Consistency - Huge Weight Loss Tip!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Here is a picture of me when I competed in natural bodybuilding contests. I think I was 37 in this pic. Please excuse the face ... takes a lot to "diet down" for one of these contests! The dieting for these contests is not the healthiest thing but it was a challenge, I did it 2 years in a row & placed first both years. These were VERY SMALL shows!
So, what does that picture have to do with consistency. Well, a lot. I logged my food & exercise program all the way thru the process of building the muscle & "dieting down" for the contest & then used that information for the second year that I competed in bodybuilding. AND, I learned how to pay attention to my body & it's reactions to food & exercise. That was the big lesson. I don't log anymore & have not for years but now I really know how to listen to my body!
I have posted a lot (my old blog) about the importance of consistency and why I feel it is so important. Without consistency, you never learn about your own body.. what works and what doesn't work for you, what your body does and does not like, what is a serious pain versus just after workout "feelings". This is not just about exercise. Be consistent with your food plan too because that is the only way you will know how the body reacts to certain foods, what percentages of carbs, fat & protein work best for you, which foods work better to make your body look the way you want it to look.
So, food & your personal goals. Food is a big part of the whole "diet"/weight loss picture. During my bodybuilding years, I, of course, ate differently to support the heavy weights I was lifting at that time. Once I stopped competitive bodybuilding, my goal was to get smaller but still stay lean & muscular. I had to take steps to reduce my calories (I had been eating more to get bigger & lift heavier) so I could lose some of the size but also keep my muscle. I set out a plan to do this over a course of 6 months to a year. I gradually reduced how much I was eating but was sure to still eat clean & healthy. I also changed up my ratio of carbs, protein & fat to meet my personal goals. By staying consistent, I was able to see how my body reacted to the changes I made & I could adjust accordingly to reach my goals.
This is something you all can do as part of your own personal plan. You need to decide what you want to accomplish, what you want to look like at the end of this journey & take the steps to reach that goal. Yours may be different than mine. You may not want to be as muscular. This would probably have you eating less protein than I do & you may not need to eat as clean as I do because I want to see those defined muscles.
Food is a big part of your ultimate goal. There is no way to get around that. If you want to see the 6 pack or really look lean, then you must eat very clean. If, on the other hand, you just want to lose some weight & there is not the need to see all the muscles & such, you have more wiggle room. Figure out what it is you want to accomplish & then eat for that plan.. but without consistency, it is hard to know what is working & not. Keep that consistency there!
So, what does that picture have to do with consistency. Well, a lot. I logged my food & exercise program all the way thru the process of building the muscle & "dieting down" for the contest & then used that information for the second year that I competed in bodybuilding. AND, I learned how to pay attention to my body & it's reactions to food & exercise. That was the big lesson. I don't log anymore & have not for years but now I really know how to listen to my body!
I have posted a lot (my old blog) about the importance of consistency and why I feel it is so important. Without consistency, you never learn about your own body.. what works and what doesn't work for you, what your body does and does not like, what is a serious pain versus just after workout "feelings". This is not just about exercise. Be consistent with your food plan too because that is the only way you will know how the body reacts to certain foods, what percentages of carbs, fat & protein work best for you, which foods work better to make your body look the way you want it to look.
I say all of this because without consistency, you never will learn how your body reacts to things & without that, you will not feel when it is right to make smaller & larger changes to your program. I have done this all along with my workout program but the food is so important too. I learned the food part later than the exercise & that has made a huge difference. I have had to make adjustments & changes all along the way due to my age, my goals at that time & just what the body is doing... I make the changes, watch & adjust based on what I see in the mirror & in my clothes.. not necessarily the scale.
This is what I have learned along the way. By staying consistent, I really know when my body is changing (either hormone wise or just in general with age). It tells me because I listen to it!!! I know when to make small & big changes not only in my food but my fitness program as well because I have learned to listen to it, make the mind body connection & take action to do what is necessary when my body asks for change.
So, food & your personal goals. Food is a big part of the whole "diet"/weight loss picture. During my bodybuilding years, I, of course, ate differently to support the heavy weights I was lifting at that time. Once I stopped competitive bodybuilding, my goal was to get smaller but still stay lean & muscular. I had to take steps to reduce my calories (I had been eating more to get bigger & lift heavier) so I could lose some of the size but also keep my muscle. I set out a plan to do this over a course of 6 months to a year. I gradually reduced how much I was eating but was sure to still eat clean & healthy. I also changed up my ratio of carbs, protein & fat to meet my personal goals. By staying consistent, I was able to see how my body reacted to the changes I made & I could adjust accordingly to reach my goals.
This is something you all can do as part of your own personal plan. You need to decide what you want to accomplish, what you want to look like at the end of this journey & take the steps to reach that goal. Yours may be different than mine. You may not want to be as muscular. This would probably have you eating less protein than I do & you may not need to eat as clean as I do because I want to see those defined muscles.
Food is a big part of your ultimate goal. There is no way to get around that. If you want to see the 6 pack or really look lean, then you must eat very clean. If, on the other hand, you just want to lose some weight & there is not the need to see all the muscles & such, you have more wiggle room. Figure out what it is you want to accomplish & then eat for that plan.. but without consistency, it is hard to know what is working & not. Keep that consistency there!
Consistency is key to reaching your goals in more ways than one!!!!
you look amazing.
*bows in awe*
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Thx MizFit! Hard work but worth it!
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Jody! that picture is amazing! i'm always striving to find the "what works/what doesn't work" factor in my eating habits and workout schedule. i hope to find more consistency as i begin to hit the gym. i know when i did before, i always thought about foods twice, because my mind would automatically think what that food is going to do to my body and how much working out i would have to do to burn it.
i may not get cut and ripped like that, but i do hope to post pics one day of my accomplishment!
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cher, sounds like you are on a path that will work for you. You are working hard at it & taking steps that you know will help you. Keep up the good work & know that people are supporting you. You need to be good to yourself so that you can be even better for your family! As we said before, mom's have to at some point realize that they will be a better person for their family if they put themselves first every once in a while & heal themselves as well.
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wowzer. you look great. very impressive.
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