GET YOUR BEST BODY IN 10 DAYS
How to look leaner—and gain motivation—in less than two weeks.
SOMETIMES started. the scariest thing is getting If you’ve ever embarked on a new diet or fitness routine—and post-holidays it’s practically a tradition—you can feel defeated before day one. Rather than look at the next few months as a painful slog, just think about the next 10 days. “You can start establishing real habits in that time,” says Julie Wandzilak, a personal trainer for Equinox. Here, experts reveal their top ways to get yourself motivated and make lasting changes in your body.
STAY OUT OF THE GYM
If you haven’t worked out in a while, start slowly. “I don’t even let my [sedentary] clients into the gym for the first month,” says celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak. Instead he has them get a Fitbit to track their daily step goals. By the fifth day they should be taking up to 12,000 steps a day. Though it’s hardly CrossFit, “the greatest transformations I’ve ever been a part of are heavily based on walking,” he says. “If your destination is less than a half-mile away, walk,” adds Wandzilak. “And if there are stairs, take them.” When Pasternak took a year off to study the 10 healthiest countries, he found that the people there all had something in common: They walked far more than Americans (who average 4,000 steps a day). While you can strengthen and tone at the gym, “you get lean in life,” Pasternak says.
PLAN YOUR PLAYLIST
“In terms of psyching yourself up, I believe in the power of music,” says fitness guru Taryn Toomey, founder of the Class. “I love songs that swell and crescendo because they have the power to create endorphins.” Play them in your office, kitchen, and even the By Jessica Matlin. bathroom. The idea is to just move your body, she says. “It will get rid of that heavy energy that can slow your progress.”
THINK BEYOND NUMBERS
If you’re looking to measure success, stepping on the scale can ultimately just discourage you. “It becomes a burden, and often causes people to give up and actually gain more weight,” Packer says. Instead focus on making small, positive steps toward your goal. “It could be that you’re going to get up early on Saturday and go for a run, or that you eat salad rather than pasta that night,” she says. These habits have a way of compounding. “There are studies that show that when you mark something as completed for the day, it gives you a feeling of real pride,” says Wandzilak. “That success breeds more success.”
GET MORE FIBRE
“It couldn’t be less sexy, but fibre is the secret to weight loss,” says dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot, creator of the F-Factor Diet, which is centered on the nutrient. The beauty of fibre is that it’s indigestible, she says. “Your body actually expends calories trying to break it down, so the more fibre you eat, the faster your metabolism.” Also, fibre-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains tend to keep you satisfied, eliminating snacking. Just be sure to drink plenty of water, cautions Zuckerbrot. “It causes the fibre to swell and stretch your stomach, signaling to the brain that you’re full.” The combination of water and fibre also helps with evacuation. “It’s nature’s detox.” Aim for 35 grams daily—most of us get less than half of that. In a study in which women doubled their fibre intake, they absorbed 90 fewer calories per day. That translates to about 10 pounds a year, she says.