I had a client blow my mind after the last Sunday workout. Don't you love it when someone finally gets the message you've been trying to say? It's like when you come across a fb thread and someone comments "THIS!" haha. I get it now. Bear with me, pop culture is not my strong suit.
It's frustrating to continually see "weight" be the measure of health in the fitness industry. It ignores science and just causes more frustration than it should.
He and I talked about how much easier it is to see progress, feel confidence, and maintain sanity when you stop focusing on weight.
Don't focus on: Losing Weight | Instead focus on: Changes in Belly Fat, Strength and Pants Size
Focusing on your weight is like basing a car’s performance on its speed. It doesn't tell you how much power you're producing, how the parts are working together, whether you're going in the right direction, etc. Focus instead on:
Your Pants Size
Scales only measure gravity; nothing else. If you’re doing it right, your weight WILL fluctuate. Muscle weighs more than fat, but an accumulation of belly fat could indicate a much bigger concern.
Sometimes the problem isn’t fat, but gut health. If your pants feel tight due to gut discomfort, bloating or digestive issues, you might need to look beyond diet and exercise.
This is why the Get Warrior Fit program emphasizes Sleep, Nutrition, Functional Strength and Stress management.
CHANGES In Belly Fat
Increasing belly fat indicates high levels of insulin circulating in your body. This eventually leads to:
type 2 diabetes,
plaque buildup in your arteries,
high blood sugar, cancer and
other chronic diseases.
Conversely, a reduction in belly fat (also related to your pants size) indicates that you’re definitely on the right track. Even if you still have saggy arms or chubby cheeks.
After a while it gets more difficult to lose belly fat. When this happens, your body has adapted and you need to tweak the variables of your program.
INCREASES In Muscle Strength and Size
As you get stronger, you’re building lean tissue. More lean tissue means better oxygen efficiency, cardiovascular health, hormone production, and health in general.
If you’re not rebuilding lean tissue, you’re losing it.
Muscle requires the most resources (calories) to maintain, repair, build and use. The amount of muscle you lose as you age is proportional to your decline in health.
Did you know that a decline in motor function (ability to move) is linked to a decline in mental function? The secret to staying young and sharp is staying strong.
It's hard to stay focused when you don't see the results in the mirror or in the scale. It's equally easy to compare yourself to the people you see around you, in social media, in TV and movies. However, every one of those people is a stranger.
They don't know your journey, and they don't know where you are on that journey. They can't lift the weights for you, and they won't congratulate you on your successes. But as long as you know what to look for, there are signs along the way to tell you you're doing OK, especially when the end seems out of reach.
As you go forth and kill it in the gym, keep your eyes on the prize and know the signs that you're on the right track. Motivated or not, get to WORK!
Click the link below to join the Ronin Monster Factory Warrior Conditioning on Sundays at 11:00 am.
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