Stop the Madness!
I can’t tell you how many times I have talked to a friend, and they have told me about their new plan to lose weight. Almost always it consists of at least an hour of cardio daily, with little to no rest days and/or they will be cutting out all starches together. And of course, the plan is working! Ladies and Gents, please STOP THE MADNESS. An hour of cardio a day is only going to end up damaging you, as well as cutting out all starches. Plus, who wants to live like this anyway?? I sure don’t!
After becoming a parent and realizing that time is of an essence, this has really hit me in the face. I just don’t have the time to do one hour of cardio a day, and I sure don’t have time to workout 6 days a week. And let me tell you, I have never been more comfortable in my own skin. Am I saying I’m perfect, NO WAY! What I’m saying is that you are only going to end up doing damaged mentally and physically. Pick up some weights, and be consistent with working out. Currently my workout plan consists of 3 days a week of lifting/plyo workouts, plus one day of a run. If I’m lucky I will do one more workout---usually kickboxing, but that doesn’t happen all of the time. Do I do this every week, I wish! I have learned to take the opportunity to workout when I can, and not wait until Monday to start—relieving the pressure of feeling the need to workout 5-6 times a week has helped tremendously. If I get in those 3 days that week, plus a run, I am happy. My workouts last approximately 35 minutes and I’m done. Every plan doesn’t work for everyone, but I do know that before I had Kensie, I would obsess, and train almost everyday—I would push push push my body, when really I needed to stop stressing about it, use my workout time wisely, and enjoy my workouts.
So ladies, please get off the elliptical after 20-30 minutes, and pick up some weights-seek a professional for a plan that suits you. And please, have a slice of bread-not 6, but have one. Everything is moderation will do you good. You won’t feel deprived of your time, or your taste buds. While some of these methods will work immediately, the after effect which I have seen many times is damaging and a lot of work to fix. It is such a hard concept to retrain your brain to understand that you don’t have to spend hours in the gym, or you have to eat perfectly every single day. No one is perfect, and to put that kind of pressure on yourself is only setting up for failure. So the next time you feel the urge to do an hour of cardio plus a day, turn the silly talk off and create more time for you and become happier because you aren’t killing your body.
Kensie is 2 years old, and I can say that I am in better shape than I ever been. I am comfortable in my own skin and comfortable with food. I am consistent and don’t do anything to an extreme anymore. I drink 1-2 Isagenix shakes a day, which I contribute to being comfortable with food. Why do you ask, because it is a perfect meal, and I am completely satisfied. On top of those shakes, I eat food!!! I eat meals that consist of whole foods and as little as possible chemicals. I eat sensible portions and enjoy my food. My meals are tasty, and full of flavor. In the past I would eat to an extreme, and I would find myself binging on foods I didn’t even enjoy. Now today I can say that I am living free from food and workouts controlling me, or my life, and I enjoy both working out and eating.
The picture below is from my Instagram account (with no filter) that I posted a couple of weeks ago. I had a few treats over the weekend, but kept it real and balanced. Stop living to the extreme ladies, it will only do damage in the end!
xo,
