5 Successful Habits of
Fitness Professionals: Jason DeHenzel
This week we are continuing with our 5-week series, where we are uncovering successful habits that our very own team of fitness professionals live by.
Last week, Sophie DeHenzel shared her fitness, nutrition and lifestyle habits responsible for her success. If you missed her top 5 strategies, you can catch it here.
This week we have Jason, Co-Owner of DeHenzel Training Systems, share his top 5 strategies and habits for success when it comes to health and fitness.
#1: Power Hour
For the past few years I’ve implemented a mourning routine, called “power hour” (unrelated to drinking 😉 ) from one of my favorite fitness professionals, Todd Durkin. Power hour is getting up at least an hour before I have to leave for the day to ease into the morning. Aside from showering and getting ready, I like to spend this time reading or relaxing for a bit. This helps me start my day off right without rushing or feeling rushed.
#2: Counting Meals
Counting the number of meals throughout my day helps keep me on track in terms of getting enough protein, carbs and veggies in my diet. An average amount of meals throughout my day is 5-6, aiming for 3 before lunch and another 2-3 before bed. Not every day is perfect, but counting my meals helps me stay in check with getting the right nutrition in my body and consuming enough calories. Dependent on my goals (weight gain or weight loss), the meals and portions vary too.
#3: My Hydroflask
My 68-ounce Hydroflask was given to me as a gift (thank you, Vadim!) and it keeps water cool (even in the hot car) all day long. I rarely leave the house without it and I strive to drink 1.5 bottles throughout the day. A big deterrent for me before the Hydroflask was not having readily available cool water throughout the day. Since most of my day is on the go, I found myself not consuming enough water and feeling dehydrated and sluggish. The Hydroflask was a big game changer for me and now I drink enough water all day, every day!
#4: Cutting Out the Crap
Last year I did a very strict “get lean” 12-week bodybuilding type diet as an experiment and had a lot of success with losing body fat and retaining muscle. Aside from the physical results, the diet got me on a really good eating path, incorporating more vegetables in my meals and eating more frequently. It also taught me that I don’t need the cookies, chips and sweets that were frequent in my diet before. It’s now a rarity that I eat junk food, nor do I find myself really wanting it. Cleaning up my diet has been huge in terms of becoming healthier, functioning more efficiently, looking better and feeling better.
#5: Auto-Regulation
Having gone through a few training related injuries in the past five years, I’ve learned the importance of knowing when to push hard and when to back off and go lighter. Now this isn’t a free pass to slack off in my workouts, but what this does mean is if my training program has me doing a single heavy deadlift and I’m struggling with my day, I will go a little lighter on the deadlift and perform the scheduled heavy single the following day or few days. In the past, I’ve pushed through all aches, pains and exhaustion and ended up with more setbacks through little injuries. If it hurts, I don’t do it – simple as that. I’ve made more strength gains by having this mentality.
**Stay tuned for next week when Richard, Fitness Professional at DeHenzel Training Systems, shares his top habits for success!**
Written by DeHenzel Training Systems
5 Successful Habits of Fitness Professionals: Jason DeHenzel
About DeHenzel Training Systems: DeHenzel Training Systems offers In Home Personal Training services throughout Northern Virginia and Washington DC. Aside from in home, personal training is also available at the office gym or outdoors at a local park.
Within Northern Virginia, we service Loudoun, Fairfax and Prince William Counties including: Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lansdowne, Leesburg, Lorton, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Springfield, Sterling, Tyson’s Corner, Vienna and Woodbridge.
