Im such a bad blogger - GOOD STUFF TODAY

May 04, 2011

 I wish I had the time to devote to blogging (but I better be careful what I wish for in today's economy!).  My life has been consumed with real work and making sure my grandmother is cared for along with my own family. 

I am officially in season now training for 3 shows in the fall.  The first show is 21 weeks away.  I met with my trainer yesterday and in the past 4 weeks I have lost 2 lbs on the scale - lost 3.5% body fat and gained 4 lbs of muscle.  Its really a science in building muscle and losing fat and many trainers don't believe it can be done.  My old trainer insisted I consume 2000 calories a day and do 0 cardio to build muscle and I'm proof that not necessarily the case.

I know a lot of you are cardio junkies - and cardio has its place, but for those of you who do it every day for hours at a time and at a high intensity - you must stop the maddess.  Doing over 30 mins of cardio over your target rate will only burn muscle!  If you burn muscle you risk lowering your metabolism!!!  Please add strength training to your routine at least 3x a week.  Us ladies are stronger than we think so don't mess around with the pretty yellow and pink dumbbells, pick up the iron and PUMP IT!  I can't say this enough.

Since I am on my soap box I need to make a general comment about some other OH blogs I've read.  There are still WLS people DIETING!!!! C'mon now people - stop the maddess - this is a life style.  I see people here eating 800 calories and they are wondering why they aren't losing weight and they are suggesting they cut calories MORE!!!  Are you kidding me?????  I hope some of you are reading this.  Do you realize cutting calories to that extreme will make your body hold on to everything it can INCLUDING FAT!  Your metabolism is shot - no wonder you're taking 5 hr energy to stay awake - your body is NOT functioning correctly ALL I CAN SAY IS TO FEED IT!!!  Get your furnace fired up - let your body burn the calories.  This is  a lifestyle - can you honestly eat 800 calories the rest of your life?????  Slowly up those calories - and stop drinking your protein - you're p'ing it out in an hour before your body can even metabolize it.  EAT!  Granted protein shakes have its place too - sometimes as breakfast when our bands are too tight - sometimes right after a workout when we can't eat dinner right away - BUT NOT as a regular meal replacement. 

Also, for those (like me) who are a slave to the scale - invest in a .99 tape measure.  Measure yourself weekly - if you are eating around 1200-1500 cal AND strength training AND doing a little cardio - your tape measure will see results before the scale and those results will be more dramatic as well.  While you cannot spot reduce, strength training will reshape your body into a toned and defined one.  If you choose to do only cardio thats your choice - but I will ask you honestly if you like your results - I would bet that while you lose scale weight - your end result will be a smaller flabby of your former self.  I have watched a dear friend run pounds away and a lot of pounds at that.  Her and I weigh the same (give or take a few) and are the same height.  She is a size 10/12 and I am a size 4.  She has flabby arms and a muffin top and while a smaller version of herself (60 lbs lost) she still looks the same - so the weight loss isn't as noticeable because her shape didn't change.  

Now if I haven't gotten you to change your mind about strength training - ever look at Kelly Ripa?  She does more weight training than cardio - does anyone think she looks bulky?????  I would love her figure!  

So ladies - take half of your cardio session and pump some iron and FEED your body!!!!!

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