I’m Losing Inches But I’m NOT LOSING WEIGHT! (Body Recomposition?)

I’m Losing Inches But I’m NOT LOSING WEIGHT! (Body Recomposition?)

“I’m losing inches but not losing weight šŸ˜­”

I couldn’t believe the first time I had a client send me that with a crying face emoji.

I was like…

What in the actual F$#@!

I didn’t send that back, but I’m pretty sure my face went into spasm because of the numerous conflicting emotions that ran across it.

When I finally responded…and I’m pretty sure she saw text bubbles pop up and disappear for at least 5 minutesā€¦

I said, “Out of curiosity, why do you say that as if it’s a bad thing?”

“Because I need to lose 50lbs and the scale isn’t budging!”

Over the years, my replies to this conversation have evolved.

And yes…I’ve had this conversation often…so if, right now, you’ve basically sent yourself that mental text…

LISTEN UP….

Because Iā€™m going to explain why youā€™re losing inches while the scale isnā€™t changing and how this is actually a GOOD thing!

Donā€™t sabotage yourself by getting discouraged!

Iā€™ll then share 3 essential steps to achieve amazing body recomp and build your leanest strongest body no matter your age.

So why are you losing inches while the scale isnā€™t budging?

Because your previous dieting practices have sabotaged your body composition and metabolism.Ā 

The reason so many of us struggle to achieve our ideal weight and body compositionĀ is because we’ve lost muscle over the years and never put an emphasis on building it.Ā 

And all those weight loss fad diets only make our body composition worse.

They keep us stuck in that yo-yo dieting cycleā€¦

We starve ourselves, slashing our calories lower to lose faster on the scaleĀ as we increase our cardio,Ā turning even our strength workouts into destructive sessions of cardio death.Ā 

And while this may have yielded weight loss at one point, and “worked” to see fast results that fade quickly…it killed our muscle and our metabolism.

It’s 100% why we feel like it gets harder as we get older and especially during perimenopause and menopause.

Our body is already changing and on top of that we have to fight our previous diet and exercise practicesā€¦Ā 

Sorry don’t waste your breath defending them.

I say this after having been guilty of them too. But I’ve now sucked it up and owned it to move forward.

And this is why you’re now seeing inches being lost without the scale changing.Ā 

Soā€¦Why is this a good thing?

Your body is screaming at you…

“FINALLY! I CAN BUILD MUSCLE!”Ā 

And it is doing just that.

It is healing your metabolism.Ā 

It is building the lean muscle you need to be fitter and stronger and healthier.Ā 

And those inches you are losing is actually fat being lost.Ā 

Not just water weight. Not just glycogen depletion.

Not as much muscle as fat disappearing.

But because you’ve put yourself on this horrible yo-yo dieting roller coaster in the past, your body first wants to build this metabolically amazing muscle…

And that is why the scale isn’t changing.Ā 

You’re doing things the right way this time.

You’re setting yourself up to be lean and freaking fabulous at every age moving forward.Ā 

So don’t sabotage yourself.

Realize your body is thanking you for giving it the ability to gain muscle.Ā 

And weight loss will follow if you trust the process.Ā 

But don’t let the scale not changing as you LOSE INCHES make you sad in the slightest.Ā 

Now the 3 Essential Steps To Keep This Amazing Body Recomp Happeningā€¦

You want to do everything you can to promote muscle growth which will help you lose fat and ultimately achieve your weight loss goalsā€¦.and keep the weight off.Ā 

However, this process isnā€™t fast AND can be frustrating because we arenā€™t getting the satisfaction of the scale changing.

A huge part of the battle over even what macros to useĀ or what workouts we should be doing is getting ourselves to stick with the habits we need when we arenā€™t fully seeing results in the way we wantā€¦.Ā 

Often we donā€™t need more ā€œtacticsā€…we need more TIME for results to build.

More time creating new systems that lead to results and break those bad habits that are keeping us stuck.

Which is why Step #1 is to Fight The Urge To Do What Youā€™ve Always Done.

Itā€™s going to be hard to change your mindset and approach to weight loss.Ā 

Youā€™re going to have to keep reminding yourself not to default back into old habits and patterns.Ā 

To not want to cut your calories lower.Ā 

To not want to train longer or add in more sessions.Ā 

The hardest part often of making changes is often UNLEARNING or breaking those old habits.Ā 

Especially when the old habits are comfortable and we ā€œfeelā€ like they used to work to some extent.Ā 

This is why it can be helpful to write out the habits we often WANT to fall back into to make them conscious while listing out what we want to do instead.

This can remind us to stay focused on the new habits we want to build while catching us if we do track back toward what we used to do.Ā 

We want those conscious reminders.

We also want to set out other ways to celebrate wins with the new habits and remind ourselves they are paying off even while the scale may not be changing.Ā 

The more ways we measure progress, the more ways we can see our success.

Take those body measurements. Track those strength gains in the gym.

Heck set a performance goal for yourself to help you have other reasons to want to keep doing the habits you need.Ā 

Show yourself how this is paying off in so many other ways so you can get yourself buying into the process to keep doing what you need!Ā 

And even list out all of the reasons why what used to ā€œworkā€ didnā€™t really work!Ā 

Too often we just want to do what weā€™ve always done because it is comfortable.Ā 

But if it worked so well, we wouldn’t be trying to reach the same goal again.

Remind yourself of the pattern those old habits lead to.

Remind yourself of the negative outcomes.

Help yourself see why you deserve this change and why it is worth it!

Step #2: Focus On Nutrition By Addition.Ā 

Part of what also sabotages our success in reaching our body recomp and weight loss goals is the mindset of restriction.

We always turn to cutting things out.

And cutting things out can not only backfire because we arenā€™t eating enough to support building lean muscle, but also from a long-term ADHERENCE standpoint.Ā 

When we feel like we are deprived or restricted and working SUPER HARD toward a goal, we feel we DESERVE better results faster.Ā 

We want the outcome to match the effort.Ā 

So the more we feel like we are having to do so much to not see the results we want, the more likely we are to give up when things are working.

This is why you need to approach nutritional changes with the mindset of what you can ADD IN first over what you need to cut out.Ā 

This can also help us focus on FUELING our body to feel more energized,Ā train harder and support lean muscle growth.Ā 

Instead of focusing on what you need to cut out to make changes, focus on what you can add in that will help things shift.Ā 

Even consider how you can still work in things you love by ADDING other things around them that balance out.Ā 

Love dessert, but need to increase protein?

Donā€™t cut out your dessert!

Put that in first then find other ways to add in protein to other meals to still find a balance.Ā 

Focus on things you can add to make healthy changes and better fuel your body.Ā 

By focusing even on how we can drink more water,Ā add in more fruits, consume more vegetables,Ā we often will make changes that pay off without getting ourselves into a restriction focused cycle!Ā 

Step #3: Train To Build.Ā 

Stop seeing your workouts as a chance to burn more calories.

This creates that cycle of doing more in our training that ultimately not only leads to injury, but a lot of wasted effort.Ā 

Doing more reps, training for longer, can end up in a lot of wasted time and volume just for us to try to burn a few more calories in a day.Ā 

The simple fact is, you canā€™t out exercise your diet.Ā 

And the more you try to, the more you donā€™t truly get the benefits of your training you should.

If you want amazing body recomp, muscle is magic.Ā 

While your diet matters to building muscle, your training matters most.

If you donā€™t train to build, creating progressive overload, you wonā€™t create the stimulus for growth.Ā 

And building muscle will not only help you look leaner and lose fat, but it ultimately will help you feel younger and move better.Ā 

If you love long bike rides or running marathons, you can still do the training you love.Ā 

But by focusing more on strength work as well, youā€™re ultimately going to be able to do more of what you enjoy AND even achieve new personal records.Ā 

So as much as you may not ā€œenjoyā€ the strength work, you need to remind yourself of the value for both your performance, aesthetic and even LIFE goals.Ā 

When you design your workout routine, your goal should be on building muscle.Ā 

Especially for amazing body recomp, focus on full body workouts or hemisphere over body part splits to be efficient in your training and work more large muscle groups per session.

This also allows you to hit areas more frequently.Ā 

And design for the time you have so you can get consistent with that schedule!Ā 

Then make sure to push yourself to maximize the reps you do while not just eliminating rest!Ā 

Think quality not quantity when you train!

As much as your goal may be to ultimately lose weight on the scale, if youā€™re losing inches and not yet seeing the scale budge, do NOT give up.Ā 

Remember this is a GOOD thing.

Stop the extreme deficits.Ā 

Stop the fanatic cardio sessions done purely to burn more calories.Ā 

Start focusing on muscle.

Use these 3 steps to help you dial in your lifestyle to achieve amazing body recomp!Ā 

If you’re looking to have all 3 steps combined into a personalized plan, check out my 1:1 Online Coaching!

The Best Way to Use Protein To Build Muscle or Lose Fat (7 Tips)

The Best Way to Use Protein To Build Muscle or Lose Fat (7 Tips)

ā€œI just canā€™t eat more protein!ā€

ā€œItā€™s impossible to hit my recommended protein intake!ā€

If youā€™re starting to adjust your diet to lose fat and build muscle, often your first focus should be on increasing your protein intake.Ā 

But itā€™s a hard thing to do.

It can feel impossible to get more protein and be a struggle because we are used to eating the portions weā€™ve ALWAYS eaten.Ā 

Weā€™ve created meals the same way probably for a long time.Ā 

So we default into doing the same things.

And usually those meals are lower in protein than we now need!

Thatā€™s why I wanted to share 7 tips to help you boost your protein intake so you can lose fat and gain muscle at the same time!

The first and most important piece of advice I always give to any client starting out isā€¦

Tip #1: Donā€™t freak. Tweak.Ā 

It can feel like we have to completely overhaul our diet when weā€™re starting out.Ā 

Like it is impossible to add another 20 grams to the day.

But often little adjustments to what weā€™re currently doing really pays off.Ā 

So before you start searching for supplements or some crazy meal plan or cut out all of the foods you love, go back to a previous day youā€™ve logged and see where you can make little adjustments.Ā 

And if you havenā€™t yet logged, logged a day you may do or what you usually eat and then TWEAK IT!

Is there a meal without protein you could add protein to?

Your normal snack of crackers could you swap in jerky instead for that salty treat?Ā 

Or is there a meal with protein where you could bump the serving by an ounce?

Adding ounces to our current protein sources can add up and not require us to really change what weā€™re doing!Ā 

Even look for swaps to meals you love that could bump protein, like using lentils over rice in dishes.Ā 

Or greek yogurt over sour cream in a dip.Ā 

Consider even different cuts of the same type of protein to adjust your macros, swapping in chicken breast for chicken thigh.

But the more you can just make small adjustments, the easier those changes will be.

Donā€™t first jump to completely changing up the meals you love to eat.Ā 

Think small swaps and adjustments.

Tip #2: Use those plant-based sources.Ā 

Iā€™m a meat eater personally but I also believe in getting the amino acids you need from a diversity of sources.

This diversity also improves our micronutrient intake.Ā 

And not only do I love my plant-based clients, but I also know that some of us donā€™t just want to be chowing down on a bazillion ounces of chicken or whatever at every meal.

So consider ways you can bump your protein intake through non-animal sources.

Consider adding tofu or tempeh or seitan into any dish even alongside your animal product.Ā 

Sprinkle hemp hearts on top of your salads.Ā 

Add chia seeds to your smoothies.Ā 

Try out buckwheat noodles in your pasta dish.Ā 

Pack in more broccoli and peas to your stir fry.Ā 

But realize the value of a diversity of vegetables and plant-based sources that can help you make meals tasty while boosting your protein intake!

Tip #3: Swap protein for creamer.Ā 

Supplements should always be supplemental.

But they can also be a quick and easy way to help us stay consistent, create a sustainable lifestyle and build meals we enjoy, especially when on the go.

One way I like to use protein powders is even as a replacement for coffee creamer.Ā 

Coffee creamers can pack a calorie punch.Ā 

And by swapping in protein powder for your creamer, not only can you boost your protein intake easily, you can keep in that delicious morning drink you enjoy.Ā 

Plus, you arenā€™t feeling like youā€™re just having to power through more protein at another meal.

I love adding in protein powder with coffee as a pre-workout snack.Ā 

Get in those amino acids your body will need to repair and even a little caffeine boost to power your workout!Ā 

Just be careful if you decide to mix hot coffee and protein powder as it can clump. It works better with ice or combining the protein powder first with a cool liquid you then mix in.

Tip #4: Add egg whites.Ā 

Ok Iā€™ll know you didnā€™t watch a second further if you comment, “EAT THE WHOLE EGG.”

Iā€™m not demonizing yolks here. They are delicious and can be beneficial.Ā 

Love whole eggs.

BUT if you are adjusting your macros and even trying to cut calories for body recomp while finding a balance, you may benefit from swapping in some egg whites at times for whole eggs.

In your morning omelet, you may use an egg plus egg whites instead of two full eggs to bump protein without adding as much fat or calories.Ā 

You may also add in egg whites to other dishes to easily increase your protein intake.

You can bake egg whites into oatmeal or add them to a fried rice.Ā 

Egg white muffins can be great on the go and you can easily make a microwave mug variation adding in any veggies or even other proteins you want!Ā 

And if you want a fast snack salty snack, a roasted nut mix is a great option.Ā 

Bake nuts that have been tossed in frothed egg whites and seasoning for a protein boost!

Tip #5: Hide It!Ā 

If youā€™re thinking, ā€œThese are great BUT I donā€™t want to have to eat another ounce of chicken.

I donā€™t want to even have to add another ounce of plant-based protein to have to chew!Ā 

Iā€™m sick of protein!ā€

Then boost your protein intake to start by HIDING IT!

Making a soup?

Try using bone broth instead of your usual vegetable or chicken broth.Ā 

Bone broth contains on average 10 grams of protein per serving.

This is about 5 times more than chicken broth and 10 times more than vegetable broth.

Those small changes add up!

Making your morning smoothie?

Half your usual milk or liquid and add in some greek yogurt. Or even consider blending in tofu.Ā 

This can be a great way to bump protein and make your smoothie delicious and creamy but without making you feel like youā€™re having to eat more protein!

Even add in chia seeds or flax seeds or greek yogurt to your normal oatmeal to boost protein and add flavor.Ā 

But find little things you can hide in meals you already love that donā€™t feel like youā€™re just having to force feed yourself bland chicken!

Tip #6: Donā€™t forget dairy!Ā 

If you canā€™t consume dairy due to an intolerance or health concern, Iā€™d hope it would be obvious this tip isnā€™t something youā€™ll personally want to include.

You may instead focus on the other 6 Iā€™ve shared.

But if you donā€™t have any issues with dairy and even enjoy it, including things like greek yogurt, cottage cheese and even other cheeses can be a delicious way to bump protein, both in your savory meals and even your desserts!Ā 

Greek yogurt can easily be frozen with fruit or chocolate into a bark for a great dessert. Or even made into a parfait.Ā 

Cottage cheese can be made into a dip or even added to enchilada bakes or pasta dishes to make them cheesier.Ā 

Milk can be added to shakes and smoothies even to bump your protein as well.Ā 

So if you enjoy dairy, it can be a great way to diversify how you get in your protein daily!

Actually even parmesan cheese, or what I call protein salt can be a great flavor add and a few extra grams of protein to help you out!

Which brings me to my final protein boosting tipā€¦.

Tip #7: Count the grams.

Every gram counts and can slowly chip away at the increase we need.

So often we try to force big changes over looking for the little things that can add up but make the adjustments not feel as overwhelming.

But thatā€™s why reviewing previous food logs and even taking time to learn about the foods we consume is so key.

Because adding something even as simple as parmesan cheese to a dish can not only make the meal more enjoyable and flavorful but also add a protein boost.Ā 

While only 2 grams in 2 tsp, that serving of cheese adds a TON of flavor to a dish. And meals we enjoy, weā€™re going to eat again.

That could also help us slowly increase our protein in a sustainable way.

At 3 grams per tablespoon, nutritional yeast is another great way to add flavor and seasoning while increasing your protein.Ā 

It can be sprinkled on your salad, mixed into cottage cheese as a dip or even added to a trail mix or popcorn for extra flavor!Ā 

And if youā€™re plant-based it is a great bonus protein source you could even season your tofu with, adding 3 more grams of protein without having to increase your tofu portion even!Ā 

But donā€™t ignore those little changes that add up!

It is easy to get overwhelmed when we feel like we have to make massive changes to reach our goals.

But donā€™t freak out! Focus first on those tweaks and then start implementing a few of these tips based on what feels most sustainable to you and your lifestyle.Ā 

Small changes meeting ourselves where we are at add up!

And for a great Protein Power Guide, CLICK HERE for a packet with cheat sheets and even a few bonus recipes!

Are These 5 foods REALLY Unhealthy?

Are These 5 foods REALLY Unhealthy?

STOP labeling foods as ā€œgoodā€ or ā€œbad.ā€

First off, foods do not have any moral value and assigning them one onlyends up making us feel guilty for eating specific things.

And that guilt is often what truly sabotages our results and prevents us from creating sustainable habits and lifestyle changes.

Because foods are NOT just healthy or unhealthyā€¦.as much as we want to put whole, natural foods on a pedestal and demonized processed foods.

And what foods are right for you may be different than what foods are right for someone else.

Every food has upsides and downsides to it – both benefits and risks.

Thatā€™s why I wanted to share the UPSIDES to 5 foods we often donā€™t see as healthy and that we should cut out from our diet if we want to lose fat!

(Want to learn more about the foods you need to reach your goals? The Dynamic DNA Nutrition Test)

 

The first food I often hear people say they need to cut out, yet crave sooooo much, isā€¦

CHOCOLATE!Ā 

I canā€™t tell you how many times Iā€™ve heard something likeā€¦

ā€œI struggle to lose weight because of those chocolate cravings, especially at nightā€¦they get me!ā€Ā 

Well Iā€™m here to tell you something amazingā€¦

You donā€™t need to cut out chocolate to see amazing results and if youā€™re going through menopause or perimenopause, a little chocolate in your diet as your dessert may even have a beneficial impact!Ā 

I know we often feel like we need to cut out things like chocolate because it is potentially sugar and fat, but chocolate does contain micronutrients that may improve our health.

And often us trying to restrict things we enjoy instead of striking a balance sabotages our long-term consistency and results.

So instead of cutting out chocolate, add your dessert in first if youā€™re tracking macros.Ā 

Of course, the devilā€™s in the details and the TYPE of chocolate you consume does have an impact on the benefit.Ā 

You do want to include chocolate that is 70% or darker to truly get the benefits.Ā 

But by consuming 70-80% dark chocolate as part of your dessert, you are going to add a variety of micronutrients and antioxidants and even some additional fiber into your diet.Ā 

For example, the flavanols in dark chocolate can help improve your heart heath and lower blood pressure.

Flavanols have even been shown to reduce insulin resistance, which can be helpful for women during menopause, especially where we can tend to become a bit more insulin resistant, leading to weight gain around our middle.Ā 

Dark chocolate also has magnesium, which can help improve the quality of our sleep.

This can make it a great dessert during perimenopause and menopause when we may suffer from more sleep disturbances and struggle to get those quality zā€™s.Ā 

Dark chocolate is also a good source of phosphorus, which can improve our bone and teeth health.Ā 

As we get older, we want to do everything we can to keep our bones healthy to avoid falls and fractures!

So if you love chocolate, try including bars that are 70% or darker into your dessert.Ā 

Even breaking it up into greek yogurt with some fruit for a filling protein dessert with great health benefits!

The second food that is so often villainized is Red Meat.Ā 

But this is where we have to look at the nuance to each food as all red meat isnā€™t created equal!

There is a very big difference between processed and unprocessed red meat and even a huge variation in the exact nutritional breakdown of different cuts of meat from the same animal!Ā 

So often though all red meat just gets lumped together.

But there are leaner and fattier cuts of red meat that we can include to not only hit our macros to lose weight but promote optimal health for us personally.

And red meat is a great source of creatine, heme iron, zinc and vitamin B12.Ā 

If youā€™re working hard to build muscle, even as you lose fat, you may find that adding red meat into your diet is key because it can help you increase your creatine intake naturally.Ā 

Especially as we get older, it becomes harder to build lean muscle.

So increasing our intake of creatine can help us promote more optimal muscle growth.Ā 

Not to mention the micronutrients found in red meat are beneficial as well.

The form of iron, heme iron found in red meat, is a more bioavailable form, which means it can be better absorbed by the body.Ā 

Iron contributes to proper brain function, energy metabolism and the formation of red blood cells.Ā 

Getting enough iron is especially key as we get older to help us prevent osteoporosis.

And during menopause if youā€™re not getting enough iron, you may experience greater levels of fatigue.

Zinc and B12 are also essential for us as we get older improving our bone, eye and even heart health.

B12 may also play a role in slowing the aging process and keeping our tissues healthy.

And during perimenopause and menopause, when the hormonal changes can impact our mood and energy, getting enough Vitamin B12 and zinc are even more key!Ā 

If youā€™re going to include red meat, consider grass-fed options and even look at different cuts to adjust your fat intake based on what you need!Ā 

The third food that is often written off, but I think can actually be a weight loss super food isā€¦

POPCORN.Ā 

People often see popcorn only as something devoid of nutritional benefit loaded down with movie theater butter.

But not only does popcorn have nutritional benefits, containing fiber, antioxidants and a range of micronutrients, it also is a great way to help yourself maintain your calorie deficit and stay consistent.

If youā€™re hit with a craving for a salty snack, popcorn is a great high volume, low calorie option to keep you feeling full and satisfied.

The number of handfuls and bites you get with popcorn can be super satisfying and help you stay consistent.

It can also make for a fun treat on the weekends when watching TV or a movie with the family. It can help you not feel like that person on a diet while everyone else indulges!Ā 

And popcorn contains a whole range of B vitamins as well as Vitamin A, E and K.

It also contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants that have been linked to better blood circulation and digestive health, as well as a potentially lower risk of certain cancers.

Keeping our digestive system and gut healthy can even lead to better weight loss results!

Just make sure if you include popcorn, youā€™re making it at home or aware of the additives that can come with buying it premade.Ā 

And if you are really focusing on portion control, single serving packs to make are a great option!

The 4th food I wanted to discuss because it is so often demonized yet not consuming enough can have a negative impact isā€¦

SALT.Ā 

Salt has gotten a bad rap as being responsible for blood pressure issues.

But including enough salt is key to proper hydration and a balance of electrolytes to support a healthy nervous system. Itā€™s not just about increasing our water intake.

Salt is also needed to form stomach acid, digest food, and absorb nutrients properly.

However, not all forms of salt are not created equal.

Often when weā€™re getting too much salt, weā€™re getting it from processed foods and not quality salt sources.

And this is part of the problem.

Instead we want to focus on things like sea salt or pink himalayan salt that can both have a beneficial impact, improving the quality of our sleep because they contain many helpful electrolytes and trace minerals for regulating hormone levels.Ā 

We also need to stop demonizing something just because it is bad for a specific population and health concern.

Too often this leads to healthy individuals restricting something they should be including in their diet.

I mention this because recent research has even shown that low-salt diets have been linked to promoting insulin resistance in healthy individuals.

And that people who consume a moderate amount of salt were in the lowest risk category for heart problems and death, even lower than people who ate less salt.

The ā€œmoderateā€ sodium intake used in this study was about 4,000 ā€“ 6,000 milligrams per day.

So realize that the quality and source of the food youā€™re including can have an impact and just because it isnā€™t right for one person doesnā€™t make it not right for someone else!

The 5th and final food I wanted to discuss isā€¦Bread.Ā 

Often when people want to lose weight, they think they need to cut out all carbs, and bread is among the first they list to go.Ā 

Bread has also gotten more hate as going gluten-free has become more and more popular even though many of us will have no issues consuming gluten and bread could be an enjoyable way to increase our carbs to create that anabolic environment for growth.Ā 

And not only can bread be included in our diet, but there is so much variation in the health benefits different types of bread may provide.

Not only are there more whole-grain variations of bread that contain more fiber, but even sourdough bread can provide more health benefits than we realize.Ā 

While it isnā€™t gluten-free, sourdough bread may even be tolerated better by those with IBS or a gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

And because of the unique fermentation process for sourdough bread, it can help improve our gut health and unlock more of the B vitamins in the bread.

Sourdough is also usually made with fortified flour, which can bump our iron and folate intake!Ā 

So just because there are some very processed breads out there that may not provide as much nutritional benefit, we shouldnā€™t just demonize all breads but find the ones that help us enjoy our meals and create a sustainable and healthy lifestyle!

While not all of these foods may be right for you and your dietary preference, we want to recognize the benefits of including a diversity of foods in our diet to create a healthy, sustainable lifestyle balance.

There are always downsides and upsides to everything we include and the more we understand the nuance to everything, the more we can find what we need to reach our goals and feel, look and move our best!

Want to learn more about the foods you need to reach your goals?

–> The Dynamic DNA Nutrition Test

STUDIES:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30061161/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5539137/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22301923/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2017.00036/full
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22110105/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21036373/

7 Bad Habits That STOPPED Me From Losing Weight

7 Bad Habits That STOPPED Me From Losing Weight

Iā€™ve made all the mistakes when it comes to trying to lose fat, gain muscle and create a sustainable lifestyle.

But I like to think all of myā€¦interesting experimentsā€¦werenā€™t for nothing.

Because Iā€™ve made so many I can help my clients avoid making those same mistakes and wasting time.

Thatā€™s why I wanted to share 7 bad habits that kept me from losing fat for the longest time!

And Iā€™ll be honestā€¦most sabotaged my success because they were simply unsustainable and created a mindset of restriction and deprivation.

Because while achieving our goals does mean making sacrifices at times,
we also have to learn to create a balance, meeting ourselves where we are at.

And thatā€™s why I think this first bad habit is something many of us have had sabotage our resultsā€¦

Focusing On Eating Too Clean.Ā 

I literally ended up curled up on the bathroom floor of a hotel in San Diego. I was pasty white, in a cold sweat and looked like death.Ā 

All because Iā€™d been eating only chicken and broccoli and extremely clean, one ingredient foods for weeks before the vacation.Ā 

One spicy sangria and a couple of appetizers later and I was sick.Ā 

Itā€™s because Iā€™d created these extreme limitations on myself that not only had left me miserable for weeks, while not seeing better results faster, but they led to me being sick at the first deviation from my clean eating plan.

Too often we try to make ourselves feel guilty for not hitting some arbitrary standard of clean.

But this mindset of good and bad foods not only assigns moral value to foods that donā€™t have any, leading to GUILT when we eat one thing we arenā€™t supposed to, but it also can sabotage our results and long-term consistency.Ā 

This extremely restrictive clean mindset can lead to an obsession with food.

It can also lead to us creating nutrient deficiencies.

And it can lead to us ultimately feeling so miserable and deprived we give up.Ā 

And then we feel that reaching our goals is impossible and we just donā€™t have the willpower. We start to even DREAD the idea of making diet changes.

And all because weā€™re trying to force something unsustainable.

Instead of focusing on ā€œeating clean,ā€ focus on small swaps to foods and ingredients based on what youā€™re currently eating.Ā 

Realize that whole natural foods are key BUT that you can and SHOULD include the foods you love.

However, this does bring me to bad habit number 2ā€¦.

Including Too Much Food Diversity.Ā 

After attempting to cut out all unclean foods, and the massive backfire I suffered…not to mention I literally couldnā€™t even look at chicken and broccoli for awhileā€¦Ā 

I went to include as much diversity as humanly possible.

I thought it was a great idea to include things to keep my meals interesting and get micronutrients from a diversity of sources.Ā 

And while we do want to include a diversity of foods for optimal health to get vitamins and minerals in different formsā€¦

Trying to include too much diversity can be overwhelming and lead to actually more cravings!

The more we give ourselves, the less of a routine and habit we get into and the more we WANT.

It becomes then a slippery slope of more and more foods creeping in.Ā 

And the less nutrient dense they are and the more processed, the easier it becomes to overeat and feel hungry even when weā€™ve eaten enough calories.

Not to mention it can make grocery shopping, meal prepping and hitting those macros more overwhelming when there are so many more pieces to the puzzle.Ā 

Simplifying and focusing on a set grocery list and meal plan with a few key ingredients each week can help us stay consistent and not be overwhelmed as we make changes!Ā 

Studies have even shown that we are less likely to overeat when eating the same things repeatedly, making it easier to maintain our macros and calories to lose the fat!

It leads to fewer cravings and a better shut off mechanism when weā€™ve consumed what we need!Ā 

The 3rd bad habit is a hard one to change when we want results as fast as possible…

Itā€™s Always Going Hard And Never Cycling Intensity.

Sometimes less is more.

And sometimes if we back off when we arenā€™t motivated or proactively give ourselves a break, we actually stay more consistent overall.Ā 

If youā€™ve been dieting and in a deficit for a while, you may both physically and mentally start to feel the impact of the lower calories.

Your body does want to fight the weight loss process as weight loss is seen as a threat to your survival.

So you will find that cravings go up even as you get leaner and your mind fights against what you know you ā€œshouldā€ be doing.Ā 

You may even feel demotivated to train in the way you need.

This is where potentially a deload week or a dieting break may come in handy.

The key is doing these things strategically and with a plan not just eating everything in sight while you lay on the couch for a couple of weeks doing nothing.Ā 

But give your body a break from the calorie deficit, maybe including even a few foods youā€™ve wanted but havenā€™t had.

Just be strategic in giving yourself guidelines to eat at maintenance calories and even hit easier macro ratios.

Donā€™t let this become a free for all.Ā 

And then you may find youā€™re more motivated to train with the increase in fuel or that a deload week allows your body a break to repair and rebuild while also giving you a mental break from the strain of constantly pushing that progression.Ā 

But be proactive if youā€™ve been dieting for awhile and give yourself that strategic break. You may be surprised by how much it even helps you bust through a plateau!

The next bad habit is one I think many of us fall prey to that prevents us sticking with the habits we need to see the body recomp we wantā€¦

And it is – Only Using The Scale To Measure Progress.Ā 

I think the scale can be a great tool. And I think it can even be a good thing to weigh daily.

But the scale also doesnā€™t show us the full picture.

It can make you feel like youā€™re actually even losing ground when results are truly building.Ā 

And this is because the scale just tells you your weight in that moment on that day.

It doesnā€™t tell you if youā€™ve gained weight because youā€™ve gained muscle while losing fat or if youā€™ve lost weight by losing muscle and even gaining fat.

And seeking to see faster results on the scale, can actually sabotage your fat loss efforts, especially your long term maintenance.

Because the faster we seek to see results on the scale, the more we often end up losing muscle mass and NOT just fat.

So if you want to focus on truly losing fat to look leaner, you need to track your progress by taking body measurements and progress pictures.Ā 

Especially progress pictures of areas you donā€™t even care about changing.Ā 

Because often the places we want to lose from the most are the LAST to go.

So by taking multiple angles and areas, we can see fat loss occurring in other places to know to stay the course!Ā 

The next bad habit is one that Iā€™ve found personally the hardest to breakā€¦especially because I always enjoyed trainingā€¦

It was – Trying To Out Exercise My Diet.

Many of us fall into this habit because it actually does workā€¦to start!Ā 

But relying on this is also what ultimately keeps us stuck in this yo-yo dieting cycle, struggling to lose more and more as we get older.

It works because most of us are more comfortable being uncomfortable in our training than we are with making nutritional changes.Ā 

We also can create that calorie deficit to start by doing MORE in our workouts.

And it makes us feel really in control to push hard.Ā 

We feel good about our hard work.Ā 

But working hard doesnā€™t mean weā€™re working hard in a direction that moves us forward.

And over time, our body adapts to the training stimulus, which means we arenā€™t then creating the calorie deficit we once were.Ā 

So at that point either our diet needs to change or we need to train harder and longer.

At some point, trying to only do more with our workouts will burn us out, lead to injury or even ultimately result in metabolic adaptations that make it harder and harder to lose as we get older.

The simple fact is, our nutrition has to match our goals.Ā 

And by adjusting our diet we can see our performance in the gym even improve as we achieve fabulous body recomp.

We will truly see the hard work and sweat we are putting in during our workouts PAY OFF!Ā 

And I think itā€™s really key we recognize that at timesā€¦it WONā€™T feel like our hard work is paying off.

We wonā€™t see linear progress toward our fat loss goals.Ā 

But this is why I think this next habit is so key to breakā€¦

Treating Your Workouts Only As A Means To Lose Weight.

While we do want to design our workouts and our nutrition to work together toward a singular goal, I also think it is key we set complementary goals that further motivate us to do the habits we need to see results.Ā 

And thatā€™s why I found that a secret to consistency and success in losing fat and keeping it off is actually Setting Performance Goals while also NOT seeing my workouts as just a chance to burn more calories and lose faster.

By focusing on a specific performance goal, like improving my push ups, conquering a skill, lifting more weight in a specific lift, addressing an imbalanceā€¦even training for a competitionā€¦

I help keep myself more motivated to train hard. I have more purpose for each workout.Ā 

And then I have something to track in the gym to see my hard work building toward.Ā 

This ultimately also helped me lose fat because it kept me doing the habits I needed.

I wanted to eat to fuel and feel my best, which resulted in better body comp.Ā 

I wanted to do the recovery I needed to be able to train hard.Ā 

By setting complementary goals, like performance goals for our workouts, we better help ourselves to stay motivated to do the habits we need even when fat loss results are slow or we hit a plateau.Ā 

It allows us to celebrate other wins to keep moving forward!

And the final bad habit I think sabotaged for years and kept me stuck losing the fat to only regain it and feel like I was starting over every January with a new cut wasā€¦

Not Doing SOMETHING When It Was Better Than Nothing.Ā 

Every holiday season I would make an excuse not to track. ā€œOh I know the portions I need to eat.ā€

ā€œOh I can find balance Iā€™m not being that off plan.ā€

ā€œOh I can take today off.ā€

And every holidays I would pack on the pounds.

I realized that, while there are times of year I donā€™t track and stay consistent, the holidays was not one of those times.Ā 

But I also knew the habits I enjoyed when motivated in January wouldnā€™t fit the holiday season.Ā 

Thatā€™s when I realized the power of 1% improvements.

Just being a little more consistent, focusing on doing a minimum, could help me move forward even during a time I didnā€™t care as much or have the motivation and focus.Ā 

Too often we try and rely on a perfect 21 days or 6 weeks.Ā 

But doing the ideal only during those times doesnā€™t allow for true habit changes or results to snowball.Ā 

So itā€™s key we stop the all or nothing habit changes and realize that sometimes something is better than nothing, embracing doing the minimum at times!Ā 

If youā€™ve been struggling to make consistent and sustainable changes, and have fallen into these bad habits, focus on making one change today!

We need to keep constantly learning and remember that small swaps and changes add up!

Ready to create sustainable habits that help you achieve your leanest, strongest body EVER and maintain those results till your final day on this planet?!

Join my Dynamic Strength program!

Can’t Lose Fat? Here’s The #1 Reason Why

Can’t Lose Fat? Here’s The #1 Reason Why

ā€œBut I was good all week!ā€

Have you thought this after stepping on the scale Sunday morning to weigh in only to be disappointed by the result?

Many of us haveā€¦.we feel like weā€™ve worked hard all week to not see the results we feel we deserve!

Thatā€™s why I wanted to share the number one reason you arenā€™t seeing the weight loss results you wantā€¦

Which is honestlyā€¦you werenā€™t as ā€œgoodā€ as you thought you were.

Now before you give an angry look and click off this video saying Iā€™m wrongā€¦

I want to go over the hidden inconsistencies I often see in clientsā€™ diets that sabotage their weight loss results.

But I also do just want to first mentionā€¦

The scale doesnā€™t show us the full picture!Ā 

Just because you didnā€™t lose that week doesnā€™t mean results arenā€™t building.

The scale just shows us our weight in that given moment. But our weight isnā€™t just fat and muscle.

Itā€™s glycogen being stored, water weight, inflammation, poopā€¦

So a hard workout the day before, a little more sodium with dinner or even eating slightly later than usual could all impact our weight the next day.

We may even have seen losses had we weighed the day before a hard workout that made us sore while seeing increases on our weigh in day.

Thatā€™s why we never just want to jump ship because of the scale not immediately showing us the results we want.

Itā€™s why taking pictures and body measurements are so key.

Because the scale also doesnā€™t show us body recomp happening at times.

If you gain 2lbs of muscle and lose 1lbs of fat, youā€™re going to gain on the scale while looking leaner.

So itā€™s key we arenā€™t just only basing results off changes on the scale.

We also need to recognize that progress is never linear.Ā 

While we often hear it is possible to lose 1-2lbs a week, this doesnā€™t mean it is realistic for us or that we will achieve this every single week.

It often means that when you look at averages over time, that it is a realistic, but challenging rate at which you COULD lose.

But week to week, may vary, including weeks where you actually gain a pound before losing 3.

We also have to remember that while something is ā€œrealisticā€ it doesnā€™t mean it will happen for us.

How long weā€™ve had the weight on, how much we have to lose, how aggressive we are being with our plan, even our age and training and dieting experience can all impact how fast is realistic for us to see results.

So as frustrating as it can be, you need to track progress in multiple different ways and also step back to assess trends over time.

And if you arenā€™t seeing results snowball, consider whether or not youā€™re actually being as ā€œgoodā€ as you think or if these 5 underlying issues are popping upā€¦

Issue #1: Weekend Eating Blowing Your Calorie Deficit

The ā€œbut I was good all weekā€ feeling comes from us working really hard Monday through Friday afternoon.

Weā€™re precise in our macros. Really cutting out foods and dialing in our calories.

Weā€™re meal prepping.

We feel like weā€™re working really hard.

Then on Friday night we feel like we DESERVE that cocktail.

Those chips and guacamole.

On Saturday morning, we wake up feeling a bit lazy and wanting to relax.

And after indulging the night before, we find it easier to want to not eat according to our plan that day as well.

Which often spills into starting over Mondayā€¦

We think, ā€œWell itā€™s still only a couple of day off plan while I was good all week. 5 days vs 2 IS consistency.ā€

But what we donā€™t realize is how much even those couple of days can throw us out of a deficit and really impact our weekly macros.

Especially because often we donā€™t log those days to see their impact.

But itā€™s easy for meals out, extra serving of dessert to create a calorie surplus over those weekend days that destroys our deficit from the week, especially if we are trying to create a smaller deficit to feel energized and protect our lean muscle mass.

Those weekend meals are also often carb and fat heavy and pretty low on protein.

This can dramatically change the macro ratio we are actually hitting over the week.

Itā€™s why we can feel like we are working so hard, being so good, and overall consistent, yet not seeing those results snowball.

Itā€™s why, starting out, it can be good to track EVERYTHING.

That way you truly know what your weeks and even months are averaging out to to be able to adjust accordingly.

Maybe it does mean adjusting your macro or calorie goals to slightly accommodate different habits on the weekends.

Or maybe it means finding ways to make more macro-friendly versions of the weekend meals you usually enjoy.

But so often we just arenā€™t aware of how much of an impact a couple of days can have on our results!

Consistency isnā€™t just the number of days but the impact of each day on the total!

Issue #2: Having ā€œFreeā€ Calories.Ā 

I know many popular diets say you donā€™t have to log certain thingsā€¦like you can only track net carbs or not log certain sauces, fruits or vegetables.

And over time you may not log certain things because you know the calorie impact for you is low.

But the more you donā€™t log, the more calories can be adding up that you arenā€™t aware of.

The more you donā€™t have fully accurate data to work off of and make changes from.

Plus, it goes back to MINDSET.

Excusing not logging certain things, makes it easier to not log other little extras!

So no matter how minimal the calories may be, or even the argument that we donā€™t actually absorb the calories say from fiber,we should log everything to start when we are wanting to reach a goal as fast as possible.

When it comes to veggies, often people argue against logging them because they are very low in calories.

But most of the time we arenā€™t eating them plain.

Too often the sauces or oils we put on them DO have calories that add up on top of the calories from the veggies themselves!

And when it comes to tracking only ā€œnet carbs,ā€ we often only make this excuse to be able to consume MORE CARBS.

While tracking net carbs may be key for specific health concerns, for weight loss, donā€™t subtract fiber.

When you set your calorie intake and deficit, you are assuming that you ARE eating foods with fiber.

You arenā€™t creating that deficit planning to eat no fiber!

So counting only net carbs can throw off the numbers you are actually hitting.

As painful as it is to start, LOG EVERYTHING!

What gets measured, gets managed!

Issue #3: Not Logging Bites, Licks And Nibbles.Ā 

This goes back to logging everything to start as these small little things add up over the day and weeks.

A couple of nuts or crackers here or there, the bite of leftover food off a kidā€™s plateā€¦These things really add up.

And the less we are aware of them, the less we hold ourselves accountable for them, the more we tend to do them.

By pushing ourselves to log everything, we can often break patterns of mindless snacking. Snacking out of boredom even or stress.

And we can start focusing on fueling better. We can change even our relationship with food.

But focus on being conscious of your tendency to take little things throughout the day.

Make an effort to log them and be accountable.

You may find you then stop this pattern OR at least know the actual calories youā€™re consuming.

And you may be surprised by how much those little things have added up to an extra couple hundred of calories over the week on top of other habits throwing you out of the calorie deficit you thought you were consuming!

Issue #4: Not Truly Measuring

Our portion sizes easily get distorted.

How hungry we are, the size of the full portion served at a restaurant, how much we want it, how stressed or tired we areā€¦

So many things impact what looks like a portion to us.

And it is so easy to let emotions lead to you scooping out a little bit extra of that peanut butter than you know is right!

Even the size of what youā€™re adding an ingredient to can impact how we see the portion.

A bigger piece of toast can make a serving of peanut butter look oh so pathetic!

Thatā€™s why, especially as we are really learning what portions we need to fuel and reach our goals, we need to get accurate measurements of everything we eat.

Tedious, boring, frustrating? YUP.

But this is the way you can really learn how distorted your portions may have been!

And this is the way you see results as efficiently as possible.

Itā€™s just like baking a cookieā€¦A little too much or too little of an ingredient can dramatically impact how ooey gooey or crispy that cookie is!

You donā€™t want to just wing it and hope when youā€™re craving those cookies! You weigh and measure everything so they come out exactly perfect.

This is exactly why you want to measure everything.

Results require a recipe. Help yourself know exactly what you need!

Whether you use measuring cups or a scale, weigh and measure everything, even saving recipes or meals to reuse quickly in the future.

Issue #5: Not Entering Ingredients.Ā 

A common excuse people make for not tracking everything is that they cook from scratch at home. Which is actually a funny excuse as cooking from scratch makes it EASIER to log everything than eating out.

You know exactly what you included and can measure out everything to log each ingredient accurately!

Too often we make a lasagna and simply select ā€œlasagnaā€ in the food tracker.

But we donā€™t know if that recipe was the same as ours. Or even if another person entered it manually and the macros and calories are correct.

Whenever possible, create your own recipes and meals in your food tracker, entering ingredients and portions.

This gives you the most accurate numbers to make changes off of!

And when you eat out, do your best to find something close to what you got.

Even check restaurant websites for nutritional information as many now list the breakdowns so you can enter them into your food log!

But the more precise we can get with everything, as hard and annoying as it is to start, the more we can help ourselves know we are doing what is needed to move forward over feeling frustrated when we step on the scale and arenā€™t sure why results arenā€™t snowballing!

So if youā€™ve stepped on the scale and thought, ā€œBut I was good all week.ā€ Step back and ask yourselfā€¦

ā€œHave I actually been as precise in the habits I should be doing daily as I think I am?ā€

Reflect on whether or not there is room for growth and opportunity in realizing some of these issues may be popping up.

Because often there is always a little bit more we can do to better implement our current plan over jumping ship and starting over!

Ready to dial in your diet and your workouts to see amazing body recomp results at ANY and EVERY age?

Learn more about my 1:1 Coaching!

 

The Diet And Fitness Industry LIED To You (4 TRUTHS)

The Diet And Fitness Industry LIED To You (4 TRUTHS)

The diet and fitness industry has lied to you.

Iā€™m not talking about the false magic pills and quick fixes when Iā€™m saying youā€™ve been lied to when it comes to your diet and workouts.

Actually I see the problem as something elseā€¦

The disconnect between many trainers, coaches, dietitians and professionals and the people they want to help.

What keeps us stuck in this yo-yo dieting cycle is oddly the gap between what we ā€œshouldā€ ideally be doing and what is realistic for our lifestyle.

Because food is not just truly fuel any longer.

Itā€™s social. Itā€™s celebration. Itā€™s emotional. Itā€™s enjoyment.

Yet instead of recognizing this and striking a balance, weighing the cost and rewards of everything for ourselves, we seek to be perfect and hit some arbitrary standards of clean eating only to create unsustainable habits which ultimately backfire.

These unsustainable habits keep us stuck losing the weight only to regain it and more as we fall back into old lifestyle patterns and try to do things we enjoy.

We never learn to create the healthiest version of our personal lifestyle.

Thatā€™s why I want to go over 4 common diet and exercise MYTHS I see pushed far too often in the health and wellness realm.

One size doesnā€™t fit all and we need to accept the opportunity in options to find our balance.

How we build our 80/20 balance will be unique!

Myth #1: X food is evil.Ā 

Pick a food and you can probably find a video, blog, articleā€¦even studyā€¦about how it is bad for you.

According to a commenter on one of my videos even water is bad for you.

And honestly, almost every food DOES have a downside to even the upsides it may provide.

That doesnā€™t make a food evil. It doesnā€™t even mean the food may not be part of our lifestyle balance.Ā 

But we just have to go in knowing how it will impact our health and overall wellbeing.

And sometimes the risk is worth the reward.

Sometimes something ā€œunhealthyā€ we may choose to include because we ENJOY it.

It helps us relax. Enjoy social gatherings.Ā 

Or even just serves as that treat on a stressful day while keeping us overall on track working toward our goals.

Because stress overall can have detrimental effects, itā€™s sometimes more important we include something that doesnā€™t add to our stress or even takes away from it over restricting a food because it isnā€™t as nutrient dense or beneficial as something else may be.

We have to remember that all stress goes in one bucket.

While we may see stressors in our lives as in separate categoriesā€¦

Stress at work, stress to change habits, stress at home or stress on our body from lack of sleepā€¦.all impact our mind and body compounding together.Ā 

So sometimes finding little ways to not add to our stress to overwhelm ourselves is key so we can actually make healthy changes to our lifestyle overall.

Sometimes it is that we need to pick the lesser of two evils to meet ourselves where we are at to make changes.Ā 

So stop demonizing things and trying to force someone else’s standards of ā€œhealthyā€ and balance on yourself.

Because one size doesnā€™t fit all.

Even healthy foods can be unhealthy or not right for certain people.

For example, cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage..) have been linked with many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease.Ā 

BUTā€¦

These same nutritious vegetables we all believe to be AMAZING contain compounds called thiocyanates which can interfere with the bodyā€™s ability to absorb iodine.Ā 

This may contribute to hypothyroidism and is why many with thyroid issues may be told not to eat too many of these supposedly super “healthy” food.

Same thing can be said for those with dairy intolerance, gluten intolerances, and issues with FODMAPs.Ā 

Foods that may be healthy or right for one person may not work for someone else to address their health concerns.

But we donā€™t need to demonize something just because it isnā€™t right for someone else!

That may hold us back even from getting the nutrients or fuel WE need!

Stop seeing foods as just good or bad. Weigh the costs involved to find your balance!

Myth #2: Weight loss is just about calories in vs. calories out.

Yes. You need a calorie deficit to lose weight. Iā€™m not saying calories donā€™t matter.

But this oversimplification is truly what so often keeps people stuck on this dieting roller coaster.Ā 

They cut calories. Lose the weight. Canā€™t stay in a deficit foreverā€¦

So they go back to eating more and their old lifestyle habits only to regain the weight and even more.Ā 

Before they again cut calories to try to lose.

However, it gets harder and harder each and every time due to this sole focus on calories in vs. calories out.

Why does it get harder?

Because often when we only focus on cutting calories, we slash them as low as possible to lose weight as fast as possible.

And in the process we throw our hormones out of whack, create cravings that lead to us overeating, leading to even extra weight gain and weā€™ve often also created metabolic adaptations in the process which means our body even runs more efficiently off of fewer calories than it did before.Ā 

This is often due to us slashing our calories super low, or trying to train longer and harder to create the deficit because weā€™re only focused on calories in vs calories out. This extreme deficit to lose faster on the scale results in more muscle being lost over us controlling as much as possible to lose fat while maintaining our muscle.

So as much as yes, the simple answer is create a calorie deficit and youā€™ll lose, this oversimplification keeps us stuck and is why we often struggle more and more to lose weight as we get older, and especially once the hormonal changes of perimenopause hit.

If we want to set ourselves up for success, we need to embrace the learning process and focus on the macronutrients in our foods – the portions of proteins, carbs and fats that we are consuming.Ā 

Because through adjusting these portions, we can help ourselves feel more fueled, retain lean muscle to keep our metabolic rate higher and we can help ourselves be prepared to transition to MAINTAINING our new results.Ā 

You canā€™t do one thing to lose the weight then go back to what you were doing. And you canā€™t stay in a deficit forever.

Through a focus on tracking macros, you can help yourself retrain your body to return to a new maintenance level calorie intake so that all of your hard work to lose doesnā€™t go to waste!

Myth #3: HIIT is the best form of training for fat loss.Ā 

HIIT or high intensity interval training is an efficient and intense form of training. It is definitely a great option when we are short on time.

And as the term is used these days, it can refer to a variety of different interval breakdowns and include a diversity of exercises.Ā 

BUT as much as I even love HIIT personally and do use it with clients, I think it is key we recognize that there are downsides to every technique or tool.

The more we recognize both the good and the bad instead of just seeing things as either or, the more we can adjust our training and fueling to match our needs and goals as they even evolve over time.

Too often we also ā€œfall in loveā€ with a technique then start to see our results slow or issues pop up, yet we eliminate some other change weā€™ve made assuming causation when there was none.Ā 

We can throw out something we should keep doing instead of adjusting something weā€™ve always done prior just because we like it or it FEELS like it is working.

And HIIT is often one of those things.

While definitely an option to consider when youā€™re short on time, too often we do MORE HIIT style training while also trying to increase our calorie deficit to lose fat.Ā 

As a result, we not only can see our energy levels tank so we arenā€™t able to push as hard and get as much out of our training, but we can also start to see more muscle mass being lost and cravings increase.

By trying to do more intense training sessions while in a calorie deficit already, we can make it harder on ourselves to maintain the nutritional changes we are trying to make.Ā 

So we always need to consider the systems and how they are working together.

We may need to change up a HIIT cardio session for a slower strength workout with longer rest periods.Ā 

We may need to adjust the intervals of work to rest in the interval workout we are doing.

Or even knowing how depleting HIIT can be and the fact that for some it can make them FEEL even hungrier while increasing cravings for carbs, you can plan for those downsides in your fueling.

HIIT isnā€™t something you have to do to lose fat. It isnā€™t also something you shouldn’t do. The point is learning more about the techniques and workout designs we include so we can plan all of our systems to work together.

While it can feel satisfying to have sweated and worked hard in our workouts, we also want that hard work to be moving us forward instead of being wasted effort!

Myth #4: Workouts are about burning more calories.Ā 

There isnā€™t anything wrong with tracking your calorie burn from your activity to watch your trends and hold yourself accountable.Ā 

But too often we just seek to get that number higher over truly training with purpose and intention.

This often leads to us turning even our strength workouts into more cardio sessions.

Less rest, feeling more out of breath often leads to a higher heart rate on our trackers, which then results in more calories being burned.

And always focusing on doing more and making our training more intense can cause some toĀ suffer increased cravings and a harder time sticking with the dietary changes they need.Ā 

Not to mention, it can work against any muscle gaining efforts we may have.

It can also lead to us unknowingly eating in a surplus over a deficit.Ā 

Itā€™s key we realize that these trackers are NOT ACCURATE! The calorie burn is going to be off especially as we adapt to our training.

And while it may not seem like a big deal to only be 50-100 calories off in some cases, that can really lead to us eating over our deficit especially if we are trying to create a smaller one to help achieve better fat loss results!

Not to mention we make it harder to truly track what is and isnā€™t working if our intake is fluctuating all over based on what our trackers says day to day.

STOP seeing the purpose of your workouts as just a way to burn more calories.Ā 

Remember, you canā€™t out exercise your diet.

Trying to create more of a calorie deficit through your training will lead you to either overtraining or ultimately overeating.

You will either keep having to do more as you adapt to burn the same amount calories you once did.

Or if you let your watch dictate how many calories you get,Ā youā€™ll start overeating because often our watches wonā€™t fully recognize weā€™ve become more efficient at the training routines.Ā 

And our workouts should be about building lean muscle while training our body to move well.Ā 

We want our workouts to help us stay strong for LIFE so we can remain independent and capable.

Not to mention, a focus on strength work helps us build that muscle mass which helps us burn more calories at rest since our metabolic rate and energy demands will be higher.Ā 

So while you want to do forms of training you enjoy to stay consistent and active, you also want your workouts to have long-term benefits so you can tackle any challenge you want in every day life!

Too often we view things as solely good or bad instead of looking at the cost and benefit of each thing we include.

When we donā€™t view the opportunity in each option, we donā€™t allow ourselves to truly create something sustainable.Ā 

And this, while good for the diet and fitness industry, is not helpful for us to see the results we want.

Seek to learn about what you need and be open to new perspectives so you can adjust your fueling and training to match your needs and goals even as they evolve over time!

Ready to dial in your workouts and your diet to acheive the best results as fast as possible?

Schedule a coaching consultation to learn more about how we can help you create the systems you need to succeed!

–> Schedule A Call