Our expert, Vicky Warr, (aka Fit Vic) holds a B.A Degree and Fitness Professionals Personal Training Diploma and Nutrition for weight management. Here she answers some of the most frequently asked fitness and nutrition questions.

Why not also visit our Chat Room, Fit Chat, and post a fitness or nutrition thought or question?

“I want to get a flatter stomach, should I perform sit-ups every day as I’ve heard conflicting advice?”

FIT VIC: “The stomach muscles like your other muscles need recovery time after an intense workout. This time allows them to adapt to the overload so that they get stronger. Performing 100's of sit-ups reps every day can actually cause muscle imbalances and inhibitions due to the repetition. It's best to think of your stomach as a trunk or 'pillar' which includes the hips, abdominals, side abdominals (known as 'obliques') and lower back rather than just the visible ‘six-pack’. For a flat stomach you need to perform various exercises in various different directions on different days to work the entire region. Incorporate a variety of movements including extension, flexion and rotation.  A personal Trainer would be able to provide a programme to incorporate the correct exercises, the number of repetitions and show you correct technique, to avoid compression of the lower back. Good nutrition is also key”.

“My doctors told me about some diet pills that would speed up my weight loss in time for my Wedding. Is it a good idea to take these?” 

FIT VIC: “Crickey No! Diet pills or any sort are a bad, temporary fix. They treat the symptoms but do not get to the root of the problem. You must focus on abolishing negative eating habits and providing a long term strategy of good nutrition and exercise so that you can lose fat safely. Diet pills can be dangerous, one common ingredient in some is ephedrine, which has been linked with several deaths in the USA. Other diet pills may have stimulant ingredients such as amphetamine-like substances causing insomnia, anxiety, hypertension and even irregular heartbeats known as cardiac arrhythmias.  Really try not to look for quick-fix answers in a pill. Pills won’t provide all the benefits that incorporating good quality food, intuitive eating and enjoyable exercise will”.

Fit for ski-ing

“I’m going ski-ing early next year and want to avoid feeling sore, stiff and walking like John Wayne style after one day of ski-ing (this happened to me last year). How can I improve my strength before I go?”

FIT VIC: “Ski-ing involves a lot of movements - twisting, turning, jumping and gliding and requires stamina, strength and cardio-vascular fitness. If you are in a sedentary job and are not used to exercising frequently it will be demanding on the muscles. Hence preparation is the key! Some base cardio-vascular fitness, flexibility, core strength and strength would be good elements to incorporate into a ski fit programme. Focusing on Functional Movements such as squats and lunges to strengthen the lower limbs and calf raises to help strengthen the calfs would be beneficial. Improve fitness with running, cycling or swimming and flexibility with dynamic stretching. Core exercises such as the Plank and exercises with the Swiss Ball will help strengthen your trunk and improve balance. If you are unsure of the correct technique or exercises, see our expert article 'Fit for the slopes'”