For your best friend, it was taekwondo, while your boss realised she was born to run. Everyone seems to have their own winning wellness formula, so why can’t you find yours? The key to getting a workout that bolsters your wellbeing on a long-term basis is to make sure it fits your goals and personality. Luckily, we live in the age of FITIST — the online service that creates and schedules custom exercise routines. How do you know it works? Here are three case studies from would-be fitness enthusiasts still looking for their winning routine:
1) The Cardio Junkie: Editorial assistant Lauren Williams, 26, made the stipulation that she needed ‘to exercise close to home or the office.’ Before taking the test, she tried to reach her goal of toning up everywhere – especially her waist – by running a three-mile course outside three times a week before heading to work. FITIST prescribed four classes per week; two 60-minute core or Pilates classes, one 45-minute Flywheel Spin class and one 60-minute cross-training boot camp class. But why? ‘A boot-camp class that combines upper- and lower-body moves—like walking lunges and push-ups—gets the heart rate up quickly, burning fat and calories and toning muscles in a time-efficient way,’ says David Kirsch, a personal trainer in New York City who works with Anne Hathaway. He adds, for a flat belly, ‘she needs to target the muscles that run down the front and sides of the body as well as the lower back.’
2) The New Mum: Sophia Banay Moura, 31, wanted to shed her last five post-pregnancy pounds. ‘I used to be a runner,’ she said. ‘But now I have no time.’ She was also looking for a healthy substitute for her late-night ice-cream habit. Sophia was prescribed two 60-minute cross-training performance classes, one 60-minute core-centric class and one or two runs for 40 to 60 minutes, doing intervals with pace and incline. Ramona Braganza, a personal trainer in Los Angeles who keeps Jessica Alba and Halle Berry in shape, explains, ‘She might look at her belly and think she needs to lose five pounds, but it’s more about regaining muscle tone. Just because something used to work for her—like running—doesn’t mean it’s always going to work, especially after a major life and body change.’ Oz Garcia, a nutritionist in New York City, suggests, ‘Rice-based, non-dairy “ice cream” or fruit sorbet will let her keep her night-time ritual but has way less fat and sugar.’
3) The Foodie: Beauty and health director Ying Chu, 35, wanted to burn fat and build muscle without putting on too much bulk. She notes, ‘I’m pretty motivated to exercise, but I always eat out. Plus I travel often, so I need a routine that works on the road.’ Before taking the test, Chu ran three miles or took three spin classes a week, and went to a Vinyasa yoga or strength-training class a few times a month. She comments, ‘I’d love to fit in four to five morning sessions every week.’ If that sounds familiar, the FITIST formula dictates that Chu should be doing two 60-minute cross-training performance classes that blend jump squats, pull-ups, a stair-climber, and stationary bike. It was also recommended that Chu take up one 60-minute core-focused class, one 60-minute yoga class and one 35- to 45-minute run per week. Kirsch points out that his 5-Minute Quickies routines on YouTube could work wonders for Chu when she’s travelling. He adds, ‘The muscle-confusion aspect of this plan–having so many different kinds of workouts–will help make it easier to fit exercising into her hectic lifestyle.’