I wish I had a dollar for every time I was asked ‘how do you stay so lean year around’! It’s not by a shake, a pill, a DVD workout, illegal cutting agents, steroids, or the colorful stuff I put in my gallon of water everyday.

It’s nothing new nor anything you haven’t heard before it’s as simple as this…LIFESTYLE.

When you practice something by nature day in and day out without thought it’s a lifestyle. Diets work most of the time for people with short-term goals, with a couple of pounds to lose. However, more often than not depending on what type of diet and duration, most of the weight is gained back and in some cases even more than what they started with initially to lose. I’ve seen this in my vary motivated clients, who get there, and then think they can go back to what they did/ate before they had lost the weight, and then have to start all over.

It becomes a yo-yo effect not only on one’s body, but their mind as well. It’s an emotional roller coaster of highs and lows, with confidence and achievement only to fall back down with disappointment and feeling discouraged.

I am one of the lucky ones that enjoys eating healthy things. I’m not sure how it happened, maybe my mom gets the credit or genetics, but either way, I have always enjoyed vegetables over anything else. Yes, even over meat. I was a vegetarian for 6 yrs and now I have included chicken and fish. (Which I’m still not very fond of) If you pay attention to my plate while I eat, the meat is always the last thing to go. Never been big on fried foods or sweets.

So it may be easier for me as a ‘lifestyle’ but that nonetheless. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy things that are not healthy every now and then but the key is moderation. I am aware of what I’ve had that day for what I am having that is not particularly good for me. Your body doesn’t see ice cream, cake, and cheese dip. It sees protein, fats, and carbs. I try to keep a mindful watch on what my intake on each one of those is per day. I don’t obsess about it, I eat what I want, when I want.

What I am cautious about it what is better than another nutrition wise, but gives the same satisfaction to my taste buds. Yogurt vs Ice Cream. Sugar free this vs Not sugar free that. You will be shocked at the healthy substitutions that are available. As well a how dramatic the results can be after choosing the healthier in substance, but equal in satisfaction treat, time after time.

My lifestyle is very active, the things I find pleasure in happen to be physical activity and anything outdoors, so it makes it easier to obtain. I lift heavy in my workouts, I give it my all during the duration. I enjoy my training, so it’s something I look forward to. I mix it up and keep it different so not to get bored. I keep things mixed up. Nothing is ‘work’ unless you find yourself wanting to be doing something else instead of what you’re currently doing. So keep that in mind, if your workouts are dreaded do some research on incorporating different things with similar benefits. Taking almost anything outside makes it more enjoyable than indoors!

Still with eating healthy, training, and staying active, I have body fat. Yes, I know, crazy hu! Ha ha, no it’s actually pretty ‘normal’ and healthy. I am 5lbs from my stage weight and at 12.3%bf.

I see a lot of photos of women promoting health and fitness giving women and young girls false hope of achieving their body with diet and exercise alone. When they themselves can’t or are not doing it that way. While they are using cutting agents or prescription drugs to help obtain the low body fat percentage they stay at year around.

People be smart about what you see there are a lot of smoke and mirrors. Don’t compare yourself to things that have been airbrushed or people that do photo shoots in the middle of competition diets or right before a show and think this is an ideal body to keep your round. I’m not saying it’s ALWAYS the case, but more often than not if they are at an extremely low body fat percentage year-round, it’s not natural. Again my disclaimer I said not ‘always’. I know some very lean year around natural competitors, but again ‘some’ are on really strict diet and training programs. There is always an exception to the rule! :))

So my point of this entire post is that with lifestyle changes, things can be obtainable to your satisfaction. Be realistic about your body, your mindset, and the goals that are obtainable for YOU. It won’t happen overnight, you have to walk before you can run. You’ll come to appreciate the journey, the experience, the failures, the learning lessons, and be able to better apply and adjust them through trial and error to your goals and your body’s needs!!

Be blessed friends!
Drea
3xF Coach