a normal balanced meal within 1-2 hours after exercise. If you are regularly exercising carbs will make up a higher percentage of your macro intake (carbs, protein, fat). They should still be from nutritionally dense foods (vegetables, beans and fruit)… just because you exercise doesn’t give you an excuse to eat unhealthy foods.
How can I reduce belly fat and what are the best exercises?
Balanced, healthy diet and regular exercise are the key to reducing belly fat. Core/Ab exercises don’t “spot reduce” fat. You can do 1000 sit-ups a day and still not lose any belly fat. Fat doesn’t get used based on the muscle that is being worked. Your hormones decide when and where to pull stored energy from (fat). Therefore burning the most calories per workout is the best way to reduce fat. We now know that crunches, sit-ups, Russian twists are harmful to your spine. Trunk stability drills, anti-rotation exercises, rotational exercises, and whole body integrated exercises are the best ways to get results.
What is the best way to sculpt/tone arms?
First we must define sculpting and toning. Toning is making the muscle bigger. This is accomplished through lifting heavier weights. Yoga and bar classes won’t help you tone your arms. Sculpting is being able to see the muscle. This is done by decreasing body fat. Regular exercise and a healthy diet will help you achieve this goal.
Eric Claycomb was a manager and elite fitness professional at Equinox for over 5 years and currently runs an elite fitness program “Pyramid Fitness”. He holds a B.S. in Exercise Science and many top-level certifications including Functional Movement Systems and Precision Nutrition. For questions about kick-starting your Spring workout, please contact Eric Claycomb at [email protected] or 814-285-7135.
