We tend to think of our "fat-burning" zone only when we do aerobic training, but we should stay in our "fat-burning" zone throughout the day. Most people who seek the help of a trainer are looking to get rid of those unwanted pounds, but if their metabolism is constantly burning calories from carbohydrates and proteins (lean muscle) instead of stored body fat, they are going to struggle. The questions which can help determine if your client’s metabolism is burning carbs and lean muscle for energy instead of stored body fats are:

o                    Do they struggle with cravings?
o                    Do they skip meals or eat only one to two meals a day?
o                    Do they have a history of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia?
o                    Do they get irritable if meals are missed or delayed?
o                    Do they suffer from mid-morning and afternoon slumps?
o                    Do they struggle with lightheadedness or get dizzy when they bend over?
o                    Do they get sleepy or get an energy surge after a meal?
o                    Do they wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back asleep?
o                    Do they need to eat every couple of hours to keep their blood sugar up?

If they answered "yes" to several of these questions, their metabolism is working against them, and their results will be hindered, which is why we need to obtain this information from our initial consultation and learn how to fix it.