BALANCE - it is all about balance. Simple.

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Let me preface this by saying...
- I am not a fitness instructor. Take what I have to say with a grain of salt, as it is learned by experience, not through a book.
- I do not have endless hours to spend at a gym. I am separated mom of two girls (age 5 and 7), a home owner, and employee (working 40 hours a week), a commuter (spend an additional 1.5 hours in a vehicle each day), a pet owner.
- I bust my *kitten* when I DO work out.

Here's the point I want to get across....

So many people come to this site wanting to better themselves, and they get lost in the forums. They hear things about macros, keytones, cleanses, bulk and cut cycles, and they freak out... and I bet a bunch just simply give up.

A large number of people on here just simply want to get healthy. They are tired of being tired. They are tired of being overweight. They are tired of being ashamed of their bodies.

This message is for THOSE people.

BALANCE

B A L A N C E

As far as I'm concerned, you don't need to spend an hour on the treaddy and three hours on the weights 5x a week to get in shape.
Balance your eating habits (no you DON'T have to go crazy eg. paleo, cleanses, etc)
Balance your workouts (eg... I run - cardio - and I box - cardio/strength)
Balance your life (water, sleep, fun, work)...

You will end up looking great. It may take some time, but it will work.

It may take some time!

If you want to be RIPPED - then yeah, go nuts on the weights.
If you want to be super LEAN - then ok, go nuts on the treaddy, in the pool, on the road....

If you want to cleanse, fine. If you want to eat clean, great. But you don't HAVE to in order to get healthy.

IF you want to just simply look and feel good in your own body... please, please, PLEASE...

remember the word BALANCE.

Cardio is great for cutting fat (as long as you're not pumping it back into your diet)
Strength training (including body weight workouts like crunches, squats, pushups, planks) will add resilience to your body. It will help you from getting injured during your cardio.



Please don't give up...
You can TOTALLY do this!
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Replies

  • Wilson929
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    This is why you rock girl. Love this! XOXO. :love:
  • Topsking2010
    Topsking2010 Posts: 2,245 Member
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    Awesome post. Too many people spend hours in the gym and have no life.


    Thanks for the reminder to balance things out.
  • Chief_Rocka
    Chief_Rocka Posts: 4,710 Member
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    Separated you say?

    On a serious note, the busting your *kitten* part is key. Intensity always trumps volume/frequency.
  • LesleeBeAlive
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    Amen.
  • SeaChele77
    SeaChele77 Posts: 1,103 Member
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    :heart: I adore you!!


    The one thing that I tell people and remind myself is that what works for one person may or may not work for another. There is a very big learning curve to this "get fit, get healthy lifestyle" and its 'try this for a while' then "try that for a while' until you find the right BALANCE!! :) I have surrounded myself with amazing friends who have all given me their two cents on how to get to my "ideal" body. In the process I have become a runner! I now love to run, but I know the benefits of strength training as well. But my body composition is different than yours or the next gal - so my workout routine will most likely not give someone else the same results, but I'm happy to give my two cents on what worked for *me*! *edited to add: I am always seeking advice. I know I have a lot to still learn and each day I may incorporate something new to see how it may work for me. Never stop learning and educating yourself.

    The key is very much balance.

    *Find time to get your *kitten* off the couch and move - whether it be by walking, running, swimming, biking, picking things up and putting them down or all of the above. Just MOVE!
    *Eat well - can you have ice cream - sure....no one is saying to throw out all the things you love. But know that you will get full quicker and stay full longer with less junk. But junk is not the devil!!
    * Do your own research. Ask friends for support and opinions, but in the end - do what is best for YOU!

    Balance is indeed the key to success!!
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
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    Agree! For the average person looking to improve their lifestyle - balance and moderation will go a long way.

    If you want more specific results, those are available too. But don't put the cart before the horse :)
  • yankeedownsouth
    yankeedownsouth Posts: 717 Member
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    Absolutely love this post! And I always need the reminder as I tend to be an "all or nothing," totally obsessed kind of person!
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
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    Everything in moderation, even moderation.
  • afadingmind
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    Look, if MireyGal strength trains AND does Cardio + Kickboxing and is able to have those freakin' awesome abs and muscles surrounding the rest of her body, she is obviously doing it right. Love you... you're awesome!
  • 2BhappyBhealthy
    2BhappyBhealthy Posts: 181 Member
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    Look, if MireyGal strength trains AND does Cardio + Kickboxing and is able to have those freakin' awesome abs and muscles surrounding the rest of her body, she is obviously doing it right. Love you... you're awesome!

    Abso-freakin-lutely! Couldn't have said it better myself! Keep kicking *kitten* lady - awesome post. *thumbs up*
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
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    Absolutely. If you have two hours to spend at the gym, don't spend them seated on the stationary bike, catching up on a magazine.

    Spend ONE hour at the gym, busting intervals on the treaddy or lifting heavy things and putting them down again, then spend that extra hour doing something you REALLY enjoy. Same or better results, less time, better quality of life.

    Get up and MOVE!!!

    Cheers to OP. Great abs, by the way. :drinker:
  • pastryari
    pastryari Posts: 8,646 Member
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    I love this. :flowerforyou:
  • danasings
    danasings Posts: 8,218 Member
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    Great post!
  • bassmanlarry
    bassmanlarry Posts: 117 Member
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    Great post. It's all too easy to get on here and get caught up in the forums and totally lose your original focus.
  • tubbyelmo
    tubbyelmo Posts: 415 Member
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    Excellent, thanks for posting ;-)
  • BetterCrazyThanLazy
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    Great post!

    But can I just hate you right now? Just for a littel bit? Your body is smoking!

    Ok, I am done hating... well... maybe not... :tongue:
  • Fat2Fit145
    Fat2Fit145 Posts: 385 Member
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    GREATTTTT Post... thanks!
  • Rachlmale
    Rachlmale Posts: 640 Member
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    What a great post! healthy is key :)
  • MireyGal76
    MireyGal76 Posts: 7,334 Member
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    Great post!

    But can I just hate you right now? Just for a little bit? Your body is smoking!

    Ok, I am done hating... well... maybe not... :tongue:

    haha! Thank you!! :-D
  • NavyKnightAh13
    NavyKnightAh13 Posts: 1,394 Member
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    What a great post!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this just made my day :bigsmile: