I Began To See The Most Progress When I Did These 5 Things!
I fell in love with fitness about 7 years ago and continue to expand my knowledge through accredited certification programs. It wasn’t until I nailed these 5 things, that I began to see the most progress I’ve ever achieved!
I may sound like a broken record in this first one because I address this a ton and the reason being is that it’s truly THAT important. I ditched the diet mentality! I allowed access to ALL the foods I love. This is easier said then done and I’ll be 100% transparent with you… it’s a long process which I continue to make progress in today because well, I’m human! Also, diet culture has been shoved down our throats from an early age so it’s all we know. To put it simple: focus on adding more nutrient dense foods rather than restricting anything. (You can touch on my past posts for more in depth nutrition)
I prioritized strength training over cardio. Strength training burns fat while building lean muscle and is the only way to “tone.”(Toning is just that; losing fat while building muscle) And Unlike cardio, where you burn X amount of calories/fat in the duration of the session, strength training continues up to 72 hours following the session. (No wonder I’m always famished😂)
Now, don’t completely cut cardio out because your cardiovascular health is crucial for overall health. I recommend 8,000-10,000 steps a day which is achievable by doing the most underrated cardio of all; WALKING! Having other endurance goals are amazing as well. Plus you never know when a zombie apocalypse might occur! 🧟♀️ 🧟♂️
I stayed consistent! Consistent with one and two. Consistency may not look the same for every individual. It may look like exercising 3 days a week for some, and 5 days a week for more advanced/those with more time to dedicate. Consistent with nutrition can be the most difficult but with time and mindset shifting it can be mastered!
Let me be clear; consistency is not being perfect. Consistency is letting life get in the way and continuing to push forward rather than throwing in the towel because you think you “failed.” Life happens! We get sick, go on vacation, enjoy holidays, etc. You absolutely do not need to feel guilty for that!
I stopped idolizing “fitness influencers.” This is for the simple fact that you cannot compare/hate yourself into a better body or better version of yourself. And ❗️NEWSFLASH! You can literally follow the exact same nutrition and exercise plan as someone and you will still not look like them because you are YOU! Body types, genetics, etc. all play a role. Focus on becoming the best version of yourself! I promise you’re worth being kind to yourself!
Last but not least; I stopped stressing over the small stuff! I ate a few too many cookies, overate at a restaurant, skipped a workout… that’s fine! That’s not going to stop progress from happening. I used to think it did and that would just throw me into a toxic cycle. Guilt, shame, and beating yourself up simply just does the opposite of moving forward. It keeps you in the past. Though, you can take what happened and learn from it. For example: you didn’t like how you felt after overeating, take it as a learning experience to better listen to your body and fullness cues next time.
So accept what is, give yourself grace, learn, and keep truckin!
Stay sustained out there! 💪🏼
