Everyone has different health and fitness journeys that they take. For some people like elite athletes, it is staying at the peak of their game and improve ever so slightly to hit that personal record. For weekend warriors, it is staying fit enough to go from a mountain biking ride, to the basketball court, to the beach, and have the athletism and the body to do it all. For others who are just getting started, it maybe a journey for hitting weightloss, or changing your diet. There are even some whose journey is a life or death situation.
Don’t think that fitness professionals don’t have journeys as well. We are always pushing ourselves to the limit, whether the trainer is an elite athlete, or a weekend warrior. My personal journey is no different.
I have always been in shape – but never showed it in my body type. I always had that spare tire and love handles that seem to run in my family. My most recent fitness journey is going to end that. My goal is to go from 18% body fat, which I currently am at, and cut it down to 10% by new years. This is going to take great dedication and perseverance because I am trying to cut 8% of my body fat during the holidays.
I am starting up a new weight lifting program which will add muscle while I am going through the journey. So while cutting fat, I may actually gain a few pounds due to the muscle which is OK! Remember, don’t get so caught up in your weight. Your “weight” is really nothing more than the pull of gravity on your mass. So you need to focus on your mass and ask yourself if your mass is more fat or more muscle. You want it to be more muscle.
I am going to cut fat by altering my diet. Notice I said altering and not changing. A diet is nothing more that WHAT you eat. A horse’s diet is hay. A lion’s diet is gazelle. So telling yourself you are “changing your diet” or you are going to “go on a diet” implies short term success. Think long term success and alter your diet for long lasting lifestyle change.
I am going to do all my cardio before I eat breakfast in the morning. The idea behind this is to allow my body to search for sources to burn, and hopefully it will find the fat since I don’t have fuel in my stomach. I am also eating more times throughout the day in order to keep my metabolism maxed out. I usually have a salad for my lunch, but I will be switching to protein smoothies to increase lean muscle. Lean muscle helps to burn more fat.
I will keep updating my status every few days or so. Thanksgiving is going to be a tough time because any little slip could set me back.
Now it is your turn. What is your journey? What are you working toward in creating a healthier lifestyle for you?
