Are you a new member of my ZGYM? Or are you thinking about signing up? Then let this post be your guide! I know that after training with me for a while, those old, hour-long workouts and cookie-cutter body split routines will be a thing of the past! Even better? You can do it right in your own home! No more traffic, expensive membership fees, parking, and crowded areas. The ZGYM is your gym, and you’ve got me and a worldwide network of fellow members to connect with and train alongside. So, if you don’t know where to start, read along to get the ball rolling!

Step One: Find Your Fitness Level

Total Newbie: If you’ve never done a single workout in your life outside of PE class, then it’s safe to say you’re a complete newcomer to fitness. And that’s perfectly alright! The Bunny Slope Beginner Workout Program is right up your alley. It’s a progressive program designed to get you in the habit of daily exercise. All you need is 3 lb dumbbells, an exercise mat, power bands, and an exercise ball (if you can increase the weight of the dumbbells, then please do so to help increase the intensity and further progress for better results).
This program is absolutely free- no ZGYM membership required!

Beginner: For the Total Newbies, after you’ve completed the Bunny Slope program, consider moving onto my other beginner programs. Those of you with some fitness experience under your belt who aren’t quite ready to call themselves experienced can start with these, too.
Mix and match or stick to one of the following beginner programs:
Beginner Cardio
Beginner Strength
Bodyweight Beginner

A caveat I want to make is for those of you who are intermediate and above with little to no experience with a particular piece of equipment, like the kettlebell, consider following the beginner program to get a good grasp of the basics and form before advancing to the harder routines.
These include:
Beginner Kettlebell
Jump Rope Cardio Beginner
Tabata Fit Slide for Beginners

Intermediate: You’ve either worked out with me at least for a few months or are used to regular workouts. Now you can start testing your skills and engaging in more challenging routines.
Here are some programs that I recommend:
15 Minute Fat Burn
Legs Like a Dancer
Black Diamond Upper Body & Abs

Intermediate to Advanced: Playtime is over. You’re either a seasoned athlete or have graduated far beyond the intermediate level and need something a good workout to keep you humble. Any workout title of mine that includes an ‘X’ in the end means it’s extreme, so know what you’re going into after you click ‘play’ on the video! (But don’t worry, we’re in this together, so you’re not alone!)
Try any of these on for size:
Jump Rope Cardio Kettlebell X
Killer Legs
Upper Body & Abs Inferno

Step Two: Commit

It’s one thing to say you plan on working out. Actually doing it- and sticking with it- is another thing. One of the strongest habits for success is consistency. You have to be consistent in order to achieve your goal. Doesn’t matter if it’s training to fit into a suit or finishing a project. Without doing what needs to be done on a regular basis, you’ll never get anywhere. Ask yourself, how much am I willing to commit in order to reach my goal(s)? In fact, I’d recommend you do a lot of soul-searching in order to figure out why you’ve chosen this journey in the first place! To get started, I recommend you the following post here on the questions you need to ask yourself before setting goals, along with this post here that teaches you the importance of setting up micro goals in order to reach bigger ones. I also encourage you to reach out to your fellow members for support and encouragement, since we’ve all been beginners at some point and are all too familiar with the struggle of turning fitness into a lifestyle. (Once you do, you’ll be glad for hanging in there!)

Step Three: Whip Your Nutrition into Shape

Time for a change of pace. While exercise is going to help you find your ideal weight and tone and shape your muscles, all of that effort might as well go into the trash if you’re not as serious about your diet. You shouldn’t be obsessed, but you do need to start looking at the food on your plate as an opportunity to nourish your body, instead of depleting it. There are two cornerstones I preach all of the time: bio-individuality (the philosophy of tailoring your diet according to your genetics, lifestyle, age, and needs) and whole foods (basically, anything coming from nature; not a machine). Finding the best diet for you is going to take some time and experimentation. The only person who can ultimately decide what’s best for you is, well, you.
But that being said, I do offer a few guided meal plans that serve as stepping stones to help you determine specific dietary approaches. First, there’s my all-time classic Z-Shred Super Food Meal Plan, which is low carb. After that is the Shred & Glow Plant-Based Meal Plan; it’s not vegan per se, but you can tweak the recipes and make them so (read how you can do that here). Otherwise, it places an emphasis on plant-based foods like whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, lean animal protein, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. And finally, there’s my Keto Meal Plan for Fat Loss. This one is amazing for squashing sugar cravings and creating metabolic flexibility, enabling your body to burn mostly fat and ketones instead of only glucose (sugar).
Why do a meal plan? It provides structure. No more hours of planning your meals ahead of time or figuring out what the heck you’re supposed to eat. Instead, I’ve programmed all of your shopping lists, meals, and optional snacks. The only thing I ask of you is to once again commit by buying the food, cooking the meals, and eating what you make. That’s it. Beginners with little to no experience with nutrition who need guidance would do well in following one of these plans, especially since they’ll truly deliver the maximum results when combined with one of my workout programs.

And there you have it! Welcome again to my website and the ZGYM. If you’re still on the fence, feel free to connect with me or leave a comment below. I’ll be sure to help and look forward to working out with you!