INKED Fitness Influencers Reveal Their Most Valuable Advice For Getting in Shape in the New Year

Getting in shape at the start of the year can be a tricky task to conquer, however, staying fit is an entirely different beast. And because we know it’s difficult, we thought we’d help everyone out by asking some of the top tattooed fitness influencers for their best advice. Take a look at the gallery below to see how they get in shape and stay in shape—then let us know your tips and tricks in the comments section on Facebook.

Paige Mills

“I think the biggest mistake people make is they plan to start tomorrow, or Monday, or in the new year; and there just is never any perfect time to start. They usually binge on whatever food they want in the meantime ‘while they still can,’ then start an extreme diet on Monday which is too hard to stick to, so they fall off the wagon and start again next Monday. This all-or-nothing approach sets you up for failure.”
“My advice is to change one thing at a time.
Maybe this week you just switch ONE chocolate bar a day for a piece of fruit.
Or you ride your bike to work ONE day a week.
Next week make one more change.
Work on building consistency, but start right now. 2pm on a Thursday is just as good a time as next Monday/year/after you move house/when you start your new job.”

Brian Mazza

“Set realistic goals.

Get a fitness partner that won’t let you down.

If you really want to see quick results cut out processed food and alcohol. 
Sugar ruins everything.
21 days starts a habit. 
Get up and sweat.

Hate me yet?
It’s going to be a journey, but well worth it.
Buy new workout gear for motivation.

Have fun!”

Nikki Nichole

“When I first started working out nearly two years ago, I walked into the gym and was intimidated by all the machines and the people. Learning how to tune everyone out was hard, but it’s something you have to do, because when you’re at the gym it needs to be about you and nobody else. Don’t worry about lifting heavy or looking cool. So that means ladies, you don’t have to stick your butt out and guys don’t puff your chest out because you might fart from flexing too hard.”

“In the beginning, there were so many days that I just didn’t feel like going to the gym, but I forced myself to go anyways. The days that are hardest to go, are the most important. Once you give yourself the option to not go, you’ll start missing more and more days. Every time you step foot in the gym, push yourself harder than you did yesterday and never leave with the thought that you could’ve done better. Eventually, you’ll become addicted to it and you’ll feel like you NEED to go. The feeling of accomplishment that I get from my daily workout is unexplainable. For me personally, going to the gym is therapeutic and a lot less expensive than paying for an actual therapist to treat my crazy ass.”

“Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see a change right away, because results take time. Consistency is key! Transforming your body won’t be fast and easy. If it only took 90 days (like a lot of these internet challenges say), everybody would look like a body builder, but I promise that after you start to see the results, you’ll be so confident that you’ll want to buy a bigger mirror so you can stare at your sexy self.”
“One of the biggest things that I have learned over the past couple years is that you can’t out-train a poor diet. When it comes to the cravings, it helps to tell yourself that you can have it, but that you don’t want it. You don’t have to be on a strict diet, just eat clean. Try to only consume carbs around the time you work out. Most people think carbs are bad, but they are actually extremely beneficial for you if you get them from Whole Foods like potatoes, rice, lentils, beans, etc. Eat greens as if your life depended on it… You might get gassy, but it’s worth it in the end. Stay away from artificial sugar, fast food, and just junk in general.”

“Now I’m not saying NEVER eat junk, because that would be torture and nobody wants to live like that (including me). Just limit yourself. You know if you’re overdoing it when you can’t breath, because you stuffed yourself with too much ice cream (I’m still guilty of doing this sometimes). You’ll thank yourself in the end, because looking good and feeling healthy makes you feel just as happy as eating a whole chocolate cake by yourself.”

JJ Velasquez

“Stay consistent! I wake up and first thing I do is get my workout out of the way, that way nothing comes in way of me getting in my workout, plus I am fresh. 

Discipline. I didn’t start noticing my best results till I stuck with a diet and stayed committed. No junk food or crap, just healthy eating everyday. It’s a lifestyle not a fad.

Intermittent fasting. Eating in a 8 hour window, I don’t eat past 8 pm and eat again in morning at noon, so I workout fasted as well, def helps with fat burn and helps with over eating.

Lift heavy and often! I generally lift five days a week, and Saturdays do full body circuit. 

When I do cardio about 3-4 times a week, depending on my fat loss goal, I do high intensity interval training. So sprints, battle ropes, stair stepper—basically any cardio as fast as I can for 30 seconds on, then 30 seconds rest for total of 15-30 minutes.”

What do you think about these tattooed fitness influencers and their advice? If getting in shape one of your new year’s resolutions? Let us know your thoughts, questions and opinions in the comments section on Facebook.