Marta Ustyanich, Copy Editor

They say that ignorance is bliss, but when it comes to training, knowledge is power. When I first set foot in the gym over three years ago, I hopped on a treadmill and ran my way to a 15-pound weight loss – but that’s where the results stopped. I couldn’t afford a personal trainer, and I had no idea how to take my training to the next level. Then, I joined Team Oxygen.

In the past year, as Oxygen’s copy editor, I’ve read every issue a dozen times cover to cover, and I still can’t believe how much I’ve learned and continue to learn every day! As I demonstrated some exercises to my other half at our local gym, correcting his form and detailing the muscles he was working, I was shocked (okay, maybe a little flattered) when I was mistaken for a personal trainer. I couldn’t help but laugh. Skinny-fat me, a personal trainer – ha!

I’m still working on that layer of “love chub” (thanks for that one, Hel!) that’s obscuring the rock-hard abs underneath, but I’m happy to report that I’m well-equipped with the tools – invaluable knowledge I’ve gained from reading Oxygen – to get there on my own. Nothing feels more empowering than taking control of your fitness journey.

When I stepped into the gym that very first time, knowing little about fitness and nutrition, I was overwhelmed, as any newbie might be. It was my drive that got me those preliminary results, but the next step was to fill my head with all the information I could gather to really hone in on my specific training goals.

With my other half recently starting out on his own fitness journey, I’ve come to realize that knowledge is the most powerful weapon in your arsenal of body-sculpting tools. As a former rookie myself, I can offer no better advice than to read, read, read. To avoid a case of information overload, which can be bad news for your motivation, start with any one of these basics: Tosca Reno’s Eat-Clean Diet® Recharged, Just the Rules or The Eat-Clean Diet® For Men, as well as Oxygen’s annual Fat Loss and Off the Couch! specials, all of which will provide you with everything you need to know about exercise and nutrition. Supplement your knowledge with our monthly issues to discover new training techniques for beginners and advanced trainers alike, along with clean recipes and health tips – all the tools you need to optimize your training and diet to keep the results coming.
    
And believe me, the results will come. Your hard work, consistency and discipline will ensure it, while your knowledge and understanding will make living the Oxygen lifestyle intuitive. Take your fitness into your own hands and run with it – the only thing standing between you and the finish line is yourself. I hope to see you there.