Personal Trainer Shares Realistic Tips For Getting In Shape

PITTSBURGH (NewsRadio 1020 KDKA) -- Lisa Seaman, a personal trainer with Fitness Quest Personal Training and Consulting, joined KDKA's Robert Mangino to talk about realistic steps you can take to get healthy and in shape.

When it comes to the word "diet" Seaman says, "we (as personal trainers) just don't' like that word."

She says that fit people do something called a "meal plan" -- a way to change your lifestyle and the way you look at eating.

"We are going to learn how to take the foods, put them in the proper combinations together so that your body can metabolize and burn body fat, so you can be the fitter person," she said.

She calls a diet, "a quick fix for red carpet," but it isn't something that will work in the long term.

Seaman also says you can "tickle your taste buds" while eating the proper foods to fuel your body. The problem is that it takes some "pre-planning" and some people don't want to take the time to learn what spices and ingredients you can add to you food to help it taste good. But she insists that healthy food can be tasty.

Exercise is an import part of getting the body you want to have, as well.

It's hard to get the motivation, but Seaman says getting the help of a friend or personal trainer is, "a great start."

She adds if you like to dance, you can go out and find a dance class, it's something that will help you get your foot in the door.

Then, you need a combination of cardio and weight training, "to really get the body you want."

Starting can be the hardest part but if you find something you really like to do Seaman says, "the endorphin release that you will get and the euphoric feel that you feel, if you pick the thing that's going to be great for you, it's almost incomparable."

Seaman says just, "get the foot in the door and the rest will take care of itself."

Listen to Robert Mangino every weeknight from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on NewsRadio 1020 KDKA.