Questions I've heard more than once: How do I shrink my belly? How do I get rid of arm “flab”? How do I get six pack abs? How do I get toned? How do I get smaller legs? These questions are similar and quite familiar to personal trainers. Of course the answer is: it depends! Many factors will come into it AND honestly, sometimes the answer is...You don’t! You focus on other things instead. For the most part, you likely have a pretty good idea of what you need to do and may have attempted and even achieved your desired results previously …but it’s not that simple, right? I’m not gonna lay out a weight loss or six pack abs plan for you here. But I will present a few important areas of consideration. Before you lift a weight, break a sweat, or modify your caloric intake in an effort to change a specific body part, consider the following questions.
Why do you want to change that particular body part? In order to sustain the effort needed to make these types of changes, it’s important to have a strong and defined why. Sometimes when we delve into the desire for change, we discover it is based on a previous negative experience, comparing our bodies to others or the bodies of our youth, or something deeper like improved health, self-confidence, strength or endurance. You may find that your desire isn't so much the arms or stomach or legs, it's what they represent to you. Body image issues and negative focus on specific body parts is pretty much a universally-shared experience among women. It’s okay to seek change or "improvement" but at the same time it is necessary to practice self-acceptance, self-compassion, and the realization that perfect bodies, especially as seen on Instagram, don't exist.
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Clients, friends and acquaintances regularly ask what and how they should eat. Sometimes I'm asked what I eat. A prescriptive answer may be desired but I don't have one. As with nearly all fitness or dietary related questions, the answer is, of course, it depends. For most people, what works best is to consume a wide variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods that support individual needs, goals, and preferences and include a mix of carbohydrates, fats, and protein. That's not quite the answer people seem to be looking for but it's the one I've got!
As for what I eat, the answer is almost everything. I eat mostly whole, nutrient-dense foods including plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, lean meats with some processed foods and dining out. I don’t count calories or macros but I generally follow the PN portion control method. I don't do a lot of food prep but I have an idea of my meals for the week before I go shopping. What I do may or may not work for you and that's okay. Below are a few simple tips anyone can use to support healthy dietary habits. |
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