Does fat loss feel like an overwhelming feat? Being bombarded with messages of “fast” results and the “magic” secret tends to be confusing and downright mentally exhausting. Before you know it, sticking to feeling uncomfortable feels like the best option … yikes.
For starters, there’s no magic pill or secret anything that will lead to lasting results. Notice we said lasting. Yes, you can lose 5 pounds in a few days drinking only lemon water and cayenne pepper … but will you really sustain that long term? And what price will your health have to pay down the road when hormones and all sorts of processes are affected?
Lasting fat loss starts with a no frills approach. It starts with taking your health into your own hands and making sound decisions that are rooted in realistic expectations, patience and the belief that you truly can achieve anything you set your mind to!
But before any of that, we’ve to cut through the stuff that makes no sense and only causes more confusion.
Let’s get right to it …
Myth: Weight training will make you “bulky”.
Truth: Not so! Muscle takes up less space than fat. Yes, the whole “muscle weighs more than fat” adage is also a myth. It doesn’t weigh more, but it does take up less space. Case in point:
See the difference?
This means you can actually gain some muscle and look smaller because that new lean muscle will take up less space than the fat. Scale junkies beware: the scale is one very small piece of the puzzle, as you can see from above. Body fat and inches are much more indicative of long term success. That’s not to say all weight loss is bad. There will likely be some weight loss for most people depending on how much you have to lose and your unique frame. But, don’t get so hung up on the scale that you fail to notice all the other, visible progress!
Also, people that say they feel “bulky” when starting a weight training routine: if you start building a lot of muscle but don’t lose fat at a similar rate, you may start to feel this way. That’s why HIIT, short for High-Intensity Interval Training, is so effective. You build lean muscle while also shedding fat, and did we mention EPOC? Exercise Post Oxygen Consumption – in other words, the “after burn” once your workout is over. After a good HIIT session, you burn additional calories up to 36 hours post-workout! Whew, that’s a lot of acronyms …
Myth #2: You can eat whatever you want as long as you exercise.
Truth: Ah, if only right? Show of hands: how many people reading this actually had success with this method? The bottom line is you simply cannot out-train a poor diet. Period. Sorry to break it to ya. A typical 45-minute workout for the average height/weight female may burn approximately 300-500 calories depending on their intensity. A typical fast food meal is well over 1,000 calories and can be consumed in under 10 minutes. See how the math doesn’t add up?
The Damage done in 10 minutes or less can easily negate the 45 minutes you just spent exercising. This approach is also not good from a mental health perspective. We joke around sometimes, but we really do believe that exercise isn’t a punishment for what you eat. If you are nourishing your body with nutrient rich meals, exercise and nutrition can peacefully co-exist instead of being at war.
Stay tuned for next week where we share our next set of tips!
Oh, and before we forget … we’ve got exciting news for you. In T-minus one week, we’ll be launching Season 10 of our Cleanse30 Nutrition, Lifestyle & Fat Loss program. Hundreds have gone before you and achieved fantastic success.
Leading up to the program’s launch on January 23rd, we’ll be sharing a ton of valuable, free tips for helping you reach your goals in the new year and beyond. The tips alone are so valuable you could use them today and start seeing change ASAP!
If you’re seeking 1-1 guidance, community, and motivation, we’d love to have you join us for Season 10 – click here to get on the waiting list and be the first to know when doors officially open!
Until Next Time,
Sham & Christina
Inspired Wellness
About Inspired Wellness
We are a wellness movement aimed at cultivating greatness in all areas of life. We believe that everything is connected and that having the body of your dreams shouldn’t come at the price of your mental and emotional health. You CAN have it all; you just need some determination, grit and the desire to truly change your life!
Catch us locally in sunny Sacramento CA inspiring lives at our wellness center with fitness, nutrition and lifestyle programs, or online doing the same thing with our new online training site + community coming soon!
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One Comment
I’ve definitely started to think that any bad food is not worth the hour’s worth of intense workout that I do.