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Losing body fat boils down to these 7 basics...

 

 

Read an article today that I wanted to share regarding fat-loss. 

Unfortunately there's no magic solution to it or quick fix weight loss diet.  There's also no way to spot reduce.  In other words... if you're looking to lose belly fat, the biggest way to do that is to change your eating habits while also staying active. 

To be honest though, sometimes it boils down to looking inward to what you're eating AND what's eating you. 

It can simply be a matter of not having learned the right way to eat... because let's face it... we typically learn our eating habits from our parents, so it can be up to us as adults to relearn things about diet and better nutrition.

It can also be a matter of dealing with the stuff going on in your heart and mind though.  Some habits, diet or otherwise, are a form of self-sabotage.

 

I certainly don't have it all figured out & can always stand to make positive changes, but I do like to share what I know to be true about what works with physical fitness and nutrition. 

We get one body. 

Sometimes we get wake-up calls & second chances with our health that force us to do it, but we can always take the initiative and make positive changes in our lifestyle to avoid consequences. 

Ultimately the goal isn't skinny.  The goal is to be healthy and FEEL good.  Strong bodies... strong minds. 

Our bodies are designed to move and feel good, so let's DO IT!  ♥

 

 

Don't Believe All the Fad Diet Hype - Losing Fat Boils Down to These 7 Basics

1. Eat in a healthy calorie deficit.
2. Focus on healthy fats and lean proteins.
3. Don't totally give up carbs.
4. Be active outside the gym.
5. Lift weights.
6. Try HIIT.
7. Get enough sleep.

 

It seems like every day there's a new headline on the internet or a new coverline on a magazine promising you can slim down in days, shed belly fat with just one ab move, and completely transform your body with one specific fad diet.

In reality, losing fat (which is really what people want to lose when they lose weight) boils down to these simple basics. We tapped registered dietitians and personal trainers, who explained how to lose body fat and keep it off for good. For starters, you'll want to get rid of that Shake Weight and those weird body-wrap things and actually start eating carbs (yes, carbs!). Scroll through for more expert tips.

Eat in a Healthy Calorie Deficit

Ultimately, losing weight is all about calories in, calories out. In order to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you take in. "You have to create a deficit of 3,500 calories to lose one pound," explained registered dietitian and ACSM-certified personal trainer Jim White, owner of Jim White Fitness and Nutrition Studios. "This can be done by burning extra calories through exercise or reducing your intake of calories, but the best way is to use a combination of both methods. This ensures that you're giving your body enough nutrients during periods of weight loss."

However, eating in a 3,500-calorie deficit doesn't guarantee an exact weight loss of one pound. There are a lot of other factors that impact how your body loses weight, including stress, sleep, and hormones.

Although you should eat in a calorie deficit, he doesn't recommend anyone eat fewer than 1,200 calories a day. And since calorie needs are highly individual from person to person, Jim recommends meeting with a registered dietitian if you can to assess your needs and your goals. If that's not a possibility, you can use this formula to calculate your estimated calorie deficit for weight loss.

 

Focus on Healthy Fats and Lean Proteins

For your diet, you should load up on whole foods, with an emphasis on lean protein and healthy fats. "Focus on healthy fats like olive oil, avocados, seeds, and legumes that will help your body by feeling satiated," explained registered dietitian Shana Spence, MS. She also recommends eating lean proteins, such as chicken, fish, or plant-based proteins like tofu. "These also fill you up and leave you satisfied," she said.

As far as how much of these macronutrients you should eat, Jim recommends a macro breakdown of 40:30:30 — 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.

Don't Totally Give Up Carbs

Like Jim said, 40 percent of your diet should come from carbs. So even though low- and no-carb diets are wildly popular, to lose fat for good, you'll still want to eat carbs.

"Many people make the mistake of going low-carb or trying to cut carbs altogether; you want to do the exact opposite," Shana recommended. "Our body needs carbs to survive: it's fuel for our body and brain."

As for what type of carbs to eat, she recommends complex carbs that have fiber to fill you up. "These can include healthy grains like quinoa, which is also a protein, whole-wheat bread, oats, barley, or farro."

Be Active Outside the Gym

When people think of activity for fat loss, they usually envision hours on the treadmill or taking an intense Spin class. In reality, to get in more activity and boost fat loss, it's all about just moving more.

Eric Bowling, NASM-certified personal trainer at Ultimate Performance, said he encourages his clients to be more active outside of the gym and increasing their overall steps to 10,000 per day minimum.

"This little addition will increase your daily activity and rapidly boost the total amount of calories burned throughout the day," he said. "This is called nonexercise activity thermogenesis, and it's one of the most effective fat-loss tools most people overlook."

Lift Weights

Yes, cardio burns calories. But people often neglect strength training, which can help you lose fat for the long-term. Eric recommends lifting weights three times a week starting out. Weightlifting will help you build lean muscle, which burns more calories at rest. It will also change your body composition, so you'll look more toned and defined.

And don't be afraid to lift heavy; it will help you lose fat, not get bulky. If you're just getting started, check out this four-week strength-training program.

Try HIIT

HIIT, which stands for high-intensity interval training, can help you get in an effective workout in a shorter amount of time. In HIIT, you do a period of all-out exercise followed by an even longer period of rest. You can do HIIT with bodyweight exercises, weightlifting moves, or cardio, such as sprinting on the treadmill.

There is some evidence that HIIT can target belly fat. Eric is a fan of HIIT and recommends people do it one or two times a week to lose fat. HIIT can also help you achieve EPOC, or excess postexercise oxygen consumption, also known as the afterburn effect, during which your body keeps burning calories even after the workout.

To get started, check out some of our favorite HIIT workouts.

Get Enough Sleep

And while diet and exercise are important for fat loss, many people tend to overlook another important lifestyle habit: sleep. A lack of sleep could increase the production of the stress hormone cortisol.

"When you are sleep-deprived and cortisol levels increase to keep the body running, you will likely experience fatigue, increased food cravings, mental fog, and lower 'real' energy," Eric explained. "All of these will impact your effectiveness in the gym and impair your adherence to an eating plan."

Aim to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night.

"One foot on the break and one on the gas... "

It never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to workout on Sunday mornings in Zumba & Piloxing.  It's truly impressive & inspiring. 

When asked if I was interested in adding a 30-minute strength class at 8:30am, I thought it made sense to try it out.  I figured a couple people might show up?

I was totally wrong. More than a couple people showed up for the first class.  Which just goes to show that not everyone is tired or hungover on Sunday mornings.  And even if they happen to be either of those... exercise actually DOES give you more energy & we are surely sweating out all the toxins we might have too, just sayin'. 

 

Also... you know you might have issues when you cut your chin with your thumbnail while dancing.  Currently hoping it doesn't leave a scar.  (insert eye roll)

Does anyone else get injured in class with stupid stuff like that?  Happens to me more often than I care to admit, but usually it's my hands or fingers bleeding or bruised from my obnoxious clapping.   I've learned to not wear rings or any kind of bracelet that might cause harm. 

Maybe I should wear gloves?  And possibly a mask.

Anyhoo... this will be short week & then we're headed for our 2nd of 3 road trips with Bryn's volleyball team.  Last month was Franklin, TN and this weekend will be Columbus, OH... a state I've not yet visited.  Although when it's a volleyball trip, all we're really going to see is a court & lots of games.  So in all likelihood there will be no touring the city other than to look for food.  

In addition to not being a huge fan of "bleacher butt," I'm also not a huge fan of driving on long road trips.  I prefer to fly.  And Ohio isn't exactly close. 

This princess quality I have probably stems from years of driving everywhere with 3 sisters seated closely to each other in the backseat, concerned with who's crossing the imaginary lines & not staying in their allotted space. 

"I'm hungry.  She's leaning on me.  When are we going to be there?"

The good news is... Bryn can drive too.  The bad news is... we'll likely have rain & possibly snow, so I'd rather she not. 

And as for the other complaints above... I do hear I'm hungry regularly.  She also doesn't care for my purse leaning on her arm & I don't care for her gigantic blanket crossing over onto the counsel while I'm driving.  In fact at one point on our last road trip we started shoving the blanket back & forth so many times when we stopped for gas that we were laughing uncontrollably. 

I'm laughing again just thinking about it.  I'm not sure who's in charge anymore, but I'm beginning to think we need a personal assistant to keep us in line. 

And drive for that matter.

 

My parents did take us on many trips when we were younger though.  And I know now as an adult how expensive it would've been to fly 5 people everywhere we went.  I'm VERY grateful they instilled a love for travel with us and took us to experience many places, even if it wasn't always the most comfortable mode of transportation.  There were always laughs along the way for sure, many stories of which we still reminisce!

 

I'm also going to miss our team meeting where they'll be making vision boards.  I regularly use Pinterest to stay inspired in lieu of having an actual  vision board, but IF I was going to be there & make one, it would most certainly look something like this...

I don't know who made that but she might be my soul sister.   Like I've seriously probably pinned all those things separately at one time or another.

 

How about you?  Have you ever made a vision board?  It's a great way to keep positive images, inspiring words & future goals in daily sight. 

 

 

And I hope your week is just that... positive & inspiring! 

Happy Monday! 

XOXO