Image by: Rance Costa
Written by Halle of Whole Lifestyle Nutrition
New Years Resolutions
Happy New Year everyone! So did you make New Year’s resolutions for 2013? One of the most common New Year’s resolutions people make is to get fit. For years that was my New Year’s resolution – Get fit, feel great!
Wait a minute, I think I made that my resolution for 10 years straight. If I didn’t conquer that goal in the past 10 years, could I have been doing something wrong?
Are You A Yo-Yo Dieter?
Are you one of those people that has spent countless years yo-yo dieting?
I am. I have tried every diet imaginable and every exercise known to man. I finally got the whole eating thing down – simple enough, eat real food, throw out the processed junk and stop when you are full. Ok maybe it isn’t that simple for some, but it’s a great starting point to be on the road to good health.
What about exercise? Could I have been doing something wrong when it came to exercising?
Are You A Slave to Exercise Routines?
Do you believe that jumping on a treadmill for 45 minutes will make you fit and fabulous? Could we be doing something wrong?
As Dr. Phil would say,“How’s that working for you?” Or in this case, “How’s that working for us?”
It isn’t! What we are doing as a society is not working whether it be with our nutrition or how we exercise. Change needs to happen, and the sooner the better.
What Exercises Should I be Doing?
Ok, so if jumping on a treadmill is not the answer, then what is?
There is so much conflicting information on which exercises to do including cardio, weights, crossfit training, interval training, pilates, yoga, and the list goes on. The Bottom line is that you have to enjoy your workouts to stick to them and you have to have variety.
- I believe in order to achieve your ultimate fitness health you must include weights into your daily exercise program.
A few years ago, when I was working toward my fitness goals, I was speed walking, biking, running and rollerblading. I had hit a plateau and had stayed there for several months.
I have an amazing fitness friend who is also a personal trainer and she kept saying to me, “Halle, you have to add weights to your routine!” Maybe she was right. I have always read that muscle burns more calories for a longer period of time.
In one of my favorite books Smart Girls Do Dumbbells, It is stated that
” Muscle is a twenty-four-hour furnace, allowing you to burn more calories even at rest. Muscle is the body’s major metabolic booster. The famous “yo-yo” dieting syndrome is a result of muscle loss, if you diet without exercising, you lose muscle along with fat and the loss of muscle tissue translates into a slowdown, sometimes a shutdown of your metabolism. Eating less will help you lose weight, but building muscle will help you keep it off.” ~Judith Sherman-Wolin
Could this be the key to ending the yo-yo dieting forever? Yes, Yes, and Yes!
This is the Ah-haa moment!! (Don’t ask me why I keep bringing Dr. Phil and Oprah into today’s conversation, it just seems fitting 😉
I am going to say it again…
- If you want to stop the yo-yo dieting forever, you need to build muscle.
So How Do I Build Muscle?
When I say you need to build muscle, I am not suggesting that you need to run to the gym and pound the weights. Did you know that you can build muscle in the privacy of your own home with as little as $20?
All you need is a set of dumbbells and an exercise ball and you are good to go.
I am super excited to offer 2 FREE workout programs that I created on my website that helps you build muscle. These are tried and tested routines that really work!
Please note that we are in the middle of the 8 week challenge, but we would love for you to jump right in. You can get daily support on our Facebook page too! The only equipment that you will need for these 2 challenges are a set of dumbbells, an exercise ball, you, and some time 🙂 That is it! There are different levels to fit everyones fitness needs.
So let’s here it – are you up for the challenge? Are you ready to stop the yo- yo dieting forever to be fit and fabulous?
Amy D. says
YES!!! Muscle is the best way to get “fit and fabulous” – and the best part is that if you are worried about “bulking up” , DON’T because, unless you are taking steroids, your will NOT start turning into Arnie.