WIN: Cash For Abs! Meet Four People Who Are Paid To Work Out In Malta
New year, new me, new excuses to not take out that gym membership we’ve been promising ourselves since last year’s jeans became this year’s upcycled handbag. But would it help if your fitness regime was paid for by your boss?
Kicking off 2020 with some hardass fitness goalsis something you’ll find on most people’s list of good intentions for the next 12 months.
The promises come loud and fast. We will work out at least three times a week, and we will not spend our one hour at the gym bitching about Berta’s questionable taste in Lycra pants. Oh yeah, and we will also learn to say no – to that extra helping of pastizzi.
Fast forward to the end of January and we’re reaching for the third slice of pizza and settling down to binge on episodes of Friends we’ve seen at least twice before. A healthy lifestyle? Next year, bro.
Thing is, it doesn’t have to be like this. It’s the 21st century and figuring out a decent health-work-wellness balance is not exactly rocket science.
Especially if you’re lucky enough to be working at Blexr, an iGaming company based in Malta that is literally paying its employees to pursue – and achieve – their goals for a fit lifestyle.
The way it works is like this: everyone who works at Blexr gets given a Wellness Benefit that can be used on anything that helps employees live a healthier lifestyle.
Basically, whether a Blexrian’s resolution for the new year is to work out more, attend a gym class, or pursue some kind of healthy activity, their Wellness Benefit will cover it. Their work/life balance is made #betterwithblexr
But don’t just take our word for this. Check out what these four lucky souls who work at Blexr have to say about the best ways to get fit and their top tips for working out. Remember that their healthy lifestyle is not costing them a cent!
At this stage we only have one question: how do we join?
If you’re now wishing that your company paid for you to get fit, then keep reading to find out how you and a friend can each win a free one-year membership at the Living Well gym at the Hilton in St Julian’s, courtesy of Blexr!
Francesco Dimech, IT product owner
I’m a mega-fan of the Wellness Benefit as it pays for fitness classes and for my gym membership. I work out almost every day and I like to keep it varied, switching between high-intensity interval training (HIIT), lifting weights, running outdoors and CrossFit.
My number one passion is obstacle course racing. I have goals! One day, I plan to take part in the Spartan Trifecta, which involves completing three races in one year.
It’s really cool that we can use our benefit to take part in these competitive events.
The best thing is that the benefit doesn’t have to be used on the gym membership itself, but can go towards anything related to wellness. Thus, a big chunk of mine also goes towards recovery treatments, like physiotherapy sessions, visits to my podologist and sports massages.
After all, wellness is not just about going to the gym!
The first time at the gym can be quite a daunting experience for newbies. I still remember the feeling, especially when faced with all those machines. My top tip? Start out with a class where the instructor will walk you through the different exercises and show you how to use the equipment.
This is the easiest way to become familiar with everything while meeting new people and having fun. Plus, knowing you’re on the right track will motivate you into keeping to your new routine.
Oh yeah, workout soreness is real. But don’t get discouraged just because your muscles feel a bit achy. This is totally normal and it actually means that you’re on to a good thing and that the workouts are having an impact.
Having said that, don’t forget to stretch before and after your workouts. It may seem a bit extra when you’re raring to kick off the routine (or to go home), but you will feel less sore later and you will also avoid injuries.
So pick a goal – do you want to lose weight? Build muscle? Improve stamina? – follow your programme and before you know it you’ll be wondering why on earth you didn’t do this before.
Just one word of caution: don’t overdo it. I know it’s only too easy to get carried away by enthusiasm, but if you’re new to the gym game you need to start out training a couple of times a week. Stick with the programme and you’ll be saying hello to gains in no time.
Faye Pace Decesare, PR & events co-ordinator
I’m a true fitness freak, so guess which is my favourite perk at Blexr? No prizes for this, sorry – I’m addicted to working out, and I even teach fitness classes in my free time, so the Wellness Benefit is totally amazing.
As my fitness routine is very demanding, I tend to use my benefit on recovery sessions such as physiotherapy and regular sports massages. I just love that it can be used on pretty much anything fitness-related, even courses, so I recently used it to pay for my Zumba instructor certification course in London.
Since you can say that I live the fitness lifestyle, I do have some rules that I swear by when it comes to health and training.
Never Miss a Monday!
Hey, this is when we’re supposed to be at our freshest, after a weekend of chilling. Monday also sets the tone for the rest of the week. You kick off with a sense of accomplishment that makes you less likely to skip workouts later on during the week.
Summer Bodies are Made in Winter…
…and abs are made in the kitchen. You need to keep up your training all year round to achieve your goals. But nutrition is also the key to weight loss. You can exercise as much as you like, but if you don’t eat right, it’s all for nothing.
Prevention is Better than a Cure
I’ve learned the hard way through my own injuries, that if you train a lot, you need to take care of your body. We only get one of those! Prevention is better than a cure in the fitness industry, so I really recommend getting regular sports massages, at least once a month.
The good news? You guessed it – I claim these on my Wellness Benefit, too.
Always Be Moving
The most important thing is to vary your fitness routine and be as active as possible. The trick to staying fit and healthy is to always keep moving. Whether you’re walking the dog, taking the stairs instead of using the lift, hitting the gym or letting loose in a dance class… if you’re moving, you’re doing it right.
Jeshua Navarro, QA Engineer
My Wellness Benefit goes towards a yearly membership at a nearby gym and on a personal trainer with whom I train once a week. This is my first time doing the whole gym routine, so I am really learning a lot from my trainer!
He pushes me to the right degree I need to keep the momentum going and to keep me motivated. Let’s be honest here, without him I probably would have quit going to the gym months ago. Don’t judge – you know you’d be guilty too, without the right motivation. Happily, my Wellness Benefit made it possible.
I work out an average of three times a week, depending on how busy I am at work – but also, on my mood. Hey, we’re only human. During my workouts, I mostly use the machines to work up a sweat, and I follow up with some high-intensity interval training. I like to keep things simple.
Working with a trainer helped me discover many things about my working out style. Like, I have really good stamina and endurance, but I lack strength. This is one of my goals, gaining strength.
My favourite exercises? Pull-ups. I may not look like I’m taking any medals on the pull-ups front, but don’t be fooled. I’ve become extremely good at them. Lately, I’m also enjoying doing push-ups because my form has really improved and I can do a lot more reps now.
Nothing beats seeing the small improvements, week after week, for that motivation factor.
My training philosophy is not to aim for fast results. I believe in being active and working out, or practising a sport, as a longterm choice in order to lead a healthy life.
Nutrition is super important in the whole scheme of things. I don’t eat meat as I grew up in a meatless household, but I get my protein from other rich sources, like fish, eggs, quinoa, nuts, beans and lentils. And I do make it a point to have a protein shake after I finish a workout.
My best piece of advice? Never eat a big meal right before a workout, as it may make you feel sick. Opt for a banana instead. I learned that the hard way!
Yana Vella, Company Accountant
My training programme consists of mostly weight training, with a bit of metabolic and HIIT circuits. I also enjoy doing some gym-based cardio, such as treadmill sprints, rowing or even intense walks.
My preferred time for fitness training is in the morning, right before I start work. It helps me feel better throughout the rest of the day, making me more focused and energised.
And I’m very proud of that I competed in the IFBB Bikini fitness competition before joining Blexr. The Wellness Benefit has inspired me, and I might even take part again next year.
Of course, with goals like these, I find having access to this kind of benefit a real bonus.
I also use it to get sports massages every now again, because feeling good and pampering ourselves is also part of our wellness routine.
I have to say that I do rely a lot on this benefit as, when I’m in competition mode, I need to change my fitness and nutrition programmes every four weeks. It can be quite an expense, but getting reimbursed makes my life a lot easier.
Squats are my favourite exercise because they actually activate the whole body and not just the legs. They also help to build core strength and improve posture, so what’s not to like?
My top tips? I believe in listening to my body and resting when I need to. If you regularly workout you should schedule a sports massage or similar recovery session at least once a month.
Every seven to eight weeks, I take a week off training which helps refresh me both mentally and physically. This way, I feel stronger, more energised and motivated when I get back into my routine.
I have also learnt to be flexible with my workout routine. If I’m not in the mood for doing squats, I’ll swap them for another lower body exercise. I have 10 training programmes and I can easily alternate between them.
When it comes to diet and nutrition, stay away from the processed stuff and go for whole foods.
Oh, and a cheat meal is a meal, not a day! When I’m craving pizza, I’ll go to my favourite restaurant and I’ll enjoy it, but I won’t spend a day bingeing on bad food. It really does undo all your hard work.
Love the sound of a free gym membership for a whole year? Well, this is your chance to win one for you and a friend!
Yep, you heard that right.
Tag a mate who desperately needs to sign up to the gym in 2020 and you could both be the lucky winners of a free gym membership at Living Well in St Julian’s for the entire year thanks to Blexr!
This will include access to a fully-equipped Precor gym, squash courts, tennis court, indoor swimming pool, plunge pool, sauna, steam room, spin studio and fitness class studio.
The winning post will be announced on Blexr’s Facebook page on Wednesday 15 January, so keep your eyes peeled there. Increase your chances by explaining just why the pair of you need to get off the sofa and into the gym.
Only one post per person is allowed, and you can only tag one person too, so choose your potential training partner wisely.