I began working out as a teenager, around the age of 15.  I joined my local health club and over time became so comfortable in a gym that it felt like my second home.   I tried anything I could to get in great shape; weights, cardio machines, and group classes.  I listened to every bit of advice any passing personal trainer would offer and read every fitness magazine I could get my hands on.  My desire to learn about the human body and mold mine into my dream physique even motivated me to become certified as a personal trainer.  Though I was thin and looked okay, I always had a sneaking suspicion that I wasn’t doing something right.   The hours upon hours of time and effort I put into training didn’t really make sense considering I had made only minor gains in my physique.     Years later, when becoming a part of Venice Nutrition, I got my answer.  It was here I learned how to train smarter, not harder.

Despite my background and years in the gym, I was still following a very “old school” way of training, “No pain, No gain.”  When I performed cardio, I was huffing and puffing my way through it and couldn’t have held a conversation if I tried.  I was convinced that if I was going to do cardio, I was going to do it with as much power, effort and strength that I could muster.  When I lifted weights, I gravitated towards the “fancy” machines with the thought that they have to be the most effective.  With the help of Venice Nutrition I learned that not only was I drastically slowing my results, I was sacrificing lean muscle mass (the one thing I was trying to put on to shape my physique!) and slowing my metabolism.  Not exactly what I was going for.  I knew it was time for a change.

After my Venice Nutrition “education” I learned that if I learned to train smarter, not harder, I could see much better results in a lot less time.  I learned that I (like you!) have two different types of muscle fibers- red and white, and they both needed to be trained correctly and consistently for optimal results.  I learned that a treadmill, walking out doors, or a big step mill was twice as effective as a bike or elliptical due to the natural impact of the exercise.  I learned that interval training must be done no longer than 30 minutes and in the right way, or else I risked sacrificing lean muscle mass and slowing my metabolism.   I learned that an old-fashioned push up or squatting even without weights is twice as effective as a fancy machine.  Most importantly I learned that without the right nutrition, I was setting myself up for failure.  Walking into a gym without stable blood sugar can only lead to a loss of lean muscle mass.   

I clearly remember a particular woman who used to come to my gym when I was a teenager.  Like myself, she worked out diligently every day of the week.   She took group classes consistently and would leave the room sweating and out of breath.  The one thing I remember is that year after year, her body never changed despite all of her efforts.  She reminded me of myself.  It’s been almost 10 years since I have seen her, but If I ever run into her, I would love to show her how to work smarter, not harder.  I would share with her all that I have learned.
 
As a nutrition coach, my goal is to educate my clients on how to work out correctly.  Time is precious and if your spending even a few hours in the gym or working out each week, it’s important to make it count!  I invite all of you to learn how your body really works so you don’t have to struggle like I did.  For more information on the best way to maximize your workouts and achieve all of your goals, see your Venice Nutrition Handbook, located under your Help/ Support Tab.  You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish with the right tools and knowledge.  Good luck!

Valerie Cogswell, Venice Nutrition Coach