I’m pretty sure that some of you out there had made, within their new year’s resolutions, the one to be more active, eat better and, most of all, to get back into shape.
That is a pretty good resolution and certainly not an easy one to keep up with.
Usually people (and by that I mean most of my friends) who make such a resolution will start hitting the gym constantly for 2 to 3 weeks and then they’ll just drop it. Why? Normally because they don’t see any immediate improvement.
So, what I want to tell you here is that to in order to see results you need to be: patient and disciplined.
In this "instant gratification" world we live in, we want results and we want them immediately. Unfortunately, with your body this is not working.
The workout that will get you back in shape in just one week as not yet been discovered and there is no eating regimen that can make you lose 10 pounds in 10 days (unless of course you starve to death, which I personally do not consider a great way to do it).
So the key is to be patient. I know it’s easier to say it than to doing it but it is crucial.
If you are exercising, trust me, "stuff" is happening inside even though demonstrable changes take awhile to reverse years of poor lifestyle. Give yourself at least a month. Then, at that point, you might start seeing the benefits of your efforts.
And remember, exercise is wonderful, but a healthy diet is important too. You could be defeating all of your hard work if you are eating junk food. Your body needs "high-quality" fuel to heal and build muscle (but you already know that, don’t you?)
Another piece of advice: do not to use the scale as a parameter to check for improvements. Actually do not step on the scale at all for at least a month. Why? Because in the beginning you may actually see your weight go up instead of down. That's because muscle weighs more than fat.
Well, five pounds is still five pounds and thus muscle does not weigh more than fat BUT five pounds of fat is much bulkier than the five pounds of muscle.
Fat is bulky and lumpy so if you carry an extra five pounds of fat, you'll be lumpier than with five pounds more muscle. A five pound pile of fat will take up more space (volume) than a five pound pile of muscle; but five pounds is still five pounds. The correct way to state the muscle weighs more than fat scenario is, "Muscle is heavier by volume than fat."
But good news is that muscle also metabolizes more calories. The idea is that for every pound of new muscle, your body will burn extra calories per day. Add pounds of new muscle and you will automatically burn additional pounds of fat...and so the theory goes, anyway.
Discipline: I know that this word sounds a little bit awkward but this is a key factor in order to see results. You just signed up for a yearly membership at the gym or at the yoga studio or just bought a new pair of super fancy running shoes: make that money worth!
Put on your schedule to workout out at least 3 times a week. Think about it as time you’re dedicating to yourself, as a reward and not some sort of punishment.
The key element is to find some workout that you actually enjoy and better if you have a friend to practice with. It is very helpful to have some support when you have one of those days when you’re feeling lame and exercising is the last thing you wanna do!
Exercise is a lifestyle change, you need to stick with instead of doing it just long enough to see results. Be patient, trust me, you will see the well-deserved results!
The Iron You
That is a pretty good resolution and certainly not an easy one to keep up with.
Usually people (and by that I mean most of my friends) who make such a resolution will start hitting the gym constantly for 2 to 3 weeks and then they’ll just drop it. Why? Normally because they don’t see any immediate improvement.
So, what I want to tell you here is that to in order to see results you need to be: patient and disciplined.
In this "instant gratification" world we live in, we want results and we want them immediately. Unfortunately, with your body this is not working.
The workout that will get you back in shape in just one week as not yet been discovered and there is no eating regimen that can make you lose 10 pounds in 10 days (unless of course you starve to death, which I personally do not consider a great way to do it).
So the key is to be patient. I know it’s easier to say it than to doing it but it is crucial.
If you are exercising, trust me, "stuff" is happening inside even though demonstrable changes take awhile to reverse years of poor lifestyle. Give yourself at least a month. Then, at that point, you might start seeing the benefits of your efforts.
And remember, exercise is wonderful, but a healthy diet is important too. You could be defeating all of your hard work if you are eating junk food. Your body needs "high-quality" fuel to heal and build muscle (but you already know that, don’t you?)
Another piece of advice: do not to use the scale as a parameter to check for improvements. Actually do not step on the scale at all for at least a month. Why? Because in the beginning you may actually see your weight go up instead of down. That's because muscle weighs more than fat.
Well, five pounds is still five pounds and thus muscle does not weigh more than fat BUT five pounds of fat is much bulkier than the five pounds of muscle.
Fat is bulky and lumpy so if you carry an extra five pounds of fat, you'll be lumpier than with five pounds more muscle. A five pound pile of fat will take up more space (volume) than a five pound pile of muscle; but five pounds is still five pounds. The correct way to state the muscle weighs more than fat scenario is, "Muscle is heavier by volume than fat."
But good news is that muscle also metabolizes more calories. The idea is that for every pound of new muscle, your body will burn extra calories per day. Add pounds of new muscle and you will automatically burn additional pounds of fat...and so the theory goes, anyway.
Discipline: I know that this word sounds a little bit awkward but this is a key factor in order to see results. You just signed up for a yearly membership at the gym or at the yoga studio or just bought a new pair of super fancy running shoes: make that money worth!
Put on your schedule to workout out at least 3 times a week. Think about it as time you’re dedicating to yourself, as a reward and not some sort of punishment.
The key element is to find some workout that you actually enjoy and better if you have a friend to practice with. It is very helpful to have some support when you have one of those days when you’re feeling lame and exercising is the last thing you wanna do!
Exercise is a lifestyle change, you need to stick with instead of doing it just long enough to see results. Be patient, trust me, you will see the well-deserved results!
The Iron You
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