{"id":457865,"date":"2026-02-06T15:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T15:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/457865\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T15:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T15:54:09","slug":"a-personal-trainer-reveals-how-to-put-together-the-perfect-gym-routine-to-sculpt-and-tone-your-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/457865\/","title":{"rendered":"A personal trainer reveals how to put together the perfect gym routine to sculpt and tone your body"},"content":{"rendered":"

By SOPHIE HINES, LIFESTYLE & DIGITAL EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 07:11 EST, 6 February 2026 | Updated: 07:16 EST, 6 February 2026 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m pretty good at motivating myself to go to the gym, but once I get there I often find myself at a bit of a loose end. If you\u2019re not following a strict plan with a personal trainer or attending a class, it can be hard to know what to do, and visiting the gym ends up feeling slightly directionless.<\/p>\n

One option to resolve this would be to work with a PT, but unfortunately many of us are finding it hard to justify even gym fees right now, let alone the extra cost of having workout guidance. Luckily, Carol Impey, a personal trainer and manager at Anytime Fitness<\/a> has shared her advice for carving out a successful gym routine.<\/p>\n

Firstly, it\u2019s important to think about your goals and the body parts you\u2019d like to work on or strengthen up through visiting the gym. For many of us the whole body is important, in which case \u2018you could split your workouts into upper body and lower body\u2019, says Impey. \u2018For beginners, I recommend planning at least two to three workouts per week.\u2019<\/p>\n

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To do this, choose around four to six exercises that workout the body part you are focusing on for that session. There are lots of exercise libraries online to help you with this – muscleandstrength.com<\/a>\u00a0has videos of exercises, and is divided up by body area.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Have a good look around the gym and familiarise yourself with what machines there are; lots will have a handy little QR code that you can scan with your phone, and this will show you a video on how to use the specific piece of kit correctly,\u2019 says Impey. \u2018You can always speak to a member of the gym team if you are unsure of how to use anything,\u2019 she adds.<\/p>\n

Then \u2018keep it simple with the 3 x 12 method (three sets of 12 repetitions) and make sure you have adequate rest in between. Sixty seconds would be ideal; give yourself a little longer if needed,\u2019 says Impey.<\/p>\n

Another option is to find an online workout to follow \u2013 YouTube<\/a> is a great source for finding workouts from qualified coaches. The You magazine team recommend Growingannana<\/a>s,\u00a0Kayla Itsines<\/a>, MadFit<\/a>, Yoga with Adriene<\/a>, Izzy Samuel<\/a> and Erin Sampson<\/a>. Or, you can try taking a class that focuses around strength training or bodyweight movements, and then transfer some of the exercises you’ve picked up to the gym floor.<\/p>\n

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Writing down your workout and tracking your progress will also help give you direction. \u2018Use a notebook or the notes section on your phone to track reps and sets, and also write down how they felt (too heavy, not heavy enough),\u2019 says Impey. You can use this to help you slowly increase weights or reps, and see how you are progressing over time.<\/p>\n

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