Training and Nutrition....

I was reading an article today, and made me think of a conversation I had with Jen the other day about this very subject. Fat Loss. We women are biologically inclined to store extra fat (for childbearing) and it is usually stored in the hips and thighs. So, how do we get rid of this? Heavy Weight Training? Cardio? Surprisingly it's not heavy weights. I was kind of shocked! But if you are trying to slim down your lower body, and you train with heavy weights, you could be making the problem worse by making the muscle in your legs bigger, and making them appear even larger. So instead of training heavy, go for higher repetitions with lighter weights. The more repetitive the exercise (like running, walking, aerobics, swimming, etc) the better. So I lift heavy weights, to build my upper body, and then do a lot of cardio (treadmill, elliptical, and videos) to slim down my lower half. This helps me to create a more balanced size between the upper and lower body. Plus if I have nice toned and muscular arms and shoulders, it will draw the eye up, away from the areas I'm more self conscious about and trying to slim/tone. :) (Hopefully that's how it works anyway...LOL!)
Remember to switch up your workouts though. If you do the same exercises all the time, at the same intensity level, your body will get used to it and wont work as hard.
The number one key though: no matter how hard you workout, if you aren't as devoted to proper nutrition to go along with it, you will not see the results you long for. This is an area I struggle with. I was raised in the "low fat" era, and it's hard to remind myself to avoid the carbs and go for the protein instead. But when I do stick with healthy nutrition of natural carbs (fruits and veggies) and lean proteins, I see major results. It makes it worth it, because then when I give in and eat junk food, I see how miserable it makes me feel. I just don't feel as good physically. That alone should be incentive to eat healthy nutritious foods. But every now and then the temptation for ice cream or pizza gets the better of me....I am only human. I just remind myself that this is a lifestyle, and it's OK to have something like this as an occasional treat, as long as it doesn't become a habit.