Personal Trainer with Cerebral Palsy, Jay Moir Shares Five Fitness Tips for People with Disabilities (and the able-bodied) 

Wheelchair-bound Jay Moir made a major comeback from being overweight and depressed to becoming one of three personal trainers in a wheelchair in Scotland. His determination and confidence are proof that fitness can be achieved by everyone, no matter what phase of their lives they are in. 

Due to cerebral palsy, Jay has severe movement limits in his legs, but since he was a young boy, he was determined to prove that unfortunate circumstances should not mean that someone could not exercise. For Moir, equality in the fitness industry is of utmost importance because fitness is essential to ensuring physical and mental health. 

When Jay succumbed to depression a few years ago, he dropped out of school. He found himself in a downward spiral and gained 3 stones, but Jay quickly decided to turn things around for himself. Therapy was the first step, but he also joined the gym and used MyFitnessPal to change his nutritional habits. In no time, he lost 5 stone and decided it was time to help others. 

Jay Moir’s five fitness tips

Whether someone is able-bodied or disabled, their diet and exercise affect how they feel, even their mental state. All people feel at their best when they are healthy. According to Jay, there are many myths about dieting and exercise that need to be exposed. He reveals his favorite tips here:

Diet myths and how to lose excess weight

According to Jay, many people believe that because they have mobility problems, they must cut down their food take to an absolute minimum to lose weight. This is untrue, and it’s also a mistake that many able-bodied people make when wanting to lose weight. Starvation does not necessarily lead to weight loss and is unhealthy. Any weight loss achieved with this type of diet regimen is often put right back on again soon after the diet is stopped. Any correct diet plan needs to ensure that the right nutritional values are maintained, and even though weight loss may be slower, it is easier to maintain afterward. Following a good nutritional program allows a better understanding of the body’s needs. 

Consistent workouts

When Jay started working out again, he attended the gym 6 days a week. However, that is not essential for everybody, but a level of consistency is ideal. A fitness routine needs to be maintained and workouts should be scheduled on the same days and times during each week. Small workouts regularly are far better than intensive ones at irregular periods, and people with disabilities can benefit from less intensive workouts that can help to improve their fitness levels. 

Balance workouts

Achieving a balance of both cardio and strength building exercises is vital for all people seeking to improve their fitness levels. Alternating these offers a well-rounded fitness routine. For people with disabilities, moderate-intensity aerobic activities may include wheelchair walking or swimming. Strength building exercises can include lifting weights and push-ups, and these can be adapted according to their disabilities. 

Many people with disabilities may have individual needs as far as exercise is concerned and personal trainers, and trained gym personnel can suggest alternative exercises with the same benefits. 

Finding a pace

For anybody starting to exercise again after having stopped for a while, pacing the exercise is a good way to proceed. However, they need to start small initially, to prevent loss of motivation and hurting their muscles but should ramp up activities as they become stronger and fitter. This can be done by adding more weights and making the exercise harder. Fitness is all about setting goals and working toward them. 

Seeking motivation from others

Exercising alone is never as much fun and unless someone knows, it can be very difficult to achieve the desired levels of fitness. A personal trainer has the required knowledge to tailor a workout according to the individual’s needs and to also help maintain the right levels of motivation. 

Gyms are the ideal environment because being surrounded by other people encourages those wanting to up their fitness levels to attend consistently and gives them extra motivation. 

Follow Jay Moir for more advice

Jay Moir is serious about sharing his advice and opinions on the fitness industry on his website. Read his articles on body positivity, weight loss, and so much more. Follow him on Instagram for inspiration from his workouts and nutrition videos.