Finding that "Magic Number"
You may have started your journey years ago, hoping to lose a few pounds, "tone up", or just to have the ability to climb the stairs at work without losing your breath. You may have tried every diet under the sun, or have been able to eat whatever you want, whenever you want without gaining a pound. We are all built different: unique in our personalilties and our DNA, why wouldn't we be different in the search for a healthy life? Being fit isn't a "one size fits all", it requires a lot of trial and error; and what works once may not work again.
I don't know who started the "1200 calories a day" tale, but I wish I could give that person's head a shake. So often I hear about this is the MAGIC NUMBER that will help anyone lose weight. Do you know what else it will do? By limiting the amount of calories your body takes in, hoping to burn more than you are consuming in order to generate weight loss, your metabolism is slowing down. It is the MAGIC NUMBER that health professionals suggest you do not drop below, or suffer the consequences. You body sees how little you are taking in and goes in to a self preservation status, storing what it can in order to "prepare for the worst". Sounds counter-intuitive, right?
I also hear a lot about this word "tone": "I want to look toned, but not manly". Well, if "manly" is muscle, you might as well forget about being toned. In order to get said look, you need to build muscle. I used to be there, I used to be the girl that ran three hours a day, ate 1200 calories, and just wanted to be toned. I would look a magazines and obsess about getting washboard abs; I would run on the treadmill while watching ANTM in hopes that one day I would look like them. No dice. I could run on that treadmill with all the enthusiasm of a hamster and never achieve the look I wanted. Why? Because I didn't have the muscle to give me the shape and I didn't eat to make the muscle.
It took me years. I tried boxing. I tried long distance running - and found that 21.3 km is the farthest I will EVER run! - I did every sport under the sun, but just couldn't get the shape I wanted. I had countless trainers, but it wasn't until one suggested a regular weight routine that I started to see a few changes. I know the fear of not wanting to look masculine. Want a tip? Unless you're training to look like that, it's not going to happen. It requires such discipline, determination, supplementation, and YEARS or dedication to create such a look. Some even use hormone manipulation. It is a look your have to want and work for in order to achieve, not one you simply get from lifting up a weight.
Strength training has many benefits:
Makes everyday tasks a little easier
Changes your body composition, meaning your body is burning more calories at rest
Increases HDL - High Density Lipoprotein (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL - Low Density Lipoprotein (bad cholesterol).
Reduces risk of diabetes and insulin needs.
Lowers risk of cardiovascular disease.
Lower high blood pressure.
Lowers risk of breast cancer - reduces high estrogen levels linked to the disease.
Decreases or minimizes risk of osteoporosis by building bone mass.
Reduces symptoms of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
Reduces stress and anxiety.
Decreases colds and illness
And these benefits are just to name a few!
I'm not saying get your butt to the gym and become a meat head! I'm also not saying eat more food but remain sedentary. I'm saying that there is a combined approach that includes balance, that makes losing or maintaining your weight sustainable in the long run. We all enjoy the satisfaction of instant gratification, however it's also nice to find an approach we can use for life. Maybe this means joining a boot camp that involves weights twice a week; or taking in a body weight class on weekends. The focus needs to be on what is sustainable for your life style, choosing to make the healthier choice, eating to keep your body functioning as it should be, and nourishing it with exercise and food the way it deserves to be treated. It isn't easy, but once you find your fit, continuing with it will seem effortless.
Someone once told me that exercising is like brushing your teeth: you just get up and do it, no questions asked. If it becomes habit, out of your own personal enjoyment, isn't that a good thing? Throw eating more than 1200 calories in there and you can sign me up. How about you?
PS: I eat on average 1800-2000 calories/day and I've never been happier!