By Sigurd Neubauer
02/04/2022
Ever since the ancient Olympic Games in Greece, which can be traced back to 776 BC, fitness, strength and competition have aspired men from the competitor to the spectator alike in the pursuit of victory and the glory that comes with it.
In modern America, a robust and vibrant fitness culture has emerged, which is easily accessible for those who seek it.
But there are no shortages of mental barriers for men who aspire to get in shape as procrastination and other excuses can too easily get in the way.
Here’s a short – and hopefully easy – guide for the highly motivated on how to get into shape:
“Getting into shape requires an active and sustained commitment,” said Anita Zanganeh, a northern Virginia-based entrepreneur and fitness enthusiast. “For the ambitious man seeking a healthier lifestyle, a ‘Shred Plan’ is a good place to start, especially if your goal is to lose some weight.”
A Shred Plan typically combines a comprehensive exercise regimen, typically stretching between 4-6 weeks, combined with a targeted nutrition plan.
“Nutrition is 75% of getting in better shape,” explained Zanganeh. “If you want to lose weight, the key is to eat less calories than the body needs.” But in order to make a change in lifestyle sustainable, a healthy diet throughout the week – from Monday to Friday – is requited but a “cheat day” on the weekend is allowed, which includes enjoying alcoholic beverages, she said.
For the ambitious, Zanganeh recommends working out 3-5 times a week for the duration of the Shred Plan.
Seeing results
“After two weeks you can see the changes in your body, and after four, your friends and family will begin noticing the changes as well.” If you stick with it, after six weeks, Zanganeh adds, “you’re in good shape.”
She cautioned, however, that after the Shred Plan has been completed and your weight loss goals achieved, “you’re not going to like your body as you will be ‘too skinny.’”
At that point, “adjusting your exercise schedule to three times per week is a natural continuation as the next step towards a healthier lifestyle is muscle building.”
“Nutrition remains important, including drinking water throughout the day every 30 or 45 minutes as its boosts metabolism,” explained Zanganeh.
“For the ambitious man seeking a healthier lifestyle, a ‘Shred Plan’ is a good place to start, especially if your goal is to lose some weight”
It’s all about eating
A common misconception, however, Zanganeh observed is that some believe that “if you don’t eat, you’ll lose weight. Not eating could open the door to negative behavioral changes, including to binge eating and other food-related obsessives,” she warns.
“It’s all about eating right, including before and after your exercises, which in turn will positively impact your psyche,” explained Zanganeh.” It’s all about striking that right balance between a strong body and a healthy mind.”
“The Greeks had it right in their ethos: it’s all about a strong mind in a strong body, “the Tehran-born Zanganeh concludes.
“After two weeks you can see the changes in your body, and after four, your friends and family will begin noticing the changes as well”