What started as a new year's resolution, has quickly and surprisingly turned into something I enjoy doing on a daily basis. This is the first year I have made a resolution and have stuck to it for more than a few weeks. My resolution was to work out and get the body I’ve always wanted. In the few months I have been working toward this goal, I have learned three valuable lessons, and I’ve decided to let you in on them too.
1. Beauty is not only measured by the size of your pants or the number on the scale; it has to do with having strength and confidence in yourself.
In this day and age, being thin is seen as the basis of beauty. As I have explored the world of fitness, I have come to realize that the most attractive women in my eyes, are the ones who have confidence in their bodies, and work hard to stay or get in shape (whatever shape that may be). I no longer find the need to stand on the scale every morning obsessing over every pound. Muscle is heavier than fat, so obviously if you are working out, you will not necessarily see your weight going down. Bottom line, love the skin you’re in because beauty is whatever you make of it.
2. Setting goals and testing your limits is essential.
The best thing I could have ever done was buying a gym membership. This is what forced me to work out, because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be getting my moneys worth. That was the first step. The second step was finding a workout that worked for me. Once I did, with the help of my kinesiologist boyfriend and numerous fitness blogs online, I was able to get to work! Fortunately, in the beginning of the year I had a strong motivation to quickly improve my physique. As it progressed, it became harder and harder to make sure I always had time for the gym, but what really helps is making a schedule and following it without exceptions.
Not only did I have to get my body to the gym, I had to push and challenge myself while I was there. I couldn’t stay in my comfort zone with low weights that I knew I could handle. It took some external motivation to use heavier weights, but since then I have been upping my weight incrementally and I have been able to see results! Hard work and dedication really do pay off.
3. Healthy eating is just as important.
What's working out doing if you're just going to binge eat McDonald's right after? All the discipline you learn while exercising can also be applied towards eating right. I have found it to be very difficult to eat healthy all the time myself, and then I stumbled upon the 80/20 rule. This means that you should aim to eat healthy at least 80% of the time, but you are allowed to treat yourself every once in a while. There's no point in doing something you don't enjoy, so do what you can and try your best to make good decisions when it comes to feeding your body.
I I have just dipped my foot into the world of fitness and so far, I like what I see. There is a certain pleasure in getting to know your body and developing your 'kinesthetic sense' (A term I have recently learned that has to do with familiarizing yourself with how your body moves). I still have much more to learn, but I learn something new everyday, thanks to random encounters with fitness blogs and personal experiences. Working out is a lifestyle choice, and I can't wait to improve on my fitness and my body goals more and more each day.
