Surprising Things Your (Female) Trainer Does Weekly

 OK, so we all know trainers eat their veggies, sip on green juices and shun alcohol (most of the time) BUT here are a few things your personal trainer does weekly – perhaps even daily – that may surprise you!Your trainer… Eats carbsIt’s true, most trainers are advocates of a lower carb diet, because we know that if we’re spiking our blood sugar levels at every meal, trouble (and fat gain) will almost always ensue BUT we also realise the importance of boosting insulin levels once or twice a day, particularly post-workout. The difference is that the carbs we choose are, almost without exception, coming from veggies, fruit and whole grains. We make it feel like a treat by creating our own nutritious carb recipes, such as: soaking brown rice and quinoa in coconut milk overnight and then adding a handful of frozen blueberries, honey and raw almonds to garnish, or making banana ‘pancakes’ (2 x bananas, 6 x eggs, blend and then just fry ‘em up with a little butter!), or raw cacao shakes (avocado, seeds/nuts, raw cacao, ice and frozen fruit). Of course, something simple like some mixed fruit, or a serve of sweet potato will do nicely too!  Your trainer… Plans her tea drinkingIt’s true, health professionals are all obsessed with herbal teas and trainers are no exception! We wake up with green or white tea, sip on ginger post-workout for its anti-inflammatory properties, rely on tulsi for an afternoon wake-up call, choose peppermint, chamomile, or fennel after dinner and keep special multi-spice, cinnamon and vanilla blends in the cupboard to curb sweet cravings. And all with barely a hint of caffeine in sight!Your trainer… Has to motivate herself to workoutSometimes we can’t wait to strap on our shoes and hit the road or the gym, at others we just don’t feel like it. Yep, even your trainers have their moments BUT the difference is, they know it’s consistency that counts and remind themselves that 10 minutes into their workout, they’ll no doubt be feeling on top of the world, so they just do it anyway.  Your trainer… Keeps a food diaryYep, your trainer keeps track of what they’re putting in their mouths too! Like everyone, life gets in the way and for one day a week, or sometimes a full week out of the month, we’ll scribble down everything we eat, just to make sure there aren’t too many add-ons sneaking in there. We’ll also make a note of how we felt after each meal, so we’re aware of the foods (healthy or not) that may not be ideal for us to eat and/or combine.  Your trainer… Eats outTrainers LOVE eating out as much as anyone, they’re just more aware of what they order when they do so. And guess what, 99% of the time it’s super easy to find something healthy on absolutely any restaurant menu. Order anything that pairs protein (meat, fish, eggs, beans, or nuts/seeds) with veggies (don’t overdo the white potato though) and a small glass of red on the side won’t hurt either. Skip dessert, order a peppermint tea with a little honey instead, or share that flourless chocolate cake with a friend if you just can’t resist!  Your trainer… Tries a new exercise every sessionDoing the same workouts day-in and day-out not only leaves you bored, it also sets you on a path to a body shape and fitness plateau. Trainers run around for a living, so the last thing they want to do is 1,000 squat-presses every week! We’re constantly tinkering with our favourite moves to make them different, putting together new movement patterns and creating all new cardio workouts that will keep us on track. The sky’s the limit, so get creative!  Your trainer… Has fat daysWe know you think she’s trim, taut and terrific but guess what? Your trainer has days where she wakes up and feels bloated, wider than usual, or just generally a bit gross too. Our trick? Pop on a more forgiving t-shirt, try to get away from the mirror as quickly as possible and focus on something else. Sip on anti-inflammatory herbal teas, steer clear of salty foods and wheat/dairy for the day and if all else fails, hit the gym – a guaranteed bloat-buster!Your trainer… Eats chocolateWe can’t think of a single trainer who doesn’t have some form of chocolate daily! BUT we don’t choose processed milk chocolate, it’s all about adding raw cacao to smoothies, making your own raw hot chocolates, or indulging in a square of super-dark organic choc (70-80% cocoa plus).Your trainer… Takes a wholefood supplementYep, we eat a lot of fruit and veggies but that doesn’t mean we get the recommended 7 servings every single day – that’s a big ask! A good wholefood supplement can be a saviour, we love Juice Plus fruit and veggie caps and take them daily, without fail (www.bufjuiceplus.com).Your trainer… Worries about her health and/or bodyMost trainers get into the health industry for a reason – between us, the Bottoms Up! team have had a lot of health issues to work through, including high blood pressure, PCOS, insulin resistance, coeliac disease, unexplained weight gain, problem skin and serious heart issues. Woah, that’s a lot of health concerns right there! And for some of us, the trials and tribulations are ongoing. The good news is that these health scares are what prompted us to learn more about health and fitness and become trainers in the first place. Use your own little (or big) health blips as inspiration to create a healthier you and to inspire others as well, it’s a great feeling.  Your trainer… Uses a trainer to get resultsBecause sometimes it’s just so nice to have somebody else do all your thinking, planning and butt-kicking for you. Bliss!Your trainer… Studies/ResearchesTrainers (at least the good ones) are completely obsessed with the sciences – biology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology, sports science – we love it all! We adore research, can’t read enough and love nothing more than to prove (or disprove) all the latest theories on health. Learning about the science behind food, the body and how certain things affect your health is the best way to curb cravings for lollies and weekend binge drinking sessions, because as soon as you have a picture of what those indulgences are doing to your insides, you just won’t want to go there… ever.Your trainer… Works out in their living roomThe best strategy when you really can’t be bothered to hit the gym or go for a run? A home workout! Working up a sweat in your favourite pair of undies and comfy old t-shirt is awesome and these days, there are so many cool sites to download mini workouts from, there’s no excuse not to get moving!Your trainer… Eats meat for breakfastIf we’ve been feeling a little less energised than usual, or have some body composition goals to hit, we ditch the usual breakfast suspects and eat meat, fish, or eggs, plus some good fats (like nuts or avocado) for breakfast. Why? Because doing this sets up your neurotransmitter production correctly for the day and gets your appetite hormones under control. The result? No cravings, lots of focus and a leaner bod in no time flat. Love it.Your trainer… Goes to bed early to work on her absWho says you can’t get a six pack while you sleep? Not getting enough Z’s leads to more cortisol (the stress hormone) and less human growth hormone (the fat buster). This combination can make fat accumulate on your tummy, so get to bed earlier and help your bod fight fat in this stubborn area! If you liked this article, please 'Like' it on Facebook