Dogpound trainer Zay Washington knows all too well how easy it is to sabotage a workout regimen.
So, the pro—a lead trainer at the NYC- and L.A.-based gym Taylor Swift frequented to prep for her taxing Eras Tour—has a message for anyone jumping into a new exercise plan: You need to calm down.
“I see people jump in so fast and without a plan,” the former college football player explained to E! News in an exclusive interview. “They’re like, ‘I’m just going to go every day.'”
His advice—if you’re ready for it—is to take a more delicate approach.
“You need to sit down, write down your goals and then write down a schedule and a plan to help you achieve the goal that you want,” he explained. “That’s the easiest way to fail, if you don’t have a plan. You need some kind of structure and guidance to help you follow and stay on course.”