I get asked a lot of questions and my most common ones are always about fat loss and nutrition. Here are some of my more popular questions.
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HOW MUCH CARDIO SHOULD I DO?
There’s no set rule as to how much cardio should do when you are trying to lose weight. But generally I would recommend 3 cardio sessions per week. Running and walking are my favourite types of cardio because they are so great for leaning out your legs. I would also combine cardio with light resistance and / or HIIT training for best results.
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HOW CAN I GET ABS?
The best type of workout for getting abs really is HIIT training. Here are some of my favourite HIIT workouts.
But remember, the key to getting abs is actually your diet! When you have a lower body fat, your abs will be more visible. Getting a lower body fat will mostly be due to your diet, and then HIIT, cardio and resistance training. All of these things are important. My flat stomach ebooks contain an 8 week clean eating program and a mix of all of these workouts – click here to find out more.
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WILL FAT BURNERS HELP?
I personally haven’t used them, so I can’t talk from experience. But most fat burners include caffeine, which is actually known to help increase your metabolic rate and burn fat. So fat burners could possibly help. The problem with taking them is thinking that they are a quick fix or a substitute for healthy eating. They would only help if you were already sticking to a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
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HOW CAN I SLIM MY THIGHS?
Power walking and cardio are the best exercises for slimming your thighs. Lighter resistance circuits are also great and will help you build muscle (which will help you burn more calories!) without adding too much bulk. Have a read of my Victoria’s Secret leg workout for ideas. I also have a workout and nutrition program specifically to help you lean and toned your legs – click here if you want to read more about it.
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SHOULD I EAT LOW CARB / HIGH FAT?
Eating lower carb will definitely help you lean out and lose weight, but eating super low carb is not sustainable for the long term. If you are starting your weight loss journey, then yes I would try to focus on low carb and higher fat and protein. Just make sure the carbs that you do eat are mostly fruit, vegetables and other foods that are high in fiber! Read more about low carb diets here.
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SHOULD I AVOID CARBS AT NIGHT?
The best time to eat carbs is in the morning (due to your hormones) and also post workout (again due to hormones). So if you have done a workout at night, then you should be eating carbs. It really just depends on your schedule. I try to eat the majority of my carbs at breakfast and lunch, and only eat them at night if I have done a workout. Some blog posts on my daily diet can be found here and here.
Again, if you’re interested in my eBooks, here they are!
Find out more about the skinny legs eBook here.
Find out more about the flat stomach eBook here.
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Is it okay if I do power walking every day to get rid of my fat? (I also dance at school and I was wondering if it will build muscle?)
I guess that I have big muscle in my thighs or maybe it’s fat but I’m scared that doing power walking will build a lot of muscle because I’m a mesomorph person. What do you think? And if I stretch every time that I’m finished doing my workout, is that going to lean my muscle? It’s a question that I’ve been asking to myself a lot!!
Hi Rachael! Great post, as usual. Thanks!
I can’t remember if you have ever talked about it but what quantity of salt should we be eating?
And, as a vegetarian, salt and fat are often present in vegan protein sources like veggie sausages or else so how can I do to keep eating proteins without eating too much salty and greasy food, that engenders cellulite and bloating.
Hi Claire, I haven’t actually discussed sodium in detail on my blog so thanks for the idea! Australia’s guidelines suggest 460–920mg per day is adequate, but to stay under 1600mg. Most bottled sauces contain lots of sodium – for example, Chicken Tonight has about 840mg of sodium, per 100g. This is a LOT! I would try to avoid pre-packaged sauces all together, unless it’s something like passata which is 100% tomatoes. I don’t really use pre-packaged sauces, but I do make my own using things like canned tomatoes, coconut milk / cream, honey, low sodium soy sauce, nut butters, pesto, etc. If you avoid anything deep fried and packaged then you should be already cutting out a lot of salt and grease! xx