Information Overload! Back to the Basics

This morning I checked my email before deciding what to blog about.  Without exaggeration, I have about a dozen different health/fitness/exercise/diet emails and honestly, one contradicts or at least conflicts with the next.  While the first one I opened suggested wheat is what is making us fat, the next one let me know that The Pita Pit offers loads of vegetarian options, often served on…wheat rolls.  One newsletter is suggesting we eat nuts for protein, the next suggests those very nuts may cause problems with Fibromyalgia.  One reminds us that belly fat can only be lost by losing weight, the next suggests we need to do the proper core work to hit the four layers of our abs.  Should I drink a glass of wine with my dinner or shouldn’t I???   Have dark chocolate or don’t have any sugar?  ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!  While I love receiving the information, it is confusing, sometimes insulting and honestly, I resent so many emails with the subject title:  LOSE YOUR BELLY FAT. If y’all have the answers, why so much belly fat???

When all else gets too overwhelming, I personally think we need to go back to the basics.  Eat less, exercise more.  Eliminating one entire food group might work for a while, but is it something you can live with?  Simply adding more movement to your day and cutting calories from each meal WILL result in weight loss.  For those of you who have let me know you are working on the exercise part, but haven’t changed your eating, expect healthier blood work and more stamina, but remember that, especially the older we get, without changing your daily diet it’s unlikely you will see the results you are looking for.  If you simply change your eating you will probably see the scale go down, but how do you know you aren’t losing muscle mass and setting yourself up for metabolism problems later on?

Believe it or not, after 30 years of exercising for a living and a lifestyle, and being a very mindful eater, I struggle with my weight.  Those of you who know me, know I have never been a tall glass of water and I would always, like most woman I know, like to lose 5 more pounds.  But this I know for sure.  There is no miracle food, no magical supplement, no single exercise program that is THE answer.  In my humble opinion, we need to find an eating and exercise plan that works for us for the long haul.  Even if we fall in love with one sport or one type of exercise class, we need to have alternatives… just in case.  Additionally, mixing things up is always the best way to be fit overall and to avoid injury.  If we count on just ONE type of workout (ie. running, tennis, kickboxing, etc.) what happens if we injure a muscle or joint?  Do what you love, certainly, but make sure you keep something in your back pocket just in case.  This prevents excuses (my elbow hurts, it’s raining, I don’t have enough time, etc.)  Look ahead at your week and design a rough workout schedule that is realistic and go to your B plan if necessary).  Prepare foods in advance.   Avoid temptation.  Set goals.  Get enough sleep. The basics.  They have worked forever and they will continue to do so.  I don’t often find newsletters telling me these basics, because they aren’t miraculous and they have no shock value.  Sorry, after 30 years, I offer no miracles or shocking revelations, just my humble opinion, after all I have learned through my clients, students, education and my own experiences.

Yesterday morning, while blogging, Mitch read me my newspaper horoscope which basically said “Capricorn, spread your message far and wide.”  Just now, as I sat down to start this morning’s blog, I learned that I had more visitors to this site yesterday, than ever!  Weird.  Coincidence?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  It was affirmation enough for me to keep blog, blog, blogging.  Thank YOU for stopping in and “listening.”

Need more motivation?  Tune in tonight for episode 2, season 12 of the show that changes lives!  Biggest Loser.  You can also look at yesterday’s blog entry and find out about a chance to win a million dollars.  Thin and a millionaire.  That’s some serious motivation!!!