FAQ

1) Work out at home or at the gym?
Both working out at home and at the gym is perfectly fine. It depends on your own personal preference. Some people love going to the gym and hitting the weights but others enjoy the comfort of exercising at home.

2) How do I get started if I never worked out before?
The best way to get started is to try different kinds of workouts and find the one that fits your goals best.

3) Should I be counting my calories?
This is something a lot of people worry about. Counting your calories is important but it varies from person to person depending on your weight and specific goals.

Let’s start with those who are looking to gain weight. For example someone who is looking to put on mass may intake as much as 1000 more calories than someone who is looking to get cut and slim down. For those who are focusing on gaining mass, weight, and bulking we strongly advise that you take in more calories, preferably 16-20 calories per pound of your body weight. You should be consuming all of your Macros, which are your carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Carbs are very important when it comes to gaining weight. Some might think that protein is King but in actuality Carbs come first. You will need to intake a lot more calories and carbs are an excellent source of calories as well as helping to rebuild muscle.

4) What is the fastest way to lose weight?
The fastest way to lose weight is NOT hopping on the treadmill and sprinting for an hour! This kind of weight loss may be more harmful than good. A great way to lose weight and many people may be familiar with is HIT (High Interval Training). HIT requires sudden bursts of intensity throughout your workout routine with shorts periods of rest and long periods of high intensity spread evenly.

What some people don’t know is that you actually can burn a lot of calories while weightlifting. But if you are looking to do some cardio with the intention of losing weight, than make it a brisk walk. You should be able to keep a conversation while the cardio to maintain proper fat burn performance. It is a good idea to switch up your cardio sessions between biking, treadmill, elliptical, and a step master. A good 45 min to an hour 4 to 5 days a week is ideal.

5) Will spinach make me look like Popeye?
It would be nice if we could all eat a can on spinach and instantly gain massive forearms but we all know that is impossible and strange. Spinach, however, is a great vegetable. It has the highest protein value amongst the vegetable family and it is a great source of iron and fiber. Spinach is also very versatile when cooking; it can be eaten fresh, boiled, sautéed, or mixed into a salad. PLEASE VISIT OUR HOME PAGE FOR SOME GREAT RECIPES, including SPINACH, COMING SOON!

6) What should I eat before (pre) and after (post) workouts?
Food is better than supplements. We all know about those pre workout products that give you the “pump” during your workout and some of them are good, but if you have option of eating actual food that would be best. A great pre workout meal would consist of slow digesting carbs such as brown rice, whole wheat breads, or a baked/sweet potato. Also be sure to consume lean protein such as chicken breast, fish, or turkey. Eating fatty proteins like beef and steak might slow you down during your workout. Having slow digesting carbs before your workout will provide you with lasting energy and keep away the hunger pangs. Remember to consume your pre work out meals 30 minutes to an hour before you start.

Post Workout meals are VERY important. No one wants their hard work to go to waste and eating the wrong things after your workout can hinder your progress. After your workout you have a one-hour window to eat your meal before your body starts attacking your muscles. Your post work out meal should consist of fast digesting carbs such as white rice, white breads, or potatoes. Eat your fats and fatty meats such as steak or beef. After your workouts your body needs a quick digesting carbs to help muscle recovery and the fats and fatty proteins feed your muscles longer than leaner meats.

From personal experience, post works out meals are a great opportunity to eat some fats and sugary foods because your muscles need the sugars and fats to recover. BUT we are not advising you to go and eat a pint of ice cream or a slice of cake.

7) How do you keep yourself motivated?
VISIT OUR BLOG! =D 

We are here to support you in your journey and we too are looking to reach our own goals. TheOriginalsFitness is a community that supports everyone’s goal and if you ever need some motivation we are here!

Results are the best motivation. What’s better than seeing your progress? Progress is the best motivator to push you to keep doing what you’re doing. But what if you hit a plateau and your progress stops? This happens to all of us and we have to remember that change takes time. Your initial progress may be fast and noticeable but after a while progress slows down. Here is where a depression kicks in, people start feeling like they aren’t getting anywhere in their workout and they give up. DON’T GIVE UP! Just because you don’t see any results doesn’t mean you should lose motivation. The one thing we have all learned is that to stay motivated we must learn to LOVE THE WORKOUT AND NOT THE RESULTS. Sure the results are awesome but if you just workout for results eventually you’re going to see a halt in your progress. If you love your routine and you stay committed, the progress and results will come naturally.

8) What if I’m not making any progress?
Does one become a fitness animal overnight? Of course not. One has to go through vigorous amount of training. Look at it in a different perspective: Inches get people's attention, not pounds. Many people look to the scale to see if they lost or gained any weight. HOWEVER, scales can be deceiving as muscle weights more than fat; so you may have gained some weight due to an increase in muscle during your fitness journey. Measure your biceps, torsos, triceps, and etc. If you can, remember or if not, write down your rep counts for a certain exercise. Be sure to also eat smartly, especially foods that will ultimately contribute to clogged arteries. And finally, it is crucial for you to have taken a before and after photo. This will truly answer your question to whether or not you are making any progress. If you have done all this and still aren't satisfied, change up your work out routine. Your body may have adjusted to your current workout but one thing's for sure, NEVER GIVE UP !

9) Is it true that if there is no pain there is no gain?

That is not necessarily true, sometimes pain is really pain. If you sense that your joints or muscles feel intensely sore, than we suggest you take a day off to see how you feel. If you workout with a bad wrist injury, you could only make it worse. However, if you are feeling a little muscle soreness because yesterday you took it to the MAX and now you are just trying to find an excuse, than you’re losing in the race. Studies have shown that subjects with muscle soreness can continue to workout the same body part without sustaining any injury. We recommend not doing the same body part everyday, change it up!

10) Do genetics really make a difference?

Genetics are a good start to working out. Some people are born larger than others so they have that advantage. However, it doesn’t mean we can’t achieve what they can achieve. We, the smaller folk, just need to work harder and longer to reach our goals. Besides if it were that easy, than where would all the fun be when we beat them?

11) Supplements: Good or Bad?

Supplements, some people shun them and some swear by them. Now just because they are called “supplements”, it doesn’t make them automatically steroids. Ok, we agree that you don’t need protein powder because real food is better.  However, there are some nutrients you cannot adequately get from only food like glutamine and BCAAs. You need glutamine and BCAAs to help your muscles recover. So certain supplements are beneficial after a long workout.

12) What if I’m a vegetarian or vegan?

That is not a problem; although none of us are vegetarian or vegans, there are vegetarian and vegan bodybuilders. You can get your share of protein from tofu, soy, beans, and nuts.